YACT: K&N Air Filters...bad for your car?

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
BTW, K&N filters aren't worth the money. No difference that can be felt or detected and they let more dirt in.

I disagree...the fact it's reusable and (for most people) you buy one...once. They do let in more dirt new, but once they start to get dirty, they are failry similar to paper filters. They are also less susceptible to humidty because they are oiled. Paper filters can become really restrictive when they absorb all the moisture in the air in humid climates...

I would never buy a K&N for performance reasons...

 

[43st]

Bob is the Oil Guy did a air filter test, check his site for details. Best were Jackson Racing and Amsoil I think.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
BTW, K&N filters aren't worth the money. No difference that can be felt or detected and they let more dirt in.

I disagree...the fact it's reusable and (for most people) you buy one...once. They do let in more dirt new, but once they start to get dirty, they are failry similar to paper filters. They are also less susceptible to humidty because they are oiled. Paper filters can become really restrictive when they absorb all the moisture in the air in humid climates...

I would never buy a K&N for performance reasons...

I was speaking mainly to the people that think they'll get a HP increase with one.

Cost-wise, they are pretty effective. I've had one in my Tahoe since 1999. I'd say it saved me a little money on replacing air filters over the years.
Hell, I've only cleaned and re-oiled it twice.

 

[SlowSpyder]

In the DSM world (90-94 Plymouth Lasers, 90-99 Mitsu Eclipses, and 90-98 Eagle Talons) it is well known that a K&N filter setup (with either a hacked air can or a full cold air set up) does increase horsepower. Will popping a K&N into a Geo Prism add power? I highly doubt it. But, depending on the application a K&N can definitely add some power.

 

[CraigRT]

The Apexi dry filters are better IMO, the oiled ones can be hard on the MAF sensor among maybe other things. At least on the Nissans the are a risk.
I run an Apexi on my car based on what I read about oiled filters.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
The Apexi dry filters are better IMO, the oiled ones can be hard on the MAF sensor among maybe other things. At least on the Nissans the are a risk.
I run an Apexi on my car based on what I read about oiled filters.

There's hardly any risk at all on the Nissans. Just about every person with a modded 300ZX has a K&N style cone filter on their car and I've never heard anyone complain that it messed up their MAF sensor.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: CraigRT
The Apexi dry filters are better IMO, the oiled ones can be hard on the MAF sensor among maybe other things. At least on the Nissans the are a risk.
I run an Apexi on my car based on what I read about oiled filters.

There's hardly any risk at all on the Nissans. Just about every person with a modded 300ZX has a K&N style cone filter on their car and I've never heard anyone complain that it messed up their MAF sensor.

I've heard of it before on VQ35's (Maxim and Altima anyways) because for whatever reason the MAF sensors in these cars suck. I've had no probs with mine, but it wouldn't surprise me if I all of a sudden have to replace it.

 

[CFster]

Well, seeing as a MAF sensor is essentially a heated wire that goes across the flow of incoming air (and works by detecting changes in the voltage required to maintain that heat), then oil getting on it will seriously FUBAR it.

I've changed out too many in my day that had K&N's in front of them.

 

[altonb1]

So overall, are we saying a K&N air filter does actually improve gas mileage, etc, or it's just better than replacing the paper filters all the time? I have a filter on my '04 cavalier and the car has about 35k miles, I think. I'm gonna have to start looking at cleaning it soon, though. I also have an '04 Chevy Venture that is also going to need to be cleaned soon. So do I clean them? If the cleaning supplies are gonna cost about the same as a new filter, I'll probably just buy a new filter--I will probably trade in the vehicle before I would ever need a 3rd cleaning or replacement.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
BTW, K&N filters aren't worth the money. No difference that can be felt or detected and they let more dirt in.

Actually, quite the opposite, they are a good value because they never need to be replaced. So over the long run, you will save money over paper filters.

Letting more dirt in is questionable. I have never met or heard of anyone who had engine problems down the road solely because they used a K&N (or similar) filter.

MAF problems are known, but will only occur if you massively over-oil the filter.

Horsepower differences can't be felt in normal cars, but they can in performance and/or modded cars with high airflow and/or volumetric efficiency (especially turbo). Like everything, it all depends on the application.

edit: I don't believe K&N claims that they increase gas mileage. In general, more airflow = more gas burned. Modern cars are not usually starved for air, and A/F ratios are strictly controlled by the computer.

 

[altonb1]

BUMP for answer to my question--do I clean the filter or just buy a new one?

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: altonb1
BUMP for answer to my question--do I clean the filter or just buy a new one?

If it's a paper filter, just buy a new one. They're cheap.

As for K&N, my nebulously-formed opinion is that it's not worth the money for a drop-in version. Why plunk down $40 and then have to deal with cleaning it? Any savings won't be realized for a long time.