K&N Air filter for SuperCharger?

[Ting]

Normally, I am all about OEM, but someone recommended K&N air filter for my SuperCharger? It will flow more air? Any comments?

Thanks...

 

[slick621]

No idea . . . but if you decide you want one, I have one I'd be willing to part with. "Thread hijack off."

 

[jamisobe]

Bascially, They flow better but they don't filter a particulate as small as the paper filter. At least until they get dirty, at that point they began to flow more like a paper filter and you lose your big advantage. If you run one (I do) you may want to run a paper filter on off-road excursions.

We just had a breif exchange about K&Ns here:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=114570

 

[airlaird]

I have an open kit for my 95' S/C. Personally, those that have never had an open air kit have no idea about the benefits. YES, they are give you more power..about 8 more h.p. I have had mine on for 10 years with and with and without the S/C. BUT, K&N does have the pink fluid on their filters. Buy another type that does not have the fluid. There are dry filters out there. The K@N filters will gunk up the sensor with the pink stuff. I have my snorkel inlet pointed directly at my filter and no doubt....it gives you more power. You can't deny the laws of physics...more air in an engine= more power.
airlaird

 

[Ting]

Thanks for the feedback. Here is what I am going to do I will buy 2 filters.



Normal highway - K&N

Offroad / Dirt - OEM

 

[Ting]

I have an open kit for my 95' S/C. Personally, those that have never had an open air kit have no idea about the benefits. YES, they are give you more power..about 8 more h.p. I have had mine on for 10 years with and with and without the S/C. BUT, K&N does have the pink fluid on their filters. Buy another type that does not have the fluid. There are dry filters out there. The K@N filters will gunk up the sensor with the pink stuff. I have my snorkel inlet pointed directly at my filter and no doubt....it gives you more power. You can't deny the laws of physics...more air in an engine= more power.
airlaird

Where do I buy dry K&N ?

 

[jamisobe]

I think the problem with the K&N oil is realized after they are cleaned and reoiled. I was offered the suggestion of not cleaning and reoiling. But rather pitching the dirty K&N after 40-50k and replacing.

There are other brands but they use the same oiled guauze technology. I've never looked at the others. You can get them almost anywhere. Cheaper by mail.

 

[cruiserdan]

I took my K & N out and tossed it.

 

[Bearcat80]

Me too. My oil analysis showed a bunch of silicone, aka dirt, so I put an OEM filter in and this solved the problem.

 

[kennyv0826]

I've read in the off road mags and heard on the truck shows (Xtreme 4x4 & Trucks) and from K&N that the K&N fillters better and flows more air. They reccomend the use of a K&N.

I have always had good luck with my K&N's so I am suprised to hear the negative reviews.

 

[jamisobe]

I've read in the off road mags and heard on the truck shows (Xtreme 4x4 & Trucks) and from K&N that the K&N fillters better and flows more air. They reccomend the use of a K&N.

I have always had good luck with my K&N's so I am suprised to hear the negative reviews.

Have you ever been in very dusty conditions or had an oil analysis? When I finally make to the sand dunes down by the Gulf I think I will go ahead and switch to paper. At least while I'm there.

 

[SUMOTOY]

Here's my .02 on K&N. I just don't use them, period., especially not on expensive turbo race car motors. If customers insist on them, I put them in. I stock the filter oil even. The best suggestion I've read here? Once it's clogged, toss it and buy another. The problem with K&N IMO, it's a race part. It really should be routinely serviced. If it's not, it quickly causes more restriction than a stock filter. I tell anyone that asks to just increase the frequency change of the stock filter.

The filter in the 80 is really good. If I was looking for more airflow, I'd put in another snorkel to the box.

Way over rated IMO. It's certainly not necessary on a supercharged 80, and it certainly causes more crap to get into the intake IME. The filter Mr. T give you for the 80 is about the beefiest and best high flow design for it's size I've ever seen. It was designed for the sandstorms of the desert applications to boot.

Buy a boost guage, and get a quantity discount on some stock of the paper filters.

My .02

ST
94 FZJ80 Supercharged w/paper filter

 

[kennyv0826]

Have you ever been in very dusty conditions or had an oil analysis? When I finally make to the sand dunes down by the Gulf I think I will go ahead and switch to paper. At least while I'm there.

I never got an oil analysis, I just check it myself to see if it looks dirty. I drive about 50K miles a year and it always seemd like my oil got darker quicker when using the stock filter instead of K&N. Never done any scientific testing though

So is eveybody saying that there is a lot of the filter oil that blows through and causes issues?

 

[cary]

I never got an oil analysis, I just check it myself to see if it looks dirty. I drive about 50K miles a year and it always seemd like my oil got darker quicker when using the stock filter instead of K&N. Never done any scientific testing though

So is eveybody saying that there is a lot of the filter oil that blows through and causes issues?

