K&N Filter Dusting
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Home Base Nebraska
So, during my many tasks on the truck these past weeks I took the K&N out for a cleaning. I've owned the truck for a year now and haven't serviced it. I have taken it out to inspect for cleanliness.
While cleaning the filter I noticed it wasn't very well oiled and while doing other tasks I noticed dust on the inside of the intake tube on the engine side. I believe the filter was sealing against the MAF body.
Wish I had could've got a pic. Has anyone seen this with a K&N filter?
While cleaning the filter I noticed it wasn't very well oiled and while doing other tasks I noticed dust on the inside of the intake tube on the engine side. I believe the filter was sealing against the MAF body.
Wish I had could've got a pic. Has anyone seen this with a K&N filter?
I've had one in my present truck form 10K miles (when I changed out the original) and it now has 126K and there has never been any dust or dirt in the intake tube and I have never had to clean my MAF. If you follow the instructions they work just fine. I have also used them in my work trucks for years when I was still working with the same results.
Denny
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,215
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From: WV
Agreed. I've had one in my SD for almost 30k miles and never had any dusting or oiled MAF sensor. Along with that I've had one in my '94 Explorer for about 60k miles with the same results. Same story in my wife's '01 Taurus with around 20k miles on it so far.
I keep them serviced properly and they seem to work fine.
I keep them serviced properly and they seem to work fine.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon, OR
The dusting issue with oiled gauze filters is an old one. All filters pass some particles. If you have a 15 micron filter, particles smaller than 15 microns will pass. I first witnessed the dusting on an '02/7.3 that I used to have. After consulting with several of my techno-buddies we couldn't decide if this was happening because the K&N was actually passing more dirt than the stock filter, or if it was because the inside of the tube was oily and catching the particles allowing them to be seen. When I called K&N, the representative was as cagy with his answers as their media advertising is in print. They talk all about flow, but the issue of filtration quality seems to be an unwanted nuisance. In fact, when I mentioned the possibility of "witnessing" due to the oily tube, he grabbed that ball and ran with it. He'd apparently not heard that one before and liked it a lot. Based on this, I tossed my K&N in the trash and went back to stock. I still have to wonder what the best filter media is though. I've owned Honda dirt bikes and ATV's nearly all my life that use an oiled FOAM filter and never dusted an engine or come anywhere close, and these are machines that are routinely ridden in very dusty conditions. I wish I knew what the right answer was because it seems logical that the oiled filter would be more effective at stopping dirt because not only is it using a physical barrier, but also has the added benefit of the oil to grab and stick to the particles that otherwise would pass. More than anything it was the company's (K&N) inability to give me a firm and confident answer that scared me away. They absolutely would not talk micron numbers. Someday when I'm rich and idle I'll buy all the necessary equipment and give us all the definitive answers!! -- As mentioned above, if you stay with an oiled filter you WILL have to clean the various intake tract sensors on a somewhat regular schedule.
So the filter was not properly oiled when serviced last time so it's K&N fault
I've had one in my present truck form 10K miles (when I changed out the original) and it now has 126K and there has never been any dust or dirt in the intake tube and I have never had to clean my MAF. If you follow the instructions they work just fine. I have also used them in my work trucks for years when I was still working with the same results.
Denny
I've had one in my present truck form 10K miles (when I changed out the original) and it now has 126K and there has never been any dust or dirt in the intake tube and I have never had to clean my MAF. If you follow the instructions they work just fine. I have also used them in my work trucks for years when I was still working with the same results.
Denny
I too have used Uni filters amongst other brands on bikes and never seen this issue inside the intake tubes even if they run a bit short on oil.
Plus, Manufacturers aren't dumb and most intakes aren't that restrictive anymore, not that there isn't some that are. There are space concerns sometimes. I'd like to see the before and after mileage and power difference vs stock and K and N when I switch to stock.
