"Green Air Filter" vs. K&N

[Chris Kennedy]

I used to use K&Ns in another Corvette I owned and am thinking about getting one for my 89 Ebay rat. Frankly, I am not sold on them as better, but if I can get one cheap I would go for it (the prices are all over the board between Ebay, auto parts stores, catalogs etc.--it's wild). While I am looking, I was reminded of the new "Green Air" filter competitor for K&N. Has anyone had any experience with this new filter? TPIS also sells something similar to the K&N that is blue in color, so I will also check there.

Thanks,

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[max]

I do not think , anybody who ever used those different filters ,could give you an adequate answer to that. Nobody didn't measure the amount of particles their K&N s, GREEN s, KING DRAGON s, J&M s and others actually let through. Although I read some filter test article and can say K&N is a good filter . My friend had KING DRAGON , nothing happened . Another friend has Green , again no problems He killed his rings faster setting the nitro up before that filter could ever get dirty

 

[Chris Kennedy]

Thanks for your reply. I know what you mean, and unless I can get a good deal on a K&N I think I will just get an AC and forget about it. I wish one of the magazines would run an actual "real world" performance test that you could rely on.


/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[Edmond]

I got my K&N off eBay a few years ago for $28.

I think real world tests for air filters would be too difficult because the conditions they would need to replicate in order to test each filter under the same conditions would be almost impossible to replicate. <- wow, that was one long sentence!:L

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I got my K&N off eBay a few years ago for $28.

I think real world tests for air filters would be too difficult because the conditions they would need to replicate in order to test each filter under the same conditions would be almost impossible to replicate. <- wow, that was one long sentence!:L

I made a guy an offer for one currently on Ebay in case it doesn't sell. He'll probably ignore me, but the prices for these things are ridiculous compared to perfectly fine traditional filters like AC, and then they try and sell you all that cleaner and oiling stuff which adds to the cost, and then you risk gumming up the MAF sensor (this was the subject of a GM advisory). What I used to do in my old Corvette is change them out every year, but they were cheaper for that car than the rat. Also, I checked some places on the internet that claimed they were discount places, and, on average, they seemed to charge between $10 to $15 more! Sooooooo.......we shall see. My gutt is telling me that K&Ns are one of these gimmicks they sell to people to "keep up with the Jones'"---in other words, IF you are a real driver then you must have a K&N. We've all seen this in tires, etc etc.
As to tests, I think the way to do it is simply to try and make conditions as similar as you can (e.g., same car, same driver etc.) and do something like multiple acceleration runs over several days etc. I wouldn't tell the driver which filter was being used. Over time, I think you would start seeing a trend in the results. I really believe in not letting the drivers know what filter or other comparison part they are running---that's one big problem with tire tests, as many driver's have favorites. (p.s., I like your long sentence, as every time I read the word "replicate" it makes me think of the replicants in Blade Runner--one of my favorite movies).

Cheers,
/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[*89x2*]

...the "Green" filter, in my observations, does not "creep " into the filtering area like the K&N and others can/do.


You might lose as much as 10% or more of your filter surface (flow) as a result of the creeping of black rubberized surround, being in the filter area :eek

I hope this helps

 

[Chris Kennedy]

...the "Green" filter, in my observations, does not "creep " into the filtering area like the K&N and others can/do.


You might lose as much as 10% or more of your filter surface (flow) as a result of the creeping of black rubberized surround, being in the filter area :eek

I hope this helps

Yeah, when I was doing my "discount" filter internet search I read this about the green filter at one of the discount sites. Unfortunately, the price they quoted for the green filter seemed to be about as much as the K&N. I am going to see if I can find an official "green filter" website. In my experience, what I have found is that when a product is attempting to enter a market, it does best by being priced below (way below) the established competition. Lexus did this back in 1989 when they entered the U.S. market, and you know what happened. Way back in the 60s and 70s, this is also what BMW did with the 2002 line and some other models. You need to give people a financial reason to try out your unestablished product instead of the established competition.The green filter blurb I read also talked about the material making up the filter being superior to what was in K&Ns. Frankly, this is all sort of fun, isn't it?? Sort of like talking about tires, comparing tirerack with NTB etc etc. My 89 Ebay rat may end up being a test bed for new products. Lucky rat!

/s/ Chris Kennedy

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[*89x2*]

Callaway Cars spec'd out a Green filter for use in their C5 & C6 Honkers - there IS a reason why and they did a whole lot of testing

 

[-=Iron Mike=-]

FWIW, most people don't listen to me on this topic anyway (rightly so, because I'm no expert), but my Uncle's company manufactures air, oil and fuel filters and to make a long story very short; he recommends saving your money and running standard paper filters. Just change them when they get dirty and forget about it.


FYI, he manufactures for all of the major brand names in the same plant.

