K and N air filter

jake1530 · September 3, 2006

Hi I'm just asking not knocking K and N and other filters, so please don't assume I am bashing them. My thinking is the idea behind these systems is that they induce COOL air to the manifold by using an L frame box that blocks hot air from the engine compartment. Doesn't the factory intake take care from the fender space in the right front quater panel? Is there an advantage to the K and N system? Thank you in andvance, Jake.

Nice rig · September 3, 2006

There are lots of different intake systems out there. If your looking for better throttle response but don't want to do a whole intake swap you can get a drop-in K&N filter...the only thing I don't like about them is that they are oiled. My wifes car has one in it right now and it does pretty good. I have a AEM brute force system in my truck and have noticed some increases (nothing dramatic), I like it because it uses the dry flow filter...no oiling. The best thing about the systems out there is that they smooth out the airflow...as for the actual cold air portion it's always hot under the hood and the air will heat up as it gets to the motor. It's your dime, do what you will.

pm26 · September 5, 2006

Two issues with the K&N filters:

1. They do not filter as well as paper filters, so despite all the advertising hype, they will let more dirt pass through into your engine than a paper filter

2. They are oiled and oil can contaminate the mass airflow sensor, which will cuase performance problems, hard starting etc. your warranty may be voided if your MAF goes bad due to air filter oil contamination.

In my opinion: keep the original paper filter and change it frequently. It is cheaper and some efficient this way in the long run.

TEE · September 5, 2006

The drop ins work well on the older TBI's but, they don't have a MAF either...

jhm · September 5, 2006

K&N is just a product looking for a market, just like tons of others. The way I see it, they just add to possible problems with contamination. Factory air cleaner is more than sufficient, but if you like to spend money, go for it. Be sure to get the decal.

Nice rig · September 5, 2006

K&N is just a product looking for a market, just like tons of others. The way I see it, they just add to possible problems with contamination. Factory air cleaner is more than sufficient, but if you like to spend money, go for it. Be sure to get the decal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well duh...you don't get the performance increase without the decal. Everyone knows that.

pwall · September 5, 2006

I have an AirRaid system on mine which uses a K&N air filter.

Been on the truck since July 05 and so far, no issues.

Does it increase performance....probably not. But it does make the truck sound better (to me anyways).

Plus the sticker does add an extra 15-horse.

C & A s Dad · September 7, 2006

Jake, I am no fan of K & N and we sell them. However, I am not knocking them and many people have them and love them. However, they will let in more dirt. How much is too much? Only you can decide this for our truck. Any additional dirt coming into my engine is too much for me.

I am a fan of the TrueFlow system. It retains the factory air box allowing for cool air but does replace the fact tube and they use an oiled foam filter. The foam will not flow as well as a cotton gauze but will trap the dirt. The oil is a special oil that contains a "tactifier" glue to keep it from getting to the MAF sensor. Mine has been on for almost a year and I have no oil behind the filter. TF claims about 14 HP and 17 ft lbs of TQ if I remember correctly. They also test with the hood closed and no forced air. Some CAI suppliers test with the hood open and a high velocity fan blowing on the filter. This is great but I have not figured out how to drive with theh hood up and a fan blowing on my filter.

Will it help a lot? Not really. I picked up almost 1 mpg and it seems to offer me more grunt when towing when I am above 2200 RPMs.

Does it make more noise? A little when under load, but it is not loud at all.

Does it look good under the hood? Oh Yea. It cleans up the engine comp and looks really nice. The fit and finish is great.

I did not put the decal in the rear window. Think I will try this and see if it picks up more HP.

Check out their website and decide for yourself.

ZZ327 · September 9, 2006

Two issues with the K&N filters:
1. They do not filter as well as paper filters, so despite all the advertising hype, they will let more dirt pass through into your engine than a paper filter

2. They are oiled and oil can contaminate the mass airflow sensor, which will cuase performance problems, hard starting etc. your warranty may be voided if your MAF goes bad due to air filter oil contamination.

