K & N air filers

[PatStab]

We have an old 1992 American Eagle. It came with a K&N washable air filter. I have all the manuals and it states its there and still is. Tom, my husband is changing oil and stuff and pulled it out, he said its filthy. I ordered the cleaner and oil for it, should have it this week. Also wondering if we could wash it in some Dawn right now then again with the cleaner.

Everything I read says these things can last up to 1 Million miles. Tom is wondering if we should replace it with a paper filter. If we did we would have to have the top for the canister, it states it was not put on and is not supposed to be there.

I've read all the pros and cons about these things, letting dirt in the intake and also about oiling them just right. Hubby said when clean it would let in more air but he is thinking about changing it. I'm kind of if it hasn't hurt this old motorhome in 21 years why not keep it.

For now we are going to clean it and put it back, but now its got me to thinking too. So wonder if others are still running these things.

[liborko]

Duplicate

[PatStab]

I lifted this and pasted it from another forum I go to and posted it today, just thought I would add it here.

I have been talking about the old Eagle leaving stop lights slowly on another forum. Just felt like I was never going to get up to speed. Tom checked the tranny, the engine, everything, he said there is no problem everything is working correctly.

Last week when we were doing maintenance he took off the K&N filter. Yes, I've read all the controversies about it on here and other places, but we have it. He said you know this thing is filthy. We were looking at the filter indicator and it always said it was ok. Tom, said you know what, I just realized that will not work with this kind of filter, and nothing in the manual said anything about that. So I started researching about how to clean it as the manual said don't throw it away, its expensive and can be cleaned for years and years. I have a cleaner that will practically take skin off, they don't make it anymore so I save it for special cleaning jobs. It was for kitchens and I actually messed my hands up with it one time really bad, so see why they took it off the market, it will cut grease and dirt for sure. So we filled a big bucket with hot water, sprayed it down good and immersed it. Then I looked on line and ordered the cleaner and oil. The filth that came out of that was unbelievable. Did it a couple of more times and the water was running cleaner. Got the approved stuff and did it a couple more till water was running clean, hosed it down. He then took a fan on low and put it in the garage and dried it for a day and overnight then we set it in the sun. He used the oil on it before reinserting it.

So today we wanted to see if the acceleration was better. Well guys the momentum has improved greatly. It's certainly not a gas engine but now I can take off and not feel like I'm not moving as it picked up quicker. The problem was it was NOT GETTING ENOUGH AIR! Something so simple and basic and NOONE had ever said a word in all the routine maintenance I had done EVER about the air filter. I feel like an idiot. They like us was looking at the gauge only apparently.

Anyway that sure was a cheap fix and we will wash it routinely and oil, it says only ever 50,000 miles but I'm thinking under dusty conditions maybe 25k. We are also toying with the idea of changing it to a paper one but has served the old unit well all these years and with proper maintenance will continue to do so.

So we cleared up a problem I had and no one else thought of merely cleaning it either apparently. Jeez! That old thing will get up and go again.

[john_b1]

timmac wrote:

Daveinet wrote:
If it is specified by the manufacturer, then I would continue to use it. The manufacturer has the most to loose if the filter is not adequate. Someone eluded to some "scientific" test, however just because it was done in a lab doesn't make it scientific. It is dependent on the type of "dust" used for the test, and if it is typical of what is commonly found in the air. Dust in air is going to have a huge variance in particle size. Unless the dust they chose to use had the same amount of variance as typical air quality, the test ends up being completely bogus compared to the real world. Stated differently, if typical air quality only had .0001% dust smaller than X microns, and the filter only works down to X microns, who cares, the filter is going to do its job very well.

BTW:If I put a paper filter on my engine, it peaks out at 4800 RPM and is loosing power well below that. Otherwise it easily screams to 5200 RPM.

What the test does not show is the cheap plastic box housing for the paper filter, they


always leak and hard to seal, the K/N filters have better gaskets to keep the dust out,
pulled my K/N off for cleaning and new oil and the inside intake tube was so clean I
could eat off it.

I have been running my K And N for almost 14 years now and service as needed. When I have ot off for service and take a clean white paper napkin and swab the inside of the filter tube. I rarely get even a little dark color on the napkin. I then clean and reoil and down the road very happily and have saved many dollars in that time span at about 30 dollars a copy. JMHO jb

[Jarlaxle]

FormerBoater wrote:

topflite51 wrote:

Daveinet wrote:
If it is specified by the manufacturer, then I would continue to use it.

X2! Sometimes the manufacturer does KNOW what is best for a particular application.

1992 was either the first or second year that the American Eagle was produced.

Farr-Ecolite filters were installed in subsequent years.

