Air Filter question
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 4
From: Rapid City, SoDak
You are 100% wrong here.
A K&N filter on a stock engine doesn't flow any more air than a stock filter. Yes, it is CAPABLE of flowing more air, but the stock filter is already capable of flowing more air than what the engine uses so it doesn't actually suck any more air through the filter.
They also do not keep out more impurities. In fact, the opposite is true. A K&N filter allows significantly more impurities through than a stock paper filter.
A K&N filter on a stock engine doesn't flow any more air than a stock filter. Yes, it is CAPABLE of flowing more air, but the stock filter is already capable of flowing more air than what the engine uses so it doesn't actually suck any more air through the filter.
They also do not keep out more impurities. In fact, the opposite is true. A K&N filter allows significantly more impurities through than a stock paper filter.
Not only does it flow more air than a stock filter it flows more air than no filter at all.
K&N reports a cumulative efficiency of between 96%-99% including BOTH coarse dust AND fine dust. - K&N Air Filter Efficiency Testing
Ford (Motorcraft) reports an efficiency of 98.5% only for the coarse dust test and doesn't even publish a rating for the fine dust - Motorcraft® Air Filters
Haters gonna hate...
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 505
Likes: 0
Its still a toss up i like the amsoil the s&b and theres a summit racing one the cheapest so far is the amsoil one is the cheaper so i might go that way.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: NC
For those with reuseable filters, I would advise you clean them as directed(some need oil, some don't, etc.) Also, going too long inbetween cleaning(which largely depends on your driving conditions) isn't recommeded either and that may be as short as 10K miles for some folks.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 505
Likes: 0
Ok got my air filter in from amsoil and to be honest it looks deciving. The filter looks like a stock fram filter except the paper is blue. Im sure it will work great but its not what i expected to see. Shipping was fast and cant wait to install it and see what happens
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
Stick with Motorcraft, Wix, or Purolator filters.
KN and the like does not keep out more dirt etc. It lets more in.
I don't ever believe tests that are done by the manufacturer of any product. They are trying to sell something.
KN and the like does not keep out more dirt etc. It lets more in.
I don't ever believe tests that are done by the manufacturer of any product. They are trying to sell something.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Brazoria, Texas
Thats the only thing I dont like about it. That is the only company I can find that provides that much info about their dry filter, so I will be getting one when my K&N needs cleaning next time. That will be soon because it seems to get dirty fast.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,409
Likes: 0
From: Clitherall, MN.
I bought an air hog filter for my 92 5.0 4 or 5 years ago. Wash it out every 6 mos or so .works great and only cost me 30 bucks.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 4
From: Rapid City, SoDak
Where are the independent test results showing that the K&N air filter lets more dirt in? People keep saying it but where's the proof? I listed test results from both manufacturers that prove the K&N to be better, that's how I can say it's better. How can you say it's not?
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 890
Likes: 1
Glad to see you went with the Amsoil filter. I love them. And for the fact that a K&N lets in more dirt, just look at a used oil analysis and look at the silica spikes on vehicles that run a K&N. If it kept out more dirt, they wouldn't sell socks for them for when you go off road.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 4
From: Nowthen, MN
Where are the independent test results showing that the K&N air filter lets more dirt in? People keep saying it but where's the proof? I listed test results from both manufacturers that prove the K&N to be better, that's how I can say it's better. How can you say it's not?
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 505
Likes: 0
Thats very intresting to read but I have trouble beliving that a acdelco filter is better and the only thing i can think of is that they are 99.3 percent because you put a new filter in every month. Thats great but to me Its just another thing to have to keep buying or i could just clean one that I have. I dont care if it is better then a K&N or any of that but that it protects the engine and last a long time. I think oiling a filter to catch dirt and debris seems to holds more dirt and debris hence water doesnt do much on oil.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 464
Likes: 5
From: Redmond, WA USA
Where are the independent test results showing that the K&N air filter lets more dirt in? People keep saying it but where's the proof? I listed test results from both manufacturers that prove the K&N to be better, that's how I can say it's better. How can you say it's not?
And the silica levels will also vary depending upon where you are in the country and also what time of year you are driving. If you are driving in wet, rainy conditions, silica levels will most likely be low, regardless of the filter type.
I'm with the others here, I have worked for too many companies and seen how they operate from the inside to know that any marketing materials or "objective" test results they put out are to be viewed with suspicion.
I've also seen first-hand the oily, dirty intakes on the downstream sides of oiled filter elements, on multiple cars, as well as gunked-up MAF sensors. So when K&N says that this never happens, or that they have never seen a damaged MAF sensor from using one of their filters, I call BS. Sure, you can chalk some of that up to over-oiling, but NONE of these problems exist at all when you use the stock, OEM paper filter element.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: Manchester, NH
It would be interesting to know 'clean' and 'dirty' flow rates in cfm so we could compare that to the known flow rat of the throttle bodies we are using. Your induction is limited most by what your TB will flow in the end.
I have a hard time believing that a K&N flows better then no filter at all. Maybe I missed the test showing this.