In my opinion: keep the original paper filter and change it frequently. It is cheaper and some efficient this way in the long run.

they do not filter as well, but no one has had any reeal engine trouble because of it. Take all those Baja 500 trucks, dirt track IMCA race cars, motocross bikes. lawnmowers, trucks. I think K&N even started this club.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthr...ilter+silverado

they are oiled but they only cover up the MAF sensor if its over oiled. Especially if you oil it on the side that gets sucked into the intake. just lightly, oil the top side and let it soak in

builderpaul · September 10, 2006

Two issues with the K&N filters:
1. They do not filter as well as paper filters, so despite all the advertising hype, they will let more dirt pass through into your engine than a paper filter

2. They are oiled and oil can contaminate the mass airflow sensor, which will cuase performance problems, hard starting etc. your warranty may be voided if your MAF goes bad due to air filter oil contamination.

In my opinion: keep the original paper filter and change it frequently. It is cheaper and some efficient this way in the long run.

they do not filter as well, but no one has had any reeal engine trouble because of it. Take all those Baja 500 trucks, dirt track IMCA race cars, motocross bikes. lawnmowers, trucks. I think K&N even started this club.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthr...ilter+silverado

they are oiled but they only cover up the MAF sensor if its over oiled. Especially if you oil it on the side that gets sucked into the intake. just lightly, oil the top side and let it soak in

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Baja 500, IMCA, motocross? None of these engines go over 1000 miles without rebuild sort of hard to tell if there was any real problem due to air filtration.

Trucks? I've seen many and they all use at least a 2 stage paper filter system. Some have a foam "prefilter" that covers the paper but I have not seen an oiled filter only system on a truck.

The stock air filter will flow more air than your stock engine can use. It will last on the average of 30K miles and cost about $20.00 to replace. I see no $ savings in a reusable filter.

Just reading the many posts, in this forum, about cleaning the MAF would stop me from considering an oiled filter. Your MAF should never get dirty only filtered air should pass across it. I have only used stock filters and have never had to clean a MAF with 4 trucks over 600K miles total.

If you want a louder sounding intake then the oiled filters are for you. That seems like the only "advantage".

Clavin78 · September 11, 2006

I have a k&n cold air intake for my 03 4.3l silverado also with a granatelli mafs and I can tell a big difference in throttle response and noticable increase in performance.

kokanee · September 12, 2006

Anyone know how to clean the Mass Air Flow Sensor?

My K&N may have been over oiled in the past because I now notice some rough running problems periodically.

Matt A · August 11, 2007

Two issues with the K&N filters:
1. They do not filter as well as paper filters, so despite all the advertising hype, they will let more dirt pass through into your engine than a paper filter

2. They are oiled and oil can contaminate the mass airflow sensor, which will cuase performance problems, hard starting etc. your warranty may be voided if your MAF goes bad due to air filter oil contamination.

In my opinion: keep the original paper filter and change it frequently. It is cheaper and some efficient this way in the long run.

they do not filter as well, but no one has had any reeal engine trouble because of it. Take all those Baja 500 trucks, dirt track IMCA race cars, motocross bikes. lawnmowers, trucks. I think K&N even started this club.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthr...ilter+silverado

they are oiled but they only cover up the MAF sensor if its over oiled. Especially if you oil it on the side that gets sucked into the intake. just lightly, oil the top side and let it soak in

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Baja 500, IMCA, motocross? None of these engines go over 1000 miles without rebuild sort of hard to tell if there was any real problem due to air filtration.

Trucks? I've seen many and they all use at least a 2 stage paper filter system. Some have a foam "prefilter" that covers the paper but I have not seen an oiled filter only system on a truck.

The stock air filter will flow more air than your stock engine can use. It will last on the average of 30K miles and cost about $20.00 to replace. I see no $ savings in a reusable filter.

Just reading the many posts, in this forum, about cleaning the MAF would stop me from considering an oiled filter. Your MAF should never get dirty only filtered air should pass across it. I have only used stock filters and have never had to clean a MAF with 4 trucks over 600K miles total.

If you want a louder sounding intake then the oiled filters are for you. That seems like the only "advantage".

1998 gmc 2500 with the 350 It's a farm truck and rarely travels paved roads. Gets plenty of dust. It has been running a K&N filter for about 4 years. Cleaned the filter the first time this winter and there was absolutely no dust in the air intake. It was as clean as the day installed. The filter was black with dirt. Would have cleaned it sooner but the truck always was needed to be ready to work on short knotice. I also perfer how the clamp gives you a superior seal compared to factory. When I got my 1997 gm 1500 the factory air filter was not on properly.

