K&N filters

I am not big on intake kits for N/A gasers, but they are good along with other supporting mods in keeping my diesel EGT's lower especially when towing.

I have my EDGE Insight warn me if my EGT's get up to 1,250F. With the stock box on hot days, the alarm would sometimes go off on this short onramp to I-10 that you have to almost go WOT when towing or get runnover by all of the semi truck traffic. This was with a very mild level 2 tune that I usually leave it on when empty or towing below 7k. After installing my AFE Momentum intake, it has not gone off once on level 2.

I ran a OEM style K&N on a old '90 2500 chevy 4.10 gears 5.7 engine 2wd for 234000 miles with no issues. I bought the truck new. The truck was used as a tow vehicle and my 660 mile a week commuter vehicle.
Gave the truck to my youngest teen grandson. He ran the truck to 255k miles and sold the truck to another local teen. Grandson says the other teens dad is a drag racer and keeps the K&N clean. The truck as of last christmas has had 290k miles on the truck. The heads and pan has never been off the truck.
edit for wrong numbers...Jim

dodge guy wrote:

Colo Native wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
No. Didn't help a thing.

Not sure I want to waste $350. Thanks

$350?!!!! Not sure where you got that from? K&N`s go for around $50. You`ll never have to buy another. I have had a K&N kit on my V-10 X for 10 years and 80k miles and have no issues. really helps the engine breather in the mountains at higher RPM.

I also run K&N`s in all my other vehicles. Never an issue.

Increased air flow is only helpful at wide open throttle, during part throttle operation nothing has changed. If I had a truck that required full throttle to tow a trailer, I would rethink my choice of truck and not resort to band-aid fixes that will allow more dirt into the engine. I consider the use of oiled foam filters a total waste of money and a harmful product.

Over the years, I have purchased several used vehicles that I discovered a K&N filter in when I got around to servicing it. In every case, I immediately threw it away and installed a NAPA Gold (WIX) filter.
With the K&N installed, I always found oil and grit in the pipe from the filter housing to the engine.
I checked the Jeep I recently got, and sure enough, K&N filter. I threw it away and installed a WIX. The Jeep ran better and had more power. Yes, there is a gritty coating of oil in the pipe!

Colo Native wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
No. Didn't help a thing.

Not sure I want to waste $350. Thanks

$350?!!!! Not sure where you got that from? K&N`s go for around $50. You`ll never have to buy another. I have had a K&N kit on my V-10 X for 10 years and 80k miles and have no issues. really helps the engine breather in the mountains at higher RPM.

I also run K&N`s in all my other vehicles. Never an issue.

My experience with K&N is they let a lot of fine dust through. I tossed mine in the trash after seeing that. I have also seen dyno tests done where a 2004/5 5.9L Cummins was the test mule. Clean paper filter vs about 7 aftermarket whiz bank kits. Max hp difference was 1 hp + or - which is likely within the error margins of the test.

mike-s wrote:

jfkmk wrote:

mike-s wrote:
Snake oil, and don't perform as well as a standard paper filter. They can be a bit cheaper in the long run, if you don't value your time and want to put lots of work into cleaning and re-oiling them.

I don’t know about cheaper. A motorcraft filter for my f-150 runs about $11. A k&n runs about 5 times that. If I’m lucky, I’d break even over the lifetime of the truck.

If a modern vehicle won't go 200K, you have bigger problems than choosing an air filter. Air filters should be changed every 10-20K. So, break even is a bit over 100K if you stretch out the changes and consider the cost of the filter oil. As I said, it can be cheaper in the long run. Show your math.

10-20k is overkill. I inspect the air filter every oil change but wind up replacing them every 40-50k.

If they did do anything wouldn't the factory of already fixed the issue with stock filter set up seeing how important one upping the next guy is in the truck horse power war.

Run a dry filter and change it on schedule or when it looks dirty.

time2roll wrote:

mike-s wrote:
Air filters should be changed every 10-20K.

My book says 30,000 miles. Got one at 180k and will again at 210k. Not sooner.

I rarely rely on the book....
I change it when it gets dirty

And that all depends on environment



As for that K&N........NO!

What you'll get is more dirt in your oil. Multiple independent tests confirm that.