I just cleaned my AEM dryflow filter (with about a years usage).
The filter was still black though.
I am wondering if this is this normal or should it have lightened up closer to it's original color?
I didn't expect it to be white, but i expected it to be lighter than black...

I noticed my mileage and performance going down and knowing it was due to clean, I obviously did it.
I pulled it out and it was dirtier than I thought it would be.
It's been a tank and a half of gas now and my mileage doesn't seem to have increased too much either.

EDIT: BTW, this is the first time cleaning my filter; therefore, I have nothing to compare to.

 

with the regular K&N Oiled filters they look whiteish grey every time never cleaned a dryflow. I thought they were a grey color to begin with.

 

clean it again just to make sure it is good and clean. If it is good and clean then why worry about color.

 

my comptech filter used to be green, a couple thousand miles later and cleaned it twice. its a dark green and has some light black spots on it, i have the foam filter so it stops almost any particles. over time its going to get dirty and u wont be able to clean it off like it was new.

 

I guess he means orginal pink color defines cleanliness. In your case, just make sure it is thorougly cleaned; I don't think you can get its original color back. The pink dye color eventually get faded away.