To K&N or not to K&N

[CJ7nvrstk]

Winko-Maybe there is more wear on the motor with the K&N. Though with 180K mile on a great running F150 and 140K on a Mustang I would have to say that from my experience that additional wear is negligible. Furthermore, doncha think there are tolerances that are required for these filtration devices mandated by the feds? K&N seems to be approved for that on the direct replacement filters.

How did that 5k run go for you? You didn't do it or you would realize you do get additional airflow at all times. That is how you get improved mileage when running a free flow intake. Maybe I can help you understand it this way. Have you ever noticed that your vehicles have more power at lower elevations? Or on stormy days? Do you understand why? It's d/t increased barometric pressure which is getting more O2 into your cylinder. Now, as stated before, this is throughout the rpm range, not just at full throttle as you falsely claim.

Hope that helps.

 

[Spikepretorius]

I ran a huge cone shaped K&N on a 4x4 for 14 years. When I sold the truck it was still running sweet and burning clean. The truck died of rust not grit.
If you maintain a K&N according to spec they work just fine.

 

[ryanhewitt]

This is a good discussion.....

...with valid points for both sides. I'm partial to running them. I live in the desert, and have had zero problems.

Now I would like to touch on a point that has not been brought up yet. If your running a non-reusable filter, you're creating trash. I know that the majority of the filter is paper, but there are other components that take a longer time to break down. Not to mention the volume that the filter(s) take up in the landfill.

Considering all the other garbage out there, I know it's probably a very small percent, but it's still there. Stepping off of soapbox.......

 

[winkosmosis]

I ran a huge cone shaped K&N on a 4x4 for 14 years. When I sold the truck it was still running sweet and burning clean. The truck died of rust not grit.
If you maintain a K&N according to spec they work just fine.

They don't work just fine. They filter much less than a paper filter. You have no way of knowing how much dirt got into the engine or how much wear that caused, but you can be sure it was more than a paper.

Look at the article I linked. The data is right there!

 

[winkosmosis]

...with valid points for both sides. I'm partial to running them. I live in the desert, and have had zero problems.

Now I would like to touch on a point that has not been brought up yet. If your running a non-reusable filter, you're creating trash. I know that the majority of the filter is paper, but there are other components that take a longer time to break down. Not to mention the volume that the filter(s) take up in the landfill.

Considering all the other garbage out there, I know it's probably a very small percent, but it's still there. Stepping off of soapbox.......

The amount of trash you're adding by throwing away a filter every year is nothing! Think of how much trash you put in bag every week

 

[winkosmosis]

Winko-Maybe there is more wear on the motor with the K&N. Though with 180K mile on a great running F150 and 140K on a Mustang I would have to say that from my experience that additional wear is negligible. Furthermore, doncha think there are tolerances that are required for these filtration devices mandated by the feds? K&N seems to be approved for that on the direct replacement filters.

How did that 5k run go for you? You didn't do it or you would realize you do get additional airflow at all times. That is how you get improved mileage when running a free flow intake. Maybe I can help you understand it this way. Have you ever noticed that your vehicles have more power at lower elevations? Or on stormy days? Do you understand why? It's d/t increased barometric pressure which is getting more O2 into your cylinder. Now, as stated before, this is throughout the rpm range, not just at full throttle as you falsely claim.

Hope that helps.

More power per throttle opening maybe, but all you have to do is open the throttle more if your filter is slightly more restrictive

 

[Doctor W]

Sure they let in more air, but........

Two points re. K+N filters:

(1) they let lots more fine particles into engine, these particles accelerate engine wear.

(2) the oil they require deposits on the "hot wires" of air mass sensors and either gives false readings, resulting in poor engine performance or they destroy the very sensitive hot wire sensors.......you can't even use regular electronics cleaner on them!

End analysis: unless you're running K+N filters dry (no oil) in a clean, dust free environment, they are BAD for engines!

 

[Mr. D]

:lurk: I am running an airaid cone filter that replaced the entire stock air box, but I did keep that stock airbox.....

 

[willyswagon]

The first thing I did when I bought my used 08 Rubi was to pull the K&N and put a stock filter back.