K&N filters: Bad or good

[Relix]

I'm just posing this question for a friend of mine & we are having a disagreement about weather or not K&N filters are good or not for your engine...Now there are a few kinds of good and my fiend would like me to make sure Iam specific..

Good performance?
Good Filtration
Good cost effective (long run)

What is CSC's opinion on this matter

 

[MaddBaggins]

I've heard both camps on this and both have valid points. When I bought my rig it had a K&N in it, so I kept it. I also have an OEM filter.
IMO K&N=good air flow and decent filtration, last for frickin ever, but in really dusts conditions I can see how it may let to much chit get thru.
IMO OEM=enough air flow, good filtration, and its washable so it last a while

Since I have both, I will use the K&N once in a while for highway running and around town. I use the OEM most of the time and for offroad. I have tried to see if I can tell any difference between them. NOPE, so I stick to the OEM for the most part and if I didn't have the K&N it wouldn't hurt my feelings.

My .02

 

[Scott68FJ40]

I have been running K&N in everything I own for years. The key to the K&N though is keeping it cleaned and oiled. If you don't do a good job oiling it, it does nothing.

 

[Relix]

IMO OEM=enough air flow, good filtration, and its washable so it last a while

OEM filters are washable?

 

[MaddBaggins]

OEM filters are washable?

The 80 series filter is, don't know about the rest of them. Wash with water and mild soap, let air dry, re-install.

 

[Relix]

The 80 series filter is, don't know about the rest of them. Wash with water and mild soap, let air dry, re-install.

interesting, and they are a dry(no oil) filter?

 

[MaddBaggins]

interesting, and they are a dry(no oil) filter?

Yup, dry. They just look like any old paper type filter. If I remember, I'll take it out of the canister and read it. If I remember right it can only be washed like a dozen times or so before it gets worn out.

 

[RHINO]

if i'm runnin in heavy dust i just stretch a panty hose over the KN, and i have what i need to wash and re-oil on the trail if need be.

 

[sjpitts]

if i'm runnin in heavy dust i just stretch a panty hose over the KN, and i have what i need to wash and re-oil on the trail if need be.

So that is why you always have an extra pair of panty hose on the trail? Riiiiiiiight.

No really, I believe you.

Jared

not that there is anything wrong with that . . . .

 

[RHINO]

hey dude sand in my hose is ok

 

[grrlscout89FJ62]

PO put a KN in mine. I guess it's OK.

My question is, what do I do to maintain it?

 

[Scott68FJ40]

There is nothing to maintaining a K&N filter. Just go down to your local auto parts store and pick up the cleaning kit. Has the cleaning solvent and the oil. Follow the directions and you are set.

Personally, I am a big fan of K&N.

 

[Previa Diesel]

http://home.usadatanet.net/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm

Q: how do you get more flow from a smaller element?
A: make the holes bigger.

 

[BMAN]

I have run K&N in all of my rigs for years. The 40's a bitch cause it needs cleaned after every trip but either way It's worth the investment IMO. Haven't decided yet if I'll be running one on the 60 or not. I'll be builing a custom snorkle for it and may or may not use an inline K&N type filter.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

K&N make a good filter is you keep it oiled and clean!
A dry K&N is like having no filter at all.

 

[Previa Diesel]

PO put a KN in mine. I guess it's OK.

My question is, what do I do to maintain it?

My question is: Why should you have to maintain it?

The study at that link I posted showed how crappy K&N's performance really is.

I'm not sure what all the excitement is about, unless it's just that they look "cool" to some people.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

My question is: Why should you have to maintain it?

The study at that link I posted showed how crappy K&N's performance really is.

I'm not sure what all the excitement is about, unless it's just that they look "cool" to some people.

Interesting report maybe a diesel thing.

K&N in my 80 showed the exact same results on a Blackstone lab report for dirt compared to a new OEM washable filter.

I do use an OEM filter because its in a sealed can and is hard to monitor its condition.

 

[RHINO]

oh forget it i'm not gonna get into another squabble with another one of these,"read one thing and believe it" guys. hell if your so easy to impress i'll read you the story about how the government took down the trade center with implosive devices and the planes were radio controlled so we would back Bush's war.

the plain and simple truth is this, if you like to perform your own maintinance, like to tinker with your rig and would enjoy a very mild boost in power install the K&N.

if you like the way your rig drives and would rather pay others to maintain your rig like previa seems to, dont install a K&N

and before you get all bent previa, read what you wrote "My question is: Why should you have to maintain it?" which tells me maintenance is no fun to you and someone else must change oil, check tire pressure refill washer fluid, replace old wipers and all the other mundane little regular maintinance issues one must deal with to own a vehicle. sell your rig and ride the bus dude.

 

[Previa Diesel]

oh forget it i'm not gonna get into another squabble with another one of these,"read one thing and believe it" guys. hell if your so easy to impress i'll read you the story about how the government took down the trade center with implosive devices and the planes were radio controlled so we would back Bush's war. the plain and simple truth is this, if you like to perform your own maintinance, like to tinker with your rig and would enjoy a very mild boost in power install the K&N. if you like the way your rig drives and would rather pay others to maintain your rig like previa seems to, dont install a K&N and before you get all bent previa, read what you wrote "My question is: Why should you have to maintain it?" which tells me maintenance is no fun to you and someone else must change oil, check tire pressure refill washer fluid, replace old wipers and all the other mundane little regular maintinance issues one must deal with to own a vehicle. sell your rig and ride the bus dude.

I know I should ignore you, but this won't take long:

1. My point was that a smaller element could only offer larger flow by having larger air passages through the media.

2. The comment that K&N filters are used by racers confirms my suggestion: quality of filtration is being sacrficed for higher flow in a short term use situation where the engines are probably rebuilt between each race and the damage from particulates that a more dense filter would exclude is not as imporant as higher short term performance.

3. I fail to see why it should be necessary to oil a filter. Make it large enough that it can allow the necessary flow while excluding damaging particulates. However, if you like oiling your filter in the privacy of your own home, I certainly don't want to deprive you of the pleasure.

4. I offered information I thought might be useful to someone here. That's all.

5. As for my mechanical aptitude; your powers of deduction suggest your nickname was never "Sherlock".

 

[RHINO]

5. As for my mechanical aptitude; your powers of deduction suggest your nickname was never "Sherlock".

bwahaha!!!! good comeback my friend!! thanks for the sarcastic reply i love it.