K&N
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Junior User
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
K&N
Hi All,
I have just over 200 miles on my new F250. I have always been a believer in the K&N products and was considering buying an air filter. As I live in CA, it appears there isn't much more I am allowed to install.
My question is: Is it safe to buy/install a K&N now, or do I need to put more miles on the truck first? If the latter, how many miles?
Thanks!
I have just over 200 miles on my new F250. I have always been a believer in the K&N products and was considering buying an air filter. As I live in CA, it appears there isn't much more I am allowed to install.
My question is: Is it safe to buy/install a K&N now, or do I need to put more miles on the truck first? If the latter, how many miles?
Thanks!
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
Uh oh. I hear the herd of dusted out engine replies coming your way. Let the bashing of KN commence.
If you live in dusty conditions, probably not the best idea. I have a KN filter in my truck but I remove it in the spring and install it in the late fall. I live in the Canadian prairies so lots of dust where I am. Not a big issue for conditions that aren’t dusty.
Just to be clear, you won’t get any power gains from the KN. The only thing a KN filter does is save you money by allowing you to clean and reuse. If you do not follow proper cleaning procedures, you can damage the filter and can allow more particles to pass through. Using an air compressor to dry filter after cleaning is a very common mistake people make.
If you do install the KN, keep the OEM filter. If you have to take the truck in for service work, put the oem one back in. That’s what my buddy said to do and he is a ford service manager at my local dealer. That way, the dealer can never blame anything on the KN.
If you live in dusty conditions, probably not the best idea. I have a KN filter in my truck but I remove it in the spring and install it in the late fall. I live in the Canadian prairies so lots of dust where I am. Not a big issue for conditions that aren’t dusty.
Just to be clear, you won’t get any power gains from the KN. The only thing a KN filter does is save you money by allowing you to clean and reuse. If you do not follow proper cleaning procedures, you can damage the filter and can allow more particles to pass through. Using an air compressor to dry filter after cleaning is a very common mistake people make.
If you do install the KN, keep the OEM filter. If you have to take the truck in for service work, put the oem one back in. That’s what my buddy said to do and he is a ford service manager at my local dealer. That way, the dealer can never blame anything on the KN.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 84
From: Rainier OR
Replace it now. You really dont need clean air going into the engine.
It's just a scam to make you buy air filters.
Same with fuel and oil filters. Just poke some bigger holes in the filter media, then you will never have to change them and the engine will get MORE fuel and oil so it will run better
You might not have a warentee any more, but you will have that cool K&N sticker!
It's just a scam to make you buy air filters.
Same with fuel and oil filters. Just poke some bigger holes in the filter media, then you will never have to change them and the engine will get MORE fuel and oil so it will run better
You might not have a warentee any more, but you will have that cool K&N sticker!
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 515
From: WNY
Replace it now. You really dont need clean air going into the engine.
It's just a scam to make you buy air filters.
Same with fuel and oil filters. Just poke some bigger holes in the filter media, then you will never have to change them and the engine will get MORE fuel and oil so it will run better
You might not have a warrantee any more, but you will have that cool K&N sticker!
It's just a scam to make you buy air filters.
Same with fuel and oil filters. Just poke some bigger holes in the filter media, then you will never have to change them and the engine will get MORE fuel and oil so it will run better
You might not have a warrantee any more, but you will have that cool K&N sticker!
Nothing makes more imagination power than poking holes into your air filter and suggest that common sense warning and reasoning is “bashing”.
Hey, it’s your truck..
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 154
Likes: 1
This...^^^
Nothing makes more imagination power than poking holes into your air filter and suggest that common sense warning and reasoning is “bashing”.
Hey, it’s your truck..
Nothing makes more imagination power than poking holes into your air filter and suggest that common sense warning and reasoning is “bashing”.
Hey, it’s your truck..
My stinky opinion is that k&n works as well as oem but could create issues if not properly maintained. Personally I prefer dry filter to eliminate any conflict with warranty should anything develop down the road related to your "air induction system".
I've used k&n over the years and have NEVER had any issues with them
Keep it maintained properly and it will work as designed. Just be prepared to defend it's use should you have a "warantee" issue that Ford or dealership thinks is related to the filter..... Lol
Enjoy your truck!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 185
From: Frederick, CO
I stopped using K&N. Literally, the only benefit is that it can be reused. But, it's not clear to me that the initial cost, cleaning fluid, and filter oil is all that much cheaper than just buying a new filter at Walmart. I think on my F-150, filters are around $12 and the K&N cost was $50. So, even ignoring the cost of cleaning fluid and filter oil, it takes 3+ filter changes to even pay back the K&N. And, it was another maintenance item that I had to do. Meh.
I have no problem with the K&N, I just don't see any purpose to it.
Makes fun of misspelled warranty but doesn't know the difference between it's and its. 
I have no problem with the K&N, I just don't see any purpose to it.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
This...^^^
Nothing makes more imagination power than poking holes into your air filter and suggest that common sense warning and reasoning is “bashing”.
