Twin Air Filter Decomposing

My 310 has been sitting the last few years and only been ridden 4-5 times in that time. I think I put this new air filter in 3 years ago and was twin air green eco formula oil.

You can see in the image my filter is now brown. I removed it this afternoon and it crumbled in my hands but was just a gooey mess. Is this simply what happens to old, oiled foam filters?

Just glad I didn't go off motoring with a leaking petcock and a clogged filter's gooey bits ready to get sucked into the engine.

In any case Bill's saved the day again and has a left side petcock coming my way.

Sidenote: Do you use the mesh screen behind the filter? I was considering removing mine, but ended up glueing it in place for a permanent seal

Thanks all. Picked up a can of Maxima Fab 1 spray for the TA filter I had waiting. I do use the backfire screen.

All back together and she fired right up with alacrity.

I've seen a lot of decomposed filters on old vintage bikes but I'm sure some of them had been sitting for decades. To have a foam filter falling apart after 3 years doesn't seem normal. Its a good thing you're the type to do preventative maintenance. What a mess that decomposed filter and the dirt that would have followed would have done to your engine.

yes. have seen this with the inner layer of a twin air filter decomposing.