I know this is not a truck, but I cant' think of a more valuable source to draw upon. I put K&N in the wife's taurus today. It had a printed message on the air box that said oil impregnated filters may void the warranty.

Does anyone know why this may be?

thanks in advance for your response.
Darin

------------------

97 F150 Lariat 4X4 Ext. Cab. 5.4, AT, Tow Pkg, bedliner, white/grey 2tone w/ grey leather, Fact. CD changer, Gibson Side Swept, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4's,Michelin LTX 265/70 16, Both doors cracked, Piston slap quieted by Mobile One & Slick 50 Synthetic.

 

If you over-oil the filter, the oil particles can get on the mass air sensor causing it to fail.

This situation is easily preventable just by not putting too much oil on the filter after you clean it.

 

I had the very same question, six months ago, when I installed a K&N on my wife's '98 Taurus. K&N indicated to me, when they first started offering filters for the Taurus, several owners were experiencing mass air flow sensor failures. Ford, according to the K&N rep, blamed the failure on the use of oiled filters. K&N and an "independent research firm" investigated and determined the failures to be due to a defective bunch of sensors Ford had outsourced. At any rate, K&N pitched a fit to Ford and got them to back off on their voided warranty threat. Supposedly, according to K&N, '99 and newer Tauruses don't have the previous warning on their air box. Supposedly. I kept the paper filter for the hopefully rare occasions the car requires warranty work.

------------------
'98 F150 XL Regular Cab, LWB, 4.2L V6, 5 Spd, 3.55 LS, Rhino Lining, factory heavy duty suspension, 3" Gibson Swept Side Cat Back, K&N filter, Oxford White minus the two tone garbage. BIG TIME FoMoCo p/u fan, not some fair weather hammerhead.

 

I think that somebody brought this up in another forum a month or so ago.
From what I remember there was a response from K&N in that topic.
Maybe in "other aftermarket"?

 

Oh yes they do have the warning! We have a 99 Sable (just a step up from a Taurus). I ordered a K&N for it, went to put it in, and there was the warning right on the airbox. I put it in anyways and kept the stock filter. We'll see what happens.

------------------
1998 F-150 SC 4X4, 5.4, ORP, Red clearcoat, K&N, Chrome push guard, roll bar & tube side steps, Smoke bug guard and tail light covers, Black bed mat & Ford mud flaps.
www.wrtc.com/oldbook/Truck5.jpg