Hey, it’s your truck..
Nothing makes more imagination power than poking holes into your air filter and suggest that common sense warning and reasoning is “bashing”.
Hey, it’s your truck..
KN will give you 95 extra HP and 200ft/lbs extra torque. It will also make you ding a ling 2” longer and your wife’s breast grow a full cup size and drop 4” off her waistline. It’s a no brainer.
If you actually read my reply to OP, I said that there would be no gains and to not use it in dusty conditions. All it does is save money by allowing you to reuse.
I used the word bashing simply because on any KN thread I’ve ever seen, that’s what happens. Has nothing to do with common sense.
Ill be clear. I am not for or against KN filters. If you chose to use one, you have to be knowledgeable about your driving conditions. Hence why I stated I remove mine in the dusty summer because I don’t trust the filter in those conditions.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 58
Likes: 2
You can always count on getting plenty of opinions in this forum. Since they are just opinions not based entirely in fact you'll have to make up your own mind. Opinions are like ******** and everybody has got one and like ******** opinions can sometimes stink.
My stinky opinion is that k&n works as well as oem but could create issues if not properly maintained. Personally I prefer dry filter to eliminate any conflict with warranty should anything develop down the road related to your "air induction system".
I've used k&n over the years and have NEVER had any issues with them
Keep it maintained properly and it will work as designed. Just be prepared to defend it's use should you have a "warantee" issue that Ford or dealership thinks is related to the filter..... Lol
Enjoy your truck!
My stinky opinion is that k&n works as well as oem but could create issues if not properly maintained. Personally I prefer dry filter to eliminate any conflict with warranty should anything develop down the road related to your "air induction system".
I've used k&n over the years and have NEVER had any issues with them
Keep it maintained properly and it will work as designed. Just be prepared to defend it's use should you have a "warantee" issue that Ford or dealership thinks is related to the filter..... Lol
Enjoy your truck!
you're right, everyone has an opinion, it's just that yours is wrong. do you like fram filters as well?
k&n test
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
I stopped using K&N. Literally, the only benefit is that it can be reused. But, it's not clear to me that the initial cost, cleaning fluid, and filter oil is all that much cheaper than just buying a new filter at Walmart. I think on my F-150, filters are around $12 and the K&N cost was $50. So, even ignoring the cost of cleaning fluid and filter oil, it takes 3+ filter changes to even pay back the K&N. And, it was another maintenance item that I had to do. Meh.
I have no problem with the K&N, I just don't see any purpose to it.
Makes fun of misspelled warranty but doesn't know the difference between it's and its.
I have no problem with the K&N, I just don't see any purpose to it.
Makes fun of misspelled warranty but doesn't know the difference between it's and its.
Now hopefully I didn’t misspell or make a grammatical error. I love KN threads, they get the fights going but not as much as delete threads. Lol.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 390
From: SEVA
I tried a K&N filter in my motorcycle and had issues. My research found a motorcycle mechanic in CA was stumbling over why several Honda ST1300 motorcyles had issues with their engines stumbling at idle. (These bikes have more horsepower than a few cars I've owned.) He prepared a spreadsheet to see if he could identify a common denominator, and then found each bike with this problem had a K&N air filter. Upon returning to paper filters, the stumbling problem went away ... but not in all cases. Digging deeper into those bikes, he found the K&N recharging fluid had turned the insides of the vacuum lines to mush. So on some bikes, all the vacuum hoses were replaced. There were zero stumbling issues after that. A buddy with a Dodge Challenger found similar stories in a couple Challenger forums he frequents. Use one if you want ... it's your money. I've sworn them off.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,147
Likes: 7,975
From: Texas
With the horsepower/ fuel economy race being what it is, don’t we think the factories would do something this simple if it was real? Just asking.
Wouldn’t they have an air induction system that will flow all the air the engine can pump at maximum HP output, or will they think “ Now the engine gets too much air, so let’s restrict it”?
And just for what it is worth. I have bought two (2) slightly used vehicles that had an aftermarket CAI installed on them. Both were gas powered if that makes any difference. I ran them for about 6 months, then converted them back to stock. BOTH of them the gas mileage IMPROVED when back to stock. But they sure sounded awesome!!!!
Wouldn’t they have an air induction system that will flow all the air the engine can pump at maximum HP output, or will they think “ Now the engine gets too much air, so let’s restrict it”?
And just for what it is worth. I have bought two (2) slightly used vehicles that had an aftermarket CAI installed on them. Both were gas powered if that makes any difference. I ran them for about 6 months, then converted them back to stock. BOTH of them the gas mileage IMPROVED when back to stock. But they sure sounded awesome!!!!
Last edited by Desert Don; May 24, 2019 at 06:46 PM. Reason: Add comment.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 553
lmao oh boy **** show incoming
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 279
Likes: 14
Just throwing this out there as I am still laughing at the previous comments, the oiled replacement filters such as the K&N also like to cover MAF sensors with residual oil. Not hard to clean them at all, but it is a pain to get t some of them.