K&N Air filter

[1st vette]

Is installing a K&N Air filter worth the $$?

 

[Evolution1980]

Well, essentially you'll never have to buy another air filter...

Most people are going to say yes. I have one in all my cars, daily driver grocery getter included. They do flow better than regular ol' paper filters, however, you may not notice an increase on the "butt dyno", as if you get any HP increase, it will maybe be between 5-10, and that you typically won't notice.

I wish I could've given you a more definite answer backed up by a dyno test. At CruiseFest 2004, I was at the dyno and had a brand new paper filter to put on after testing with my K&N. Unfortunately, I got the wrong size so I couldn't test it

I did run the dyno without ANY filter, and I definitely LOST noticeable power. This was basically due to the fact that the carb had work to suck turbulent air into the carb, versus air that was relatively calm & collected inside the filter assembly..

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Is installing a K&N Air filter worth the $$?

No. There is no gain in performance (despite the marketing BS) and for the same money you could buy a decades' worth of paper filters.

For those that want to argue that there IS a gain in horsepower, ask yourself how an airfilter can be less restrictive and do a adequate job of cleaning the air. There's no free lunch, save your money..

 

[Evolution1980]

...how [can] an airfilter can be less restrictive and do a adequate job of cleaning the air?

Other than pointing out that it's not necessarily less restrictive because it uses an oiled cotton-guaze like material versus treated paper, I can only say that better flow characteristics and less restrictive are not 100% mutual nor 100% indicative of it's ability to filter particulates in the air stream.

For me to say anything else relating to the technology would be simply 'reciting' what I've read on the box or in other reviews.

I suppose it's possible that 1000's of certifiable gearheads could be so wrongly duped, but I'll go along with 'em on this one. (If anything, I like the way the K&N looks better than a paper filter :L)

 

[Ken]

Hell, for that matter, I also use a K&N oil filter.

 

[Evolution1980]

Hell, for that matter, I also use a K&N oil filter.

!!! THREAD HIJACK ALERT !!! :L
I prefer the Mobil1 oil filter for the vette. I read a study where they filtered slightly better. However, that 1" bolthead on the K&N is a lifesaver when changing the oil in my daily driver due to it's location and orientation "up in there".

 

[Chas]

I run them...

And the top element too.-Chas

 

[Checklst]

They do actually do flow more air and filter as good as a paper(it the gauze overlapping layer design that accomplish this, but as for the HP gains the Mfg claims it is well within the 1 to 2 % error rate of the dyno. So on the hp claims I have to agree it's mostly advertising with just a little truth.



I don't run them on my cars because a couple of hp gain does not matter to me for the price, I would gain more speed if I lost 50 lbs off my fat A__ but I do run them on my high HP boats for the filter quality, and if you have ever seen a boat flame arrestor/filter you would laugh, the holes are so large it could pull your swim trunks off, and down intake they would go.

 

[Ken]

Basically, I imagine a watercraft air filter isn't exposed to the same contaminants (dust & dirt) as an engine on dry land, therefore the reasoning behind larger pores in the stock filter media.

 

[Checklst]

I use to think that until about 15 years ago I put on a K&N filter and in a 3 month summer the filter is full with dirt and packed a lot of sand. I do boat in both fresh and salt water. The sand blowing along the cost of the Keys is murder on an engine with just a flame arrester, I have rebuilt so many engines under 500 hours with bad piston scoring from dirt air it's not even funny anymore. Merc really does not care how often you rebuild Go Figure!!!

 

[Nut]

I've had 5-6 dyno pulls over the years with and without a K&N air filter. Picked up 5 hp but completely unnoticeable under driving conditions. But enough pulls on the rollers did validate the hp increase.

Yeah........ I use the K&N oil filter too Ken.

......... Nut

 

[75 flame orange]

i use them too
in all my cars
carmen

 

[Dean Barker]

I have to agree with Vettehead Mikey--You are not only throwing your money away, but you are going to let dirty air enter your engine. Anyone read the thread awhile ago on the K & N website from the guy with the Dodge diesel pickup that installed a K & N, then later found the air pipe from the filter to the turbo coated with dirt? I've also read tests dating back 40 years that oil wetted air filters can let up to 80% of the dirt through. I'll stick with the paper; most take out 99.99% of the dirt.

 

[Evolution1980]

I've also read tests dating back 40 years that oil wetted air filters can let up to 80% of the dirt through.

Not that in 40 years technology ever advances or anything... :eyerole :L

 

[Rob]

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/reviews/censura.php?tsid=1&csid=04e68fbaf87e4633774ec56ccb5dce16&cmd=details&itemid=105&username=Hib+Halverson

 

[Stallion]

...I did run the dyno without ANY filter, and I definitely LOST noticeable power. This was basically due to the fact that the carb had work to suck turbulent air into the carb, versus air that was relatively calm & collected inside the filter assembly..

How does that make sense?? There is little amount of air collected in the filter and once that is used up the carb has to suck the remaining air through the filter. How do you figure?

 

[Elpelon]

Is installing a K&N Air filter worth the $$?

Here's my 2 cents.



Paper filters No way! I rode bikes for years in the desert and everyone uses oiled filters. Riding in the desert especially with a group subjects your bike to extremely dirty conditions, sand, dirt and more dirt. Not once did I ever take my carburetor apart and find grit or dirt, the oil does a superior job in trapping dirt etc. Oiled filters are very good at protecting the intake. They are alittle messy to clean and prime but worth the effort.

 

[75 flame orange]

good for you-- that's the to tell'em

 

[Dean Barker]

One last question guys: What kind of filters do the giants of Agricultural and Construction machinery use? Namely John Deere and Cat.

 

[Ken]

I cannot find a single site where the recommended filter media is paper. Republic Sales Manufacturing Co. makers of MANN+HUMMEL filters, states (the filter media is kept secret):

MANN air filters have numerous important functions. They filter destructive particles such as dust, pollen, sand, soot or even drops of water out of the intake air. They ensure that only clean air gets into the combustion chamber. MANN air filters also prevent damage caused in various ways to electronic components such as highly delicate sensors (hot-film air flow meters).

Sounds to me like it's treated media, but I don't think it's paper.