Self-cleaning air filter assembly

A self-cleaning air filter assembly for a vehicle evaporative emissions control system, the air filter assembly comprising:

• a filter housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions together define an internal volume;
• an air filter element disposed in the internal volume of the filter housing, the filter element including a first side facing the upper portion of the filter housing and an opposite second side facing the lower portion of the filter housing;
• the upper portion of the filter housing including a canister port adapted for fluid connection with an evaporative emissions canister;
• the lower portion of the filter housing including a first port adapted for fluid connection with an atmospheric vent;
• and
• the lower portion of the filter housing further including a second port adapted for fluid connection with a source of low pressure air;
• wherein during a cleaning mode in which there is nominal airflow through the filter element from one side of the filter element to the other side, air is pulled from the first port and along the second side of the filter element to the second port in order to remove particulate matter from the filter element, the particulate matter being expelled out the second port.