If you over oil the filters and the maf gets dirty gm sells a aresol cleaner for it

Zembonez · August 12, 2007

Two issues with the K&N filters:
1. They do not filter as well as paper filters, so despite all the advertising hype, they will let more dirt pass through into your engine than a paper filter

2. They are oiled and oil can contaminate the mass airflow sensor, which will cuase performance problems, hard starting etc. your warranty may be voided if your MAF goes bad due to air filter oil contamination.

In my opinion: keep the original paper filter and change it frequently. It is cheaper and some efficient this way in the long run.

they do not filter as well, but no one has had any reeal engine trouble because of it. Take all those Baja 500 trucks, dirt track IMCA race cars, motocross bikes. lawnmowers, trucks. I think K&N even started this club.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthr...ilter+silverado

they are oiled but they only cover up the MAF sensor if its over oiled. Especially if you oil it on the side that gets sucked into the intake. just lightly, oil the top side and let it soak in

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Baja 500, IMCA, motocross? None of these engines go over 1000 miles without rebuild sort of hard to tell if there was any real problem due to air filtration.

Trucks? I've seen many and they all use at least a 2 stage paper filter system. Some have a foam "prefilter" that covers the paper but I have not seen an oiled filter only system on a truck.

The stock air filter will flow more air than your stock engine can use. It will last on the average of 30K miles and cost about $20.00 to replace. I see no $ savings in a reusable filter.

Just reading the many posts, in this forum, about cleaning the MAF would stop me from considering an oiled filter. Your MAF should never get dirty only filtered air should pass across it. I have only used stock filters and have never had to clean a MAF with 4 trucks over 600K miles total.

If you want a louder sounding intake then the oiled filters are for you. That seems like the only "advantage".

1998 gmc 2500 with the 350 It's a farm truck and rarely travels paved roads. Gets plenty of dust. It has been running a K&N filter for about 4 years. Cleaned the filter the first time this winter and there was absolutely no dust in the air intake. It was as clean as the day installed. The filter was black with dirt. Would have cleaned it sooner but the truck always was needed to be ready to work on short knotice. I also perfer how the clamp gives you a superior seal compared to factory. When I got my 1997 gm 1500 the factory air filter was not on properly.

If you over oil the filters and the maf gets dirty gm sells a aresol cleaner for it

MAN... this is like a bunch of old wives telling tales. I challenge ANYBODY to show me any actual study that proves that K&N filters let through more dirt than a cheap factory folded paper filter. Everything I have read says exactly opposite. The K&N actually flows about 60% better because the gauze in the element doesn't clog like paper elements do after just a few thousand miles. The gauze material actually has considerably more surface area due to its woven construction. There is actual science behind the filter media. (and NO I DO NOT WORK FOR K&N)

I've run K&N filters in everything I have owned for many years and many many miles, and never had a single issue with any of them. Furthermore I agree with the above post... I've never found so much as light dust in the intake past the filter in any of my vehicles. If all of that dirt was "getting past the filter" as you guys are saying there would surely have been evidence there.

Like everything else we do to make our trucks last a long time, the key is maintenance. If you clean and properly oil your K&N as directed, there will never be any dirt or oil getting past your filter housing. I'm sold on it.

This is how old wive's tales get started. What's next? Conspiracy theories about Ford taking over the world?

thecraft · August 12, 2007

MAN... this is like a bunch of old wives telling tales. I challenge ANYBODY to show me any actual study that proves that K&N filters let through more dirt than a cheap factory folded paper filter. Everything I have read says exactly opposite.

Here you go: http://www.duramax-diesel.com/spicer/index.htm

Make sure you read the bottom few paragraphs that are in italics.

....because the gauze in the element doesn't clog like paper elements do after just a few thousand miles.

I'm still running the paper element that my truck had on it when I got it in March '06, well over 10k miles since then. However, it does look a little dirty, maybe because it's actually working.

Whether or not the claims about K&N filters are true, I'll always run AC Delco (or equivalent) in my truck. I'd much rather have better filtration and less wear than a fabled "12HP and 2MPG increase."