KN airfilter how good

[jake wells]

im tired of changing my filter every 3 months because dirt and dust plug it solid and it is a nasty black. i thought about kn filters but im unsure about how well they work and last.

does anyone run one? just need an idea.

 

[f1shman]

K&N's are decent as long as you keep up the maintenance on them. If you have a K&N, you won't be replacing the filter, but you should take it off and clean it and then oil it again before putting it back in. One word of advice though, I would not run the K&N x-stream top. One backfire up through the carb and there's a good chance that style of lid will catch fire.

 

[jake wells]

sounds good dust is the biggest problem around here. gravel and dirt roads suck
im tying to pipe the air cleaner in the cab to reduce dust via the snorkel getting piped into the firewall.

i have no problem cleaning and oiling a filter as long as it cleans the air.
25$ a filter is getting me but of course i use Ac delco air filters with a foam precleaner.

 

[crazy4offroad]

As long as a vehicle don't have a mass airflow sensor they're great. Otherwise the oil messes up the sensor.

 

[skysurfer]

K&N is a great filter if you like dirt in your engine. The oem AC Delco filter outperforms K&N in every aspect of this test.

http://home.roadrunner.com/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm


I admit it, at one time I bought into the advertising hype and put a K&N in my truck. I'm not too proud to admit it was a mistake. The K&N went in the trash.

 

[Mr Clean]

I have to agree with skysufer, I didn't like my K&N filter either. I use Wix air and oil filters.

 

[dhamp]

I haven't run one in my truck (only put about 3k/year on it), but I do run K&Ns in my DD and my wife's. The paper filters KILL the throttle response otherwise. I read all the warnings about the MAF & throttle body damage after running them for several years already. One problem is that people over do it with the oil. Probably because the instructions tell you to coat it with oil until the filter turns back red. I just coat mine very lightly, then let it sit overnight while the oil wicks through the element and evens out. Screw all that spraying oil down every single pleat one at a time. I bend it back a little so the pleats open up, and go over the whole thing. 180k on my last car with a K&N, 78k on wife's, 68k on my current DD and never had the first problem.

That being said, there are a few washable filters on the market now that do not require oiling. One is green, and I think there is a Cool Blue brand that's oil free also. I'm considering converting mine over at some point.

 

[89Suburban]

I have a K&N in mine, came with it when I bought it. I haven't done anything to it and I can still see through it nicely. It I am happy with it, the performance of it, and the money I am saving over multiple paper filters. When it comes time to clean it and re-oil it, I will be doing so.

 

[Jims86]

K&N are crap by themselves, and let a lot of dirt through. They should be used with the foam outer filter, if used at all. the best thing in my opinion to do is get a larger stock paper type wix filter, which will yield the same effect as going to a K&N, you can also install another, or bigger snorkel on your air cleaner.
If they have one for your app., Amsoil`s blue air filters are really good.

 

[jake wells]

i think i will stick to a stock one but i might change to wix or purolator brand

 

[skysurfer]

I have a K&N in mine... I haven't done anything to it and I can still see through it nicely.

lol, that's because it's not stopping any dirt.

 

[DirtyC30]

lol, that's because it's not stopping any dirt.

You have to consider that a K&N filter is not designed for maximum filtration it is designed for maximum air flow. The material allows alot of fine particles through (ie dirt and dust), which means they are great for on road, but terrible for offroad. IMO. For what it's worth I've run K&Ns on two 383 strokers, one 408 stroker, a 347 stroker, and currently on a supercharger application with no problems. I've also had one on my C30 for two years with no problem...but it is a pavement pounder

 

[DesertBob]

I have run them on Jeeps, Trucks and on my Motor Home. Used to race dirt bikes in the SoCal desert so all of these vehicles spent a lot of the time in the dust and sand. I kept them oiled correctly and ran a pre-filter. Never had any engine failures or issues. Would run one on the Square but have to figure out how to run a pre-filter using the stock cleaner housing.

 

[dhamp]

K&N are crap by themselves, and let a lot of dirt through. They should be used with the foam outer filter, if used at all. the best thing in my opinion to do is get a larger stock paper type wix filter, which will yield the same effect as going to a K&N, you can also install another, or bigger snorkel on your air cleaner.
If they have one for your app., Amsoil`s blue air filters are really good.

I've read where others have said this, but the TBs on our DDs are always remarkably clean when they go in for service, so I don't really buy it. The point of the oil is to retain the smaller particles that would otherwise pass through the more breathable filter. It seems to work on mine. However, mine is all pavement, so that could be the difference. A bunch of dust and oil would probably cake up the filter so bad that there would be no benefit to it.

 

[Jims86]

I've read where others have said this, but the TBs on our DDs are always remarkably clean when they go in for service, so I don't really buy it. The point of the oil is to retain the smaller particles that would otherwise pass through the more breathable filter. It seems to work on mine. However, mine is all pavement, so that could be the difference. A bunch of dust and oil would probably cake up the filter so bad that there would be no benefit to it.

You can`t judge an air filter by what you see, its what you dont see. TBI and carbs tend to stay visually clean, because they always have fuel rushing by the throttle blades, keeping them clean. K&n are ok in a cleaner on road environment, but I woud still use the prefilter foam doohicky, sock thing-a-ma-bobber as a little extra insurance. Hands down, Wix or Donaldson Paper filters for off road/ultra dusty work site situations.