K&N air filter - I think I can really tell a difference

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

While maybe not the best comparison group, K&N filters are highly shunned by the classic BMW motorcycle folks. Issues with the frame being too pliable and not sealing well and the amount of crap that gets through the filter. I go Toyota filter only.

Had same issue with Toyota mini truck filter, luckily it made a noise as the air passed over the gasket thus the reason I knew there was a problem other wise I wouldn't of known that the filter was not filtering but was just letting the air go past the side of the filter.
 
What's a "MAF"?

Mass Air Flow sensor.

there are a number of ways of making them, but i believe on 1995-1997 cruisers we are talking about a hot wire MAF.

Basically, a wire is heated by either carefully regulated voltage or carefully regulated current. As the wire is heated, it's resistance increases. The more air you move past it, the cooler it gets. of course, this means that the computer needs to know the temperature of the air coming through the filter as well.

Some people believe that oiled filters will lead to oil deposits on the MAF, which will ruin it until you, well, clean the oil off of it, with a can of MAF cleaner, or by soaking the MAF in straight rubbing alcohol for a while and then drying it carefully.

These people are usually unaware that K&N Filter Oil is actually a wax, and that if you neither over-apply it nor reinstall it before it has dried, no K&N Filter Oil (which is a wax) will coat your MAF.

I use the K&N product on the washable filter on my 2007 GTI. No MAF issues there - and believe me the computer in the GTI would let me know. It does get dirty fast though.
 
My rig had a K&N when I got her and it was the first thing I ditched :meh:

I've been selling K&N filters for years and all I know is this:


When they're clean, they flow great and filter like crap :doh:

When they're dirty, they filter great and flow like crap :o


Do yourself a favor and put an OEM filter in there :cool:

It's much larger, washable and cheaper :)

I have two so I just clean and swap them out when needed :grinpimp:
 
If the Engineers did such a good job at designing a vehicle (the Toyota Land Cruiser!), I would think they would realize the importance of dust filtration, combined with the greatest possible air flow. I would think it would be hard to find something better than what they designed.
 
I checked my mileage after my last fill-up on Sunday night. I got an additional 1.4 mpg over my previous best. :)
 
Had one in my 2000 maxima and the MAF went bad after about a month which caused all kinds of acceleration problems and made me think the tranny was bad. After I cleaned the MAF the car drove fine for a while but I eventually had to replace the MAF with a new one. Needless to say the K&N filter ended up in the garbage. Wouldn't even rest on my hood now
 
I had a similar experience in my Tacoma. I had to clean the MAF frequently, especially after off road trips. I changed to a regular paper filter and I stopped needing to clean the MAF. Perhaps I used too much oil, but I didn't notice any power difference, and in my mind it's not worth the hassle for no gain.
 
I use the OME washable filter for on road use and a Wix paper filter for offroad use. Once the filter minder is installed, I'll have a better understanding of how "dirty" a dirty filter really is.
 
I talked to K&N about how there was dust/**** getting past the filter. I could see pin holes of light through the filter. They said their filter is made to increase airflow and with that it will not filter as well as a normal air filter.
If you drive in dry gravel roads then you will get some dust past the filter.

That pretty much sums it up. You can't go wrong with OEM:cheers:
 
Anyone have a dry flow, washable filter they like? What brand/ model? I to prefer better filtration over temporary marginal performance increase.
 
Anyone have a dry flow, washable filter they like? What brand/ model? I to prefer better filtration over temporary marginal performance increase.

Toyota OEM filter is a dry flow, washable filter as mentioned previously.:D
 
In the 70s they were sold/promoted for off-road-Baja-type racing. Claimed the outside could cover with dirt but still not get through or restrict air flow as it collected dirt. I think the key is to clean often. Your average person with one on a car doesn't want to do it and doesn't realize they must be oiled.
what do you mean they must be oiled?
 
what do you mean they must be oiled?
Oiled air filters are meant to be coated in a special oil, and re-oiled after being cleaned - it's what makes them work the way they do

I'm not recommending them, just saying
 
Last edited:
Oiled air filters are meant to be coated in a special oil, and re-oiled after being cleaned - it's what makes them work the way they do
do they come oiled stock?

I'll look up a youtube video.
 
Oiled air filters are meant to be coated in a special oil, and re-oiled after being cleaned - it's what makes them work the way they do
Also, I was going to sell this, but now wondering if I should use it....
 
Back
Top Bottom