Are K & N air filters worth it??

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Snatchface
Eli, I might go against you here. I have been reading a lot on the subject, especially at bobistheoilguy forums, regarding air filters. I got into it one day and hunted down everything that I could find on the subject. There is a lot of data showing increased silicone counts on oil analysis with the use of K&N's, and as you know, increased silicone counts = dirt and premature engine wear. A lot of these people are professional mechanics who I am sure have taken into account leaks, incorrect installation, etc. Even you must admit that if it flows better (as K&N's surely do) then it must filter less efficiently. Sure it works better the dirtier it gets, it needs the dirt to help plug up those macroscopic pores and actually filter some stuff out. As one person aptly put, the K&N follows the rule of "B's" - that is to say that it is very efficient at filtering out Birds, Bricks, and Burritos. But the data has shown that even dirty, the K&N does not filter as efficiently as even a new paper filter. I refer you to The Oildrop Server, air filter forum. My Supra had a K&N and within 20K miles started losing oil and coolant like a sieve. Finally blew up at 124K miles. Not saying it was the K&N, but it should have gone a lot longer than that and this was the only mod I made to the car. But clearly there is better data on the matter than that case report of one.

As far as I am concerned, protecting my engine is priority #1, and I will not sacrifice premature engine wear for a few more HP and better airflow. I would not let a K&N within 10 feet of my new baby based on what I have read.

they don't measure silicone, they measure silicon.

I measure silicone, but that's another thread.

😉

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Spoooon

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Eli
It sure did come as news to me, but you may actually be accelerating wear in your engine by changing your oil too much. There are anti-wear additives in the oil that have chemical reactions with some metals in your engine, accelerating wear. Normally, the additives are depleated as you drive.. But if your always putting new oil into the engine before it "wears out", you may be causing more harm than good. 🙁

I call BS on that. No oil company would put something in the oil which would accelerate wear.

ZV

I know.. I know.. I sat and thought about it for a long time.. But I guess it's true. The additive is ZDDP. I'll try and find the thread we had about it or the article that stated it.

I remember the thread. The article that someone linked to was some sort of military publication.

edit: thread

article

The article makes no connection to engine failure and excessive oil changing, only speculation. They never mention the OCM of the cars that experienced engine failure. They don't mention the type of service the engines are used in. Also, IIRC ZDDP is only a factor when there is a failure in the oiling system permitting insufficient oil coverage of parts. I'm trying to remember properly, but I seem to recall that ZDDP is intended to reduce wear in instances where metal to metal contact is already occuring. Remember, in an engine with a properly functioning oiling system, there is zero metal to metal contact, everything is sliding along on a layer of oil. Changed the oil in my old Honda at 3,000 miles religiously and after 218,000 miles it still doesn't burn any measureable amount of oil and the inside of the engine is 100% original. Also, that article is by the EPA, note that the main interest isn't longevity but reducing the amount of oil that is disposed of. They've got a reason to make people think that too-frequent oil changes are bad.

ZV

I agree that it probably doesen't tell us the whole story; the sample automobile base wa only 166 strong.. Not a very large picture.

That said, I found it really interesting. Are there any metallurgy people in the forums? Maybe they can tell us what metals ZDDP reacts with.

From what I've read, ZDDP is only dangerous to silver and its alloys. Maybe the cars sampled had silver alloy bearings? 😛

I just thought it was interesting. But I agree, it does seem kinda non-sensical(is that a word?).

Originally posted by: Gillbot
😛

Originally posted by: Eli
Where the hell did you pull that? Apparently, from your ass. 😛

I appologize, although I didn't mean any harm in the first place, hence the "😛". 🙂

 

[wnied]

Yes

~wnied~

 

[The Sauce]

Gentlemen...please. I realize that we all frequent ATOT (hence making us sexually repressed and perverts - for the most part), but silicone is found in some places other than breast implants (and not even in those anymore).