S&B replacement filter alternative?

Rob Mugs · July 5, 2023

Have their paper filter as I have had some bad luck in the past with wet filters. They want 70 bucks for it!? Same price as the oiled filter.

Anyone successfully swap it out with something else? Seems absurd and I'm certain they don't MFG them themselves

GETGONE · July 6, 2023

I've been running AFE dry flow filters on several vehicles. You'd just need to find measurements for what you have and see what they offer that's the same or close.

DenaliSS · July 10, 2023

The AFE Dry Flow filters are excellent to use and have also used in my past vehicles and still with the wife's car. Unfortunately if you've purchased the S&B CAI, you'll only find a smaller cone filter size to accommodate the flange size in your CAI.

The AFE filters are more $$ on average it seems presently.

I go with the S&B oiled version, as the media is cotton, vs the paper dry filter and can stretch the filter cost, by multiple reuses, while also providing increased air flow with my LTs and aftermarket exhaust.

Issues with a oiled filter are due to over oiling and shared your concerns years ago, but best advise is to follow the instructions and allow oil to naturally saturate the media. The filter only needs a thin layer of oil.

I'd also be interested in a dry cotton/synthetic filter option, as long as it accommodated or complimented the S&B box design. We do have dusty and/or dry parts of our seasons, where a dry filter would be the better option.

Rob Mugs · July 14, 2023

On 7/10/2023 at 5:07 PM, DenaliSS said:

The AFE Dry Flow filters are excellent to use and have also used in my past vehicles and still with the wife's car. Unfortunately if you've purchased the S&B CAI, you'll only find a smaller cone filter size to accommodate the flange size in your CAI.

The AFE filters are more $$ on average it seems presently.

I go with the S&B oiled version, as the media is cotton, vs the paper dry filter and can stretch the filter cost, by multiple reuses, while also providing increased air flow with my LTs and aftermarket exhaust.

Issues with a oiled filter are due to over oiling and shared your concerns years ago, but best advise is to follow the instructions and allow oil to naturally saturate the media. The filter only needs a thin layer of oil.

I'd also be interested in a dry cotton/synthetic filter option, as long as it accommodated or complimented the S&B box design. We do have dusty and/or dry parts of our seasons, where a dry filter would be the better option.

I won't go oiled as they simply do not filter as well (and by a substantial amount)

Ended up buying one of their dry filters to replace it. On a quick attempt to get the old one out, seems like it's going to be a bear. Almost feels like it's got adhesive on the thing

Rob Mugs · July 14, 2023

For reference, Google "Project Farm Air Filter" and you'll see his testing with filters.
Then, look at this at 20:30. K&N can kinda do it but S&B's knock off will not do the same things

I still think that the guy in the video is wrong and his data is outdated, but even someone trying to push oil filters is "meh" with the knock offs.

Edited July 14, 2023 by Rob Mugs

GETGONE · July 14, 2023

Interesting video, but MAN he DRAGS it out on how/why it works. For the offroad stuff, I get what he's talking about. I'm not sure how much this applies to modern fuel injected vehicles with an enclosed filter housing whether it be stock replacement or a closed air box with a massive cone filter. If the K&Ns are so good then why do they sell pre-filters for them? Is it another revenue stream or to ease in cleaning since you can easily wash off the pre filter and not have to deal with the pleats and oiled cotton holding the dirt in the filter itself.

DenaliSS · July 14, 2023

6 hours ago, Rob Mugs said:

I won't go oiled as they simply do not filter as well (and by a substantial amount)

Ended up buying one of their dry filters to replace it. On a quick attempt to get the old one out, seems like it's going to be a bear. Almost feels like it's got adhesive on the thing

It's probably the silicone seal S&B uses. The only flow numbers I've seen between dry vs oiled is roughly 1% difference.

TNTSierra · July 14, 2023

I have had two S&B cold air intakes in my 2018 SLT and 2019 High Country and bought the dry filter on each one. Never threw a code. Put over 40k on them. Took out every 10k and blew them out with air compressor. I will be purchasing another one for my 2018 denali

DenaliSS · July 15, 2023

18 hours ago, TNTSilverado said:

I have had two S&B cold air intakes in my 2018 SLT and 2019 High Country and bought the dry filter on each one. Never threw a code. Put over 40k on them. Took out every 10k and blew them out with air compressor. I will be purchasing another one for my 2018 denali

Good info to fall back on.

That does have me rethink maybe my air filter maintenance being done every other oil change, than my usual routine of doing so every 5k...which was last week. With that, the filter had collected some insects and may do the wrap on filter to possibly extend the needed filter maintenance on my preferred oiled filter.