question on k&n filters
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, California
I noticed no increase in performance or fuel economy with the K&N filter. But I did notice my oil getting darker much faster than before. I also noticed a lot of dust getting past the filter and covering the intake tube.
So I had my oil tested. One batch of oil with the K&N and the other with the paper element, and Blackstone labs noticed 3x above normal particulate (dirt) in my oil for the mileage. Essentially 3,500 miles with a K&N is like 10,000 miles with the paper filter.
K&N does plenty of marketing and hyping of their stuff, and sure it may give you 5 hp or so (only your imagination will notice on a heavy truck), but is it worth all that extra dirt getting into your engine?
If you do switch to a K&N, do yourself a favor and get your oil analyzed at the next oil change and see what results you get. It's worth the $20 bucks to see what's going into your engine.
So I had my oil tested. One batch of oil with the K&N and the other with the paper element, and Blackstone labs noticed 3x above normal particulate (dirt) in my oil for the mileage. Essentially 3,500 miles with a K&N is like 10,000 miles with the paper filter.
K&N does plenty of marketing and hyping of their stuff, and sure it may give you 5 hp or so (only your imagination will notice on a heavy truck), but is it worth all that extra dirt getting into your engine?
If you do switch to a K&N, do yourself a favor and get your oil analyzed at the next oil change and see what results you get. It's worth the $20 bucks to see what's going into your engine.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,389
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth,Tx
Originally Posted by MnFatz
You know. I'll bet it really is. They claim otherwise, but a rose is a rose. Same with their cleaning fluid. I'm convinced it's nothing more than watered-down dish soap.
I've run them on motorcycles for years. In the old days the first thing you did was rip out the airbox and put on individual K&N filters before you could do anything else.
If longevity is any sort of concern, I've had the same set since 1986 and they look as new as the day I bought them. I think there's a lifetime or million mile warranty anyhow.
-Fatz
I've run them on motorcycles for years. In the old days the first thing you did was rip out the airbox and put on individual K&N filters before you could do anything else.
If longevity is any sort of concern, I've had the same set since 1986 and they look as new as the day I bought them. I think there's a lifetime or million mile warranty anyhow.
-Fatz
ive always used engine degreaser to clean my filter or just regular car soap and a tire brush to srub it with. filter is holding up well and i think i oil it like once every 6 months
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 4
From: Friendswood Texas
i would be careful.
one of the old gardner tricks is to add a dish washing soap to a mixture and the soap acts as a "stickers". if you dont get all of the soap out, the filter could get dirty much faster.
Dawn dish washing liquid is a detergent and might be a better choice . for a little as the filter has to be cleaned i would just use the recomended cleaner, i have never had to use a brush or scrub my filter , just the pressure of tap water should do it.
one of the old gardner tricks is to add a dish washing soap to a mixture and the soap acts as a "stickers". if you dont get all of the soap out, the filter could get dirty much faster.
Dawn dish washing liquid is a detergent and might be a better choice . for a little as the filter has to be cleaned i would just use the recomended cleaner, i have never had to use a brush or scrub my filter , just the pressure of tap water should do it.