K&N Filters

AKRUEBBE · 05-12-2021, 05:50 PM

Would like your thoughts on the K&N reusable filters. I've been using mine for about 2 years and have found them to be very good. However, I talked to a fellow RVer and he was not impressed with them because he said he would get dust on the internal top of the air filter assembly which indicated dust was getting past the filter. I would appreciate input.

RPR · 05-12-2021, 06:06 PM

What vehicle was he using them on?

**Midnightmoon** · 05-12-2021, 06:06 PM

I would recommend sending out an oil sample to Blackstone labs or the sampling service of your choice and take a look at your silicon and wear metals numbers. If they are high, you may be getting abrasive wear from dusting.

This may be of some help.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/the-silicon-bugaboo/

Rustynuts · 05-12-2021, 06:20 PM

They are notorious for letting fine dust through, I will not use them on anything.

RPR · 05-12-2021, 07:12 PM

Founds this.

SmokerBill · 05-12-2021, 07:25 PM

Any amount of dust that enters the engine through the intake air filter can quickly cause permanent damage to the cylinders and rings. (loss of compression) I stick with the manufacturer's recommended filter.

Woodworker · 05-13-2021, 06:19 AM

Have you ever cleaned an re oiled it? I use to use K&N on all my 4 wheel drive trucks which saw plenty of dirt, dust an mud an I never had a problem.

DocBrown · 05-13-2021, 06:50 AM

Years ago I used K&N filters on several vehicles. On two of them I put nearly 200k miles on them before I sold them. The '95 Suburban that I owned, had a K&N in, has been through several members of our family and has nearly 300k on it right now. The body and frame of that truck are rotting away, but the engine is still running great and is very strong. The vehicle will rot away long before any minute damage the extra dust could cause serious enough damage to destroy the engine.

That said said do a bit of research, studies have shown that stock air filters are just as good if not better, in letting air flow in. And being that the PCM is programed to use the the stock filter flow, you really need a tune to take full advantage of what a K&N can offer.

Trapper2020 · 05-13-2021, 06:52 AM

Used to use them on all my Carson. Not anymore. Read the reviews from actual air flow testers and most will tell you they allow more air to flow but also do a poor job of filtering out the dirt. To each there own but I have gone back to real air filters. Safe travels

Enjoy the journey

AKRUEBBE · 05-13-2021, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpr

what vehicle was he using them on?

ram 3500

AKRUEBBE · 05-13-2021, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodworker

Have you ever cleaned an re oiled it? I use to use K&N on all my 4 wheel drive trucks which saw plenty of dirt, dust an mud an I never had a problem.

I clean and re-oil every 3 months.

CAG · 05-13-2021, 10:00 AM

I realize that this may not be related to diesel but on most diesel sights you will find comments on K&N. Most diesel owners who have past experience with K&N will tell you that not only do they not catch fine dust particles but the coat the MAF sensor with oil and cause error messages and/or MAF failure.

In addition to this there was, and may still be a problem with K&N and off road UTV/ATVs. Some Honda Pioneer owners were complaining of issues with dust getting past the K&N filters and into the engine.

Woodworker · 05-13-2021, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKRUEBBE

I clean and re-oil every 3 months.

Oh wow ok. I normally only did mine 1-2 times a yr so your good there LOL

bstannard · 05-13-2021, 06:14 PM

Today’s air filters are high tech with very consistent fiber spacing to really trap fine particles and still not restrict air flow (even better than K&N). Large off road equipment craves air, works in dust conditions where you can’t see 20’, and yet the induction system stays spotless. Use the OEM filter and leave the K&N for your old dirt bike.

Bucket2 · 05-22-2021, 12:19 PM

Waste of time & money!

CAG · 05-22-2021, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bstannard

Today’s air filters are high tech with very consistent fiber spacing to really trap fine particles and still not restrict air flow (even better than K&N). Large off road equipment craves air, works in dust conditions where you can’t see 20’, and yet the induction system stays spotless. Use the OEM filter and leave the K&N for your old dirt bike.

You may have missed my comment about Honda Pioneer owners complaining that dirt is getting by K&N filters and damaging engines. The off road vehicles would be the last place to use those filters.

Blackey · 05-22-2021, 01:25 PM

I ran a banks intake on my 6.0 Ford when the factory filter was priced the same as the banks kit which is reusable. But a little research showed the micron size was larger than the factory this is to allow more air thru increasing the horsepower or felt performance increase with the banks filter. Same theory with the k&n filters.

Do an oil sample test before and after the change of air filters that will let you know if dust is getting thru the filter at a greater rate than the factory you might wish to do three samples on each side of the swap that way you have multiple samples of data to use Incase the factory filter is letting some dust thru also if the silica level gets worst with each sample you can see the rate of increase an compare it to the post swap data.

Andrewf · 05-22-2021, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAG

I realize that this may not be related to diesel but on most diesel sights you will find comments on K&N. Most diesel owners who have past experience with K&N will tell you that not only do they not catch fine dust particles but the coat the MAF sensor with oil and cause error messages and/or MAF failure.

In addition to this there was, and may still be a problem with K&N and off road UTV/ATVs. Some Honda Pioneer owners were complaining of issues with dust getting past the K&N filters and into the engine.

Agreed. Back in my Diesel owning days, I kept up on the Forums and read the articles on filter tests. Micron rating and flow rating, the stock filters were always the winner. x2 on the MAF sensor getting coated with oil.

Andrew

qs271a · 05-26-2021, 06:31 AM

I changed my 2006 Dodge Cummins 5.9 to a cold air intake system and it came with one of these oiled filters. I used it for a couple of years, re-oiling it every year. When I took it in to get a service done, my mechanic told me to get rid of that filter. He said the same thing, they do let more air pass, but do a crappy job of filtering. He said that I was lucky that I re-oiled it, as many don't and do end up with engine issues. Fortunately, S&B sells a paper filter for this intake system that mimics the oiled one, which is what I used while the other filter was drying from the washing process. Time consuming I know. I change it out about once every year and a half or so. Good times.

Seann45 · 05-27-2021, 04:13 PM

I have a K&N clone on my 2004 Silverado put it on the day I got the truck and now have over 400,000 on the clock never a problem. those that have oil on the mass airflow sensor either over oiled the filter or put oil on both sides. I clean and oil mine once a year.

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