Looking at whether an oil is dark or not tells you nothing about its condition.

K&N Filters allow a lot more dirt in. The reason they are popular with the off road RACE crowd is they will handle a lot more dirt than paper before clogging. The fact they allow more dirt into the engine than paper is irrelavant to the them, because their engines are rebuilt regularly.

In addition to allowing more dirt in, as others have said the oil on the K&N ends up on the hot wire sensor and causes problems with it. The stock filter on the 80 is great, and the OEM one can be washed several times.

 

[jamisobe]

Looking at whether an oil is dark or not tells you nothing about its condition.

K&N Filters allow a lot more dirt in. The reason they are popular with the off road RACE crowd is they will handle a lot more dirt than paper before clogging. The fact they allow more dirt into the engine than paper is irrelavant to the them, because their engines are rebuilt regularly.

In addition to allowing more dirt in, as others have said the oil on the K&N ends up on the hot wire sensor and causes problems with it. The stock filter on the 80 is great, and the OEM one can be washed several times.

K&N filters are popular as an aftermarket street modification also. They work well on the street because they block most dirt just as a paper filter ( I don't have the filter pass study on hand but they're close ). The problem is fine dust or sand. Driving around town or on the freeway you may encounter little fine particulate matter, but out on the dusty trails I can understand the disadvantage.

I have to disagree that they allow detrimental damage to intakes since I have clocked over 300k miles with K&Ns in 3 different vehicles. I know others who have as well and I have never seen an engine come apart. The only intake/engine problem I ever had with any aforementioned vehicles was recently on my Ford Taurus after I reoiled a K&N and the MAF had to be replaced (under warranty). I learned later that a wipe of the MAF with a cloth would probably of fixed it. Anyway, I will no longer clean and reoil. But, I like the free flowing air so I will replace when dirty and swtich out for the trails. If I am ever convinced that the paper filter flows as much as the K&N I might change my mind.

Doing an oil analysis probably wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[cary]

I have to disagree that they allow detrimental damage to intakes since I have clocked over 300k miles with K&Ns in 3 different vehicles. I know others who have as well and I have never seen an engine come apart. The only intake/engine problem I ever had with any aforementioned vehicles was recently on my Ford Taurus after I reoiled a K&N and the MAF had to be replaced (under warranty). I learned later that a wipe of the MAF with a cloth would probably of fixed it. Anyway, I will no longer clean and reoil. But, I like the free flowing air so I will replace when dirty and swtich out for the trails. If I am ever convinced that the paper filter flows as much as the K&N I might change my mind.

Doing an oil analysis probably wouldn't be a bad thing.

So in other words, in 300,000 miles you have only had one MAF fail from the K&N filter. BTW, did your other vehicles have a MAF sensor, I would bet not.

As far as the freer flowing air, I don't buy it. At best you might see a 1hp gain, but auto manufactures would be putting in larger air filters if there were to be any horsepower gain.

As far as lots of people running them in street cars, who cares? Many people when tuning their cars put lowering springs in without shocks and do many other things that cause their cars to perform less than optimal in the interest of what is cool, that doesn't mean it should be done.

 

[Ting]

WIX

Guys,

Any opinion on WIX filter? I am pretty happy with my WIX Air filter with my Acura. By the way, NAPA Gold filter is made by WIX.

 

[jamisobe]

So in other words, in 300,000 miles you have only had one MAF fail from the K&N filter. BTW, did your other vehicles have a MAF sensor, I would bet not.

How much ya wanna bet? They all have or had MAFs.

As far as the freer flowing air, I don't buy it. At best you might see a 1hp gain, but auto manufactures would be putting in larger air filters if there were to be any horsepower gain.

I have seen research that I believed to be conclusive that air flow is increased significantly in at least the control applications. I believe that gains are more in the neighborhood of 5hp or more depending on engine displacement. It would take dyno testing to determine with certainty.

Why don't all car manufacturers use headers, high flow cats, performance mufflers, etc? Cost maybe. Maybe they don't like that under certain conditions guaze type filters are not ideal.

As far as lots of people running them in street cars, who cares? Many people when tuning their cars put lowering springs in without shocks and do many other things that cause their cars to perform less than optimal in the interest of what is cool, that doesn't mean it should be done.

I just don't agree with you that the K&N is a worthless mod. It may have drawbacks as such have been discussed but the facts suggest that there can be advantages to there use.

All poo poo aside. Find me conclusive stats that K&Ns offer nothing to gain and I will pitch mine.

 

[MTNRAT]

IMHO more than worthless mod
Cheers,
Sean

 

[jamisobe]

IMHO more than worthless mod
Cheers,
Sean

At least your giving us your honest opinion rather than a not so honest one. If you feel strongly enough to chime in than why not throw up a study to support your opinon.