I bought a oem style and it's a bit large to fit in the Banks box. Thanks for the heads up on the OEM one from the Excursion Jh818, I PM'd him.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Lebanon, OR
Thanks Mike,
That's an awesome article and exactly what I expected. From the back and forths I've read on the diesel forums the manufacturers didn't want to talk about filtration effieciency, but only flow. In a limited use hi po filters like this would be fine in a race or maybe a few extra lbs of torque for towing, but day to day wouldn't be so good. Guess that's why that AIS intake system is so nice, but it looks like it's only for diesels. I don't think it'd be hard to adapt it to my truck, but the nearly 400 dollar price tag is a bit steep. I live off an extremely dusty dirt road (in the summer) and have to check the filters regularly.
I'm not trying to stand on a pedestal and p*** in anyone's cheerios, just sharing an issue and asking if anyone's had similar issues with them. If you've had good success with them, then I'm glad. But I'm not. And I might switch out my Uni filters on my bikes too after that article.
That's an awesome article and exactly what I expected. From the back and forths I've read on the diesel forums the manufacturers didn't want to talk about filtration effieciency, but only flow. In a limited use hi po filters like this would be fine in a race or maybe a few extra lbs of torque for towing, but day to day wouldn't be so good. Guess that's why that AIS intake system is so nice, but it looks like it's only for diesels. I don't think it'd be hard to adapt it to my truck, but the nearly 400 dollar price tag is a bit steep. I live off an extremely dusty dirt road (in the summer) and have to check the filters regularly.
I'm not trying to stand on a pedestal and p*** in anyone's cheerios, just sharing an issue and asking if anyone's had similar issues with them. If you've had good success with them, then I'm glad. But I'm not. And I might switch out my Uni filters on my bikes too after that article.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,267
Likes: 5
I put K&N on my 7.3, it let a whole bunch of dust past.
I sent pictures and they sent a replacement, but I ended up going factory.
I put an AFE system on my 6.4, and the AFE rubber intake boot on the turbocharger cracked right in half allowing the engine to intake raw unfiltered air for at least 1 oil change before I noticed.
IMHO most aftermarket stuff is complete crap.
Thats 2 aftermarket air filter and 2 failures, that could have easily toasted my engine both times.
They can keep it and pound sand for the extra +15 HP or whatever.
I sent pictures and they sent a replacement, but I ended up going factory.
I put an AFE system on my 6.4, and the AFE rubber intake boot on the turbocharger cracked right in half allowing the engine to intake raw unfiltered air for at least 1 oil change before I noticed.
IMHO most aftermarket stuff is complete crap.
Thats 2 aftermarket air filter and 2 failures, that could have easily toasted my engine both times.
They can keep it and pound sand for the extra +15 HP or whatever.
New User
Joined: Dec 2012
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my $.02 cents.... on my 08 6.4 I bought two k&n filters (stock replacements ) one to run and one to clean (cause I know I can be lazy) ....swapped them at every oil change well as luck would have it i never cleaned the dirty one and was in a hurry had my goose neck already on the truck headed out of town .....did oil change threw paper fram filter in and was like WTH!!! EXHAUST TEMPS WENT DOWN 200 DEGREES ! never put k&n filter back in it again ..... IMHO on the 6.4 the paper filter has a ton more surface area vs. the hollowed out k&n .....like 5-6 times the area
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,267
Likes: 5
my $.02 cents.... on my 08 6.4 I bought two k&n filters (stock replacements ) one to run and one to clean (cause I know I can be lazy) ....swapped them at every oil change well as luck would have it i never cleaned the dirty one and was in a hurry had my goose neck already on the truck headed out of town .....did oil change threw paper fram filter in and was like WTH!!! EXHAUST TEMPS WENT DOWN 200 DEGREES ! never put k&n filter back in it again ..... IMHO on the 6.4 the paper filter has a ton more surface area vs. the hollowed out k&n .....like 5-6 times the area
The 6.4 stock filters are nothing to laugh at.
I would try to keep it stock until I really couldn't any longer.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
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Not mine, just rented for a trip a while back. 
I am looking for a similar sized one though, but it's tough cause all the bigger boats are too wide to pull.
It burned about a gallon an hour @ 9 knots, and slept 4 easy. Bathroom kitchen everything you need for a cruise
I am looking for a similar sized one though, but it's tough cause all the bigger boats are too wide to pull.
It burned about a gallon an hour @ 9 knots, and slept 4 easy. Bathroom kitchen everything you need for a cruise
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