K & N filter

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HEMIMANN

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Project Farm UTube tested a number of dry and oiled filters. The K&N rated rock bottom on filtration and best for flow. Wonder why?

Very simple - porous filter media has less airflow restriction. Big holes = straight through airflow without stopping dirt.

K&N's original niche was track racing, where minimal filtering ability was ok for short life, high power engines. It's not intended for daily drivers seeking maximum engine longevity, yet they started marketing into this market over the years for more sales.

Pretty unethical, if you ask me.
 

2Tallguy

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Project Farm tested a number of wet and dry filters. K&N rated tops on flow and bottom on filtration.
 

Joseph Godvin

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Been using K@N Filters for 40 years, first on dirt bikes, quads, my dune buggy and all my vehicles, finest filter on the market. If severe dusty conditions...use the spray oil on the guaze element. Ive seen a test video from the 70's and used them since. Had not any any effects on engine as stated.
 

Jim113

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I've put K&N filters in the 3 RAM's I've owned without any issues ... I have one in my 2020 but I don't have e-torque ... I'm not sure if that would make a difference or not ...
 

Dean2

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Been using K@N Filters for 40 years, first on dirt bikes, quads, my dune buggy and all my vehicles, finest filter on the market. If severe dusty conditions...use the spray oil on the guaze element. Ive seen a test video from the 70's and used them since. Had not any any effects