K&N replacement air filter are they any better than the standard paper ones?
K&N AIR FILTER
- Thread starter DEL french
- Start date
I have had one in for a couple of weeks. In short no not really. Some say you get a little more induction noise but I can’t hear it over my muffler delete if it is there :lol:DEL french said:
Smartbear said:DEL french said:
You will never have to buy another filter if you go with k&n, but you need the k&n cleaning kit for the rare occasions it needs cleaning
Rob
I guess you’d do this annually like replacing a paper filter?
Don't see much benefit personally. They're more likely to let more crap through than paper filters, need to be cleaned as often as you replace paper filters and offer no real benefits other than a bit more noise.
I'd also argue it costs significantly more, seeing as top brand paper filters can be had for around £6-7
I'd also argue it costs significantly more, seeing as top brand paper filters can be had for around £6-7
Darkangelv2 said:Smartbear said:DEL french said:
You will never have to buy another filter if you go with k&n, but you need the k&n cleaning kit for the rare occasions it needs cleaning
Rob
I guess you’d do this annually like replacing a paper filter?
Hi, its a lot longer than that-k&n say aprox 50k miles before they need cleaning.
Rob
Don't forget come service time mechanics have a habit of binning them unless you remember to keep the do not throw sticker on the air box.
Liverpool
But only if you can PROVE that the contamination came from the filter...not from you cleaning/oiling it incorrectly.Smartbear said:
I had ZERO MAF failures in 100,000 miles, and have had 2 since I fitted the Gruppe-M with K&N. Took it off after the last failure to clean & re-oil (for the first time) but haven’t bothered putting it back on yet, as I waned to rule out it causing the issues, and you can’t hear it much over the exhaust anyway.
I can’t prove anything...but i’ll give it 20,000 and see if I have any more failures.
There has been a lot of discussion previously about K&N filters and some of it very technical. The consensus being that there is no material gain, insurers might regard it as a mod and charge you more and you are better of changing the paper filter yourself every year so it stays fairly clean. It takes minutes to change and is a cheap part.
Here's my 2p worth
I ran one on my Zed for a years and it made no difference. It neither improved performance, made noticeably more noise nor killed the engine or MAF sensor. I cleaned and fitted it correctly every year, but only put up with the bother as I use them for genuine need on comp. Jeeps that I frequently fill the airbox with some water in Winter or heavy dust in Summer. For those I can rinse clean, treat and refit each outing so makes it worthwhile and doing tghe Zed was no more time
Conclusion - I woulddn't waste money or worry on one
I ran one on my Zed for a years and it made no difference. It neither improved performance, made noticeably more noise nor killed the engine or MAF sensor. I cleaned and fitted it correctly every year, but only put up with the bother as I use them for genuine need on comp. Jeeps that I frequently fill the airbox with some water in Winter or heavy dust in Summer. For those I can rinse clean, treat and refit each outing so makes it worthwhile and doing tghe Zed was no more time
Conclusion - I woulddn't waste money or worry on one
I have resurrected this post having originally contributed. I ruled out the K&N filter due to the possibility of over oiling it during cleaning and stuck with the paper one. However this year whilst servicing it before the MOT I did a bit more research and found the Pipercross filter which fits my car. Its a multi layered foam filter which purports to let the car breathe freer and therefore increases responsiveness. I got one from Eurocarparts for around £35 (about half the price of K&N). You can clean it by washing. Anyway fitted it to the car and took it for a run before the MOT and it may be imagination but car did seem to pull better without any increase in noise. Given the paper one costs about a third of the pipercross I dont think I have been ripped of . Just wondering whether anyone else has fitted a pipercross filter and noticed any difference.
By the way car sailed through MOT without a single advisory.
By the way car sailed through MOT without a single advisory.
I've previously posted about this properly run test which outed K&N, finding that it's performance quickly deteriorated and was worse than stock. In summary, the test found that,
"the K&N 'plugged up' nearly 3 times faster, passed 18 times more dirt and captured 37% less dirt".
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html
Question: :scratchhead:
If K&N style filters were an easy way to increase power, improve fuel economy and lower maintenance costs why hasn't every manufacturer in the world fitted a similar system, they also have to be cheaper to make than the stock airbox, filter and pipework?
"the K&N 'plugged up' nearly 3 times faster, passed 18 times more dirt and captured 37% less dirt".
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html
Question: :scratchhead:
If K&N style filters were an easy way to increase power, improve fuel economy and lower maintenance costs why hasn't every manufacturer in the world fitted a similar system, they also have to be cheaper to make than the stock airbox, filter and pipework?
Spaniarduk
Member
/\wingnut said:
|
|
|
Like [ref]wingnut[/ref] said |
Ewazix said:
The list of reasons are numerous when you go into detail:
- Regulations (Noise)
- Cost
- Servicing revenue
Just because a manufacturer chooses (or can’t) do things a certain way should never lead to the assumption that they are doing things the best way for their cars and customers.
Darkangelv2 said:
No assumptions, I like facts and the few back-to-back measured tests that are available show that K&N offers no advantage other than sound. For what it's worth I don't buy in to the knackered MAF argument against them and used to love the look and sound on the old carb set-ups I've fitted in the past. But things move on.
You will only make power if you can get cold air condensed enough into the engine and the heat the Zed creates and torture route to get in there , the filter wont make a jot of difference. Thats why the M engine has throttle bodies and better flow. I have used K&N filters on turbo cars and it will make more power , but not really noticeable and worth the effort on Non M cars.
Similar threads