Farr-Ecolite probably underbid K&N by thirty cents.

[Jarlaxle]

When used properly, they filter fine. Over 100,000 miles on my Caddy with one, zero problems. Oil analysis (on it & my Cherokee) came back clean...in fact, analysis on the Jeep showed the K&N passed LESS dirt than a paper element.

[timmac]

Daveinet wrote:
If it is specified by the manufacturer, then I would continue to use it. The manufacturer has the most to loose if the filter is not adequate. Someone eluded to some "scientific" test, however just because it was done in a lab doesn't make it scientific. It is dependent on the type of "dust" used for the test, and if it is typical of what is commonly found in the air. Dust in air is going to have a huge variance in particle size. Unless the dust they chose to use had the same amount of variance as typical air quality, the test ends up being completely bogus compared to the real world. Stated differently, if typical air quality only had .0001% dust smaller than X microns, and the filter only works down to X microns, who cares, the filter is going to do its job very well.

BTW:If I put a paper filter on my engine, it peaks out at 4800 RPM and is loosing power well below that. Otherwise it easily screams to 5200 RPM.

What the test does not show is the cheap plastic box housing for the paper filter, they always leak and hard to seal, the K/N filters have better gaskets to keep the dust out, pulled my K/N off for cleaning and new oil and the inside intake tube was so clean I could eat off it.

[tplife]

I have no idea what forums FireUp is on, or where he learned about EFI Harleys, but I have a high-compression highly modified fuel-injection Harley Davidson that I wouldn't leave the garage without its K&N filter attached. I have too much invested in its performance engine to use anything elese. And cost notwithstanding, I'd prefer one on every vehicle I own. Buy the cleaning kit and follow the directions K&N provides.

[PatStab]

Thanks to those that responded. I had read a great deal and these are very controversial for sure, I had never even heard of one before. The filter cleaned up really nice and Tom, my husband oiled it with the appropriate oil. We are going to continue to use it. Since its been in there for that many years and the engine runs well we decided to not replace it at this itme.

[FormerBoater]

topflite51 wrote:

Daveinet wrote:
If it is specified by the manufacturer, then I would continue to use it.

X2! Sometimes the manufacturer does KNOW what is best for a particular application.

1992 was either the first or second year that the American Eagle was produced.

Farr-Ecolite filters were installed in subsequent years.

[topflite51]

Daveinet wrote:
If it is specified by the manufacturer, then I would continue to use it.

X2! Sometimes the manufacturer does KNOW what is best for a particular application.

[Daveinet]

If it is specified by the manufacturer, then I would continue to use it. The manufacturer has the most to loose if the filter is not adequate. Someone eluded to some "scientific" test, however just because it was done in a lab doesn't make it scientific. It is dependent on the type of "dust" used for the test, and if it is typical of what is commonly found in the air. Dust in air is going to have a huge variance in particle size. Unless the dust they chose to use had the same amount of variance as typical air quality, the test ends up being completely bogus compared to the real world. Stated differently, if typical air quality only had .0001% dust smaller than X microns, and the filter only works down to X microns, who cares, the filter is going to do its job very well.

BTW:If I put a paper filter on my engine, it peaks out at 4800 RPM and is loosing power well below that. Otherwise it easily screams to 5200 RPM.

[PatStab]

We appreciate the information. I'm wondering if they only used these filters for a year or so as I have not read anywhere else anyone having one.

My husband said he thinks the engine is doing fine, it starts before you even crank it over once completely.

[PatStab]

I will tell him about the paper element and getting that. We got the cleaner and I'm on my second cleaning in a huge bucket of hot water, that thing is absolutely filthy. Also ran water from the hose through it from inside to outside as explained.

[PatStab]

It was original equipment. I have all the complete manuals and it even explained in a supplement printed by Fleetwood not to put the lid back on it as the air would not be able to get through it. So no it was not an add on.

Most everything on this motorhome was original. I think until the last few years it had been well taken care of. The last owner was a home builder and look like when the economy tanked is when they quit using it. All the awnings have the original metal covers and all are in good condition. But it is old.

I had it checked all underneath, it had good undercoating and been told that there is way less rust on it then many a new one a few years old. In fact about the only rust is in the underside of the water items hanging in the water compartment. Again a hubby project, he will take it out and fix or replace the under piece hanging there at some point.

One thing that does need changed and Tom and I will is the insulating material and noise deadening stuff is deteriorating badly. I cleaned all of it off that was under the bed and surrounding box over the engine. Covered it first and put in the foil type with sounddeadener sandwiched between. First chance we get we are pulling out the genny and scrapping all above and around and changing it and same under the flooring above the engine. For now we are making do with what is there.