 

[Andy]

I purchased a K&N for my '76 a year ago on the thought that it possibly would add some HP...Well, honestly, I cannot tell a difference if it increased or not...Just an fyi..

Andy

FWIW, most people don't listen to me on this topic anyway (rightly so, because I'm no expert), but my Uncle's company manufactures air, oil and fuel filters and to make a long story very short; he recommends saving your money and running standard paper filters. Just change them when they get dirty and forget about it.


FYI, he manufactures for all of the major brand names in the same plant.

 

[Edmond]

The combination of an open lid and a K&N will get you an improvement. You will be able to feel that and there is also an audible improvement.

 

[mfi]

Just to throw this in, I put a K&N system on my 99 jeep and felt a difference. It revs faster, and pulls a little harder. They claim a 10 hp improvement which is reasonable.

 

[MTRHD101]

Filter ? It's a no brainer

K&N builds a quality filter as do others, and a properly oiled K&N will filter better than a paper filter plus it will flow more air.. A paper filter when replaced often is OK but the K&N will perform better and is cheaper in the long run.. You already sprung for a vette, why not go first class : I mean were talking about an important item here that costs about the same as a tank of gas, come on..

 

[max]

well, K&N , Green, all those others use fibers , oiled fibers . Try to blow through it , and then try paper unit . As for gummin' the sensor , it just needs more patience to oil the filter after cleaning , carefully , evenly and moderately
Audible difference and more torque was felt by me also .

 

[Jeroenvgfn]

I stick with Green Filters already for 10 years now.

I got introduced with them for my Renault 5 Turbo as better Quality ,
and they were cheaper as well.

The only difference I experienced was a louder sound of the Turbo and wastegate opening.

the Turbo lag was about 500rpm earlier so the car felt much stronger.

I have a Green installed in the Vette too but, for me no difference experienced.

 

[Rob]

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/reviews/censura.php?tsid=1&csid=8855cd41feed4ca95d2759e5c38d04d2&cmd=details&itemid=105&username=Hib+Halverson&csid=8855cd41feed4ca95d2759e5c38d04d2

 

[Toms007]

I bought my K&N and open lid right here in the Parts for sale section. Could I tell a difference SOTP? No, but it has a different sound for sure now. I bought the K&N because I had a tendency to replace my air filters every other oil change and figured this would save me money in the long run.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

K&N builds a quality filter as do others, and a properly oiled K&N will filter better than a paper filter plus it will flow more air.. A paper filter when replaced often is OK but the K&N will perform better and is cheaper in the long run.. You already sprung for a vette, why not go first class : I mean were talking about an important item here that costs about the same as a tank of gas, come on..

I have thought the same thing, too, but, with the 89 Ebay rat I am handling things a bit differently than in the past---then, I would've bought the filter like you said (and as I did, with my old beloved '81) But now, with the rat I have been a lot more careful about plunking down money, even for something as relatively minor as an expensive air filter. I have also been shopping Ebay for cheaper used stuff, trying to get discounts on new stuff, etc., and, frankly, I have been having a lot more fun!! For example, no one had really wanted the rat because the bland gray seats were in terrible shape, the carpeting was worn, paint faded etc. This reduced the cost of the car. Yet, I had researched used seats, etc., the car had all the basics I wanted, and what I did is use this as an opportunity to change the interior to black, like I wanted, AND get the style of C4 seat that I like, etc. I got the seats used and cheap off of Ebay, as well as used black door panels, and after cleaning up and doing some repair/restoration work, got everything together. I put in new carpeting myself, so while it's obvious that the seats and panels are used, everything looks pretty darned good and I did it all at a bargain price rather than going the new and expensive route. It's just been really fun and satisfying, leaving money to spend on other things or just to save. I found the Green Filter website, and there they advertise the filter for $90 or so, and the cheapest I have found it elsewhere is in the low $50s, about like the K&N. I can get an AC for about $13 (Corvette Central), maybe less. So, let's say I can save $37 by not buying a (maybe) useless item. That's $37 "less" expensive that makes those terrific ultra-high performance BF Goodrich Comp T/A KDWs I am looking at, which I know will make a difference. Anyway, that's my thinking, and I really appreciate everyone helping me out.

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[Chris Kennedy]

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/reviews/censura.php?tsid=1&csid=8855cd41feed4ca95d2759e5c38d04d2&cmd=details&itemid=105&username=Hib+Halverson&csid=8855cd41feed4ca95d2759e5c38d04d2

This is an interesting article, and I encourage everyone to read it. It appears that the author (Hib Halverson) had some issues with K&N both as a company and with their filter in his own test. As to the Green Filter, while he is complimentary and describes it in detail, the bottom line is sort of non-commital. Thank you for submitting the article.

/s/ Chris Kennedy