Is the K&M really that much better. The seals were finished on mine(k&m)....parts store told me it has lifetime warranty but I don't have a receipt *whispers* "maybe someone can fax a copy of one"

So I purchased the Fram platinum one or something like that. The K&M one was $70.00 (ouch)

 

I've read on here and other places on the web that the best performance (in terms of filtering while optimizing air flow) is the stock air filter.

 

First off, it's K&N not k&M. If the filter is bad, call K&N and tell them what is wrong. I'm assuming the seal you are talking about is the round seal that seals the two pieces of the intake together. They have come out with a one piece rubber replacement seal that they will send you free of charge if you call them and tell them it is defective. They just ask simple questions like how long you have had it and where you bought it but they don't ask for a reciept. Hope this helps.

 

lol....my bad yes K&N . yeah the 2 seals at the intake. The filter is quit dirty though. Can that be cleaned at all ?

 

Yes, you were supposed to have been cleaning it, ideally before it gets really dirty. They sell cleaning kits for this purpose. Just an FYI, a dirty K&N flows less air than a stock paper filter. The best feature of the K&N is the ability to clean and re-use it time after time without having to purchase a new filter.

 

Yeah I haven't been too maticulous on regular maintenance other than oil changes and what not.

But that's what I'm doing now, go through the maintenance program and giving it some TLC. It's a 99 and it's been very good to me. Not a spec of rust on the body (northern parts of Canada) thanks to yearly undercoating. I feel I owe my truck that much.

 

Ok, first off, that K&N will fit very nicely in the nearest trash receptacle. I have had too many problems of my own with them. Cleaning them is a pain, takes too long, costs too much. I bought my current drop in AFE ProDry for $45, the K&N costs around $70, similar to yours. The ProDryS rinses off with water, they you dry it and put it back in. No oil, no mess, no cleaning kit. Furthermore, K&N are famous for fouling the MAF filter, especially if you don't clean them or if you over oil them. The AFE filters on the other hand don't use oil, and flow freely while filtering at near OEM levels.

 

do yourself a favor and throw them all in the trash and stick with the factory filter. all the aftermarkets pass more dirt than factory and will eventually damage the interior of motor.

 

I disagree. AFE posts their particulate efficiencies, and those dry elements are just like paper, except they are washable. Don't knock them till you try them. My AFE filter will trap most pollen and some bacteria.

 

AGREE COMPLETELY! why spend $50-$75, when you can get a perfectly effective stock filter for $15 that will generally last a long time. Plus as they all claim, who is going to notice an increase of 20HP, unless your running full throttle at almost 7000rpms! The stock paper filter and intake works great, plus its pretty also the only true "cold" air intake if your opting to buy a cold air kit.

 

interesting points. I did read up on the K&N site and definitly sounds like alot of bs to clean and oil them.... I'll run with the fram one for now since I bought it and change it up to stock next oil change. Thanks guys.

 

mine catches some bacteria as well. I just use a fram paper filter. I think it resembles the stock one, but it's orange instead of black. don't know much about the particulate or the flow of it but it's been good to me.