I have been an avid K&N user for years. But recently, I found out that my K&N was letting more dirt into my engine than my Motorcraft paper element.

After running my K&N for 5K miles, I noticed some light dust in the intake tube after the filter. After reinstalling my Motorcraft paper filter, absolutely clean after 5K miles. For fun, I decided to try the K&N filter again. After 3K miles, the light dust was back.

Quite a few people on this board have mentioned the same thing, and I figured it could be caused by a couple of things ...

- The K&N has some pretty large gaps in the cotton that will allow fine dirt to pass through it.

- The rubber/foam base part of the filter (that seals between the two parts of the air filter housing) is only about half as thin as the Motorcraft element. I think some dirty air may bypass the filter through this section.

Either way, for what little gain I got with the K&N, I would prefer to have the extra protection of the paper element.

Those who have experience or currently use K&N filters, what do you think about it?

 

I have also been a user of K&N air filters along w/ other products for years. I have had nothing but the best results. I had a drop in filter in my f150 until yesterday when I installed the FIPK.

Did you use the K&N recharge kit w/ your filter. Dirt will "adhere" to the oil, therefore, making it a better "filter". A post on here a short while ago proved that most people don't clean their filters unless they are in excess of 20K miles. Others were going as long as 50K.

I didn't have my filter in my truck long enough to clean it, but I only cleaned it once in the 18 months I had it on my car.

Do a search for K&N and you can read the other forum how often people were cleaning their filters.

Sorry to hear you had bad results!

 

As was already said you need to make sure to keep the filter oiled. This works the same as a two stroke filter. If you dont oil them the dust will for sure get thru.

 

There will always be mixed thoughts on the use of the K&N type filters as opposed to the regular stock type elements. It just stands to reason that if you have a filter element that claims "more" airflow then there has to be a reason for it. The reason is it's not as restrictive. It's just a chance you take with a filter like that. Yes, you will get more airflow but you take the chance of dust and dirt marticles making it through as well. I have used the K&N filter in my mustang days, but I never felt there was any meaningfull difference in the performance it added versus the chances of it causing me "avoidable" drivability headaches such as a dirty MAF, or other various things. It all just comes down to a persons preference. Happy driving!



-Brian

 

How do you think they get the better flow. I think K&N air filter are ok if you stay on the road. You do not want to be in dusty cond all the time that's for sure.

 

I have a K&N in all of my vehicles (3 cars and 2 4-wheelers). I have been using them for years and a combined 150k miles between them and my past vehicles. I have never noticed any dirt sitting inside my intake after the filter. Always clean. I tend to clean them when they get really dirty. Usually takes a couple passes of cleaner. I let them dry completely in the sun before oiling. I oil, let dry for 15 minutes, then go over again if necessary.

I cannot change your experience, but I know too many people that have put hundreds of thousands of miles on oiled cotton filters and never had problems. But if paper works for you, that is great too.

 

Actually, K&N's are used on Apache Helicopters in the desert. Some on this site (and others) clean there filter every 5k, 10k, 20k and that is not how the filter was designed. As the filter gets dirtier, it becomes a better filter. Even at it's dirtiest, it allows more air through than a standard filter.

 

I have a paper filter in my garage that's almost new so I'm going to throw it in there. My truck started pinging the other day which means I have to clean my MAF and reset the computer. I've been doing this every 3,000 miles and I'm getting tired of it so I might as well try this paper filter since I already have it.

The oil from the K&N seems to be fouling the MAF sensor. Either that or I have bigger problems and maybe need to clean my EGR.
We'll see.

 

Ok check this out k&n filters are oiled . This means oils will pass through the filter with the air. you can compensate for this by installing a small piece of mesh screen at the back of the filter this will not keep oil particles from getting through but it will help to atomize the partices...a air flow shredder of sorts. this will also keep the maf sensor from getting as nasty between cleanings. as far as the concern with the thckness of the rubber seal at the filter housing just cut the rubber ring off your stock paper cone and you can use that to hold your screen into place
the filter will be more difficult to install but it will definately seal
also for you off road guys get your hands on a k&n catalog use a pre filter cover it will keep your oil soaked k&n from becoming clogged with mud dust etc... they slip on and slip off quickly and make a world of difference in the life of the filter.

 

No noticeable dirt or dust behind my K&N either . . . clean as a whistle

 

I'm curious about the Accell 'Cool Blue Filters"...anybody have experiance with them?...know where to get them?...cheap?

 

I put the paper filter back in today and to me there is a noticable difference. Seems like the engine is not breathing as well and the exhaust note on my Gibson super truck cat back even sounds a little different. I cleaned the MAF even though it didn't look dirty and reset the computer. Pinging is a less but not all gone. I'm running a tank of Chevron Techron fuel injector cleaner thru it and see if that helps and check the MPG. If that doesn't do it I might wait for fall to clean the EGR since it's so darn hot out right now to work on my truck. Over 100* everyday now.

 

Yeah but thats"dry heat" right? hehe just teasing..it's in the lower 90's with 70% humidity..you could provide water to several Arab Nations by yourself at that %...anybody got a wetvac for my socks?

 

I got rid of my K&N over 2 years ago, when I had the same problems with dust/dirt in the Intake.

Since going with paper I have no apparent reduction in power or fuel economy.

Also my K&N didn't seem to fit in the housing as well as I thought it should.

 

just thinking, but maybe the reason dust would appear to be passing through the filter is because any particles that DO pass through a K&N have a small amount of oil on them and thus it would be easy to stick to the intake path. I suspect that a small amount of particles pass through a paper filter but since they are passing through a dry filter it would be more difficult for the particles to attach to the intake tract. All filters pass a small amount of dust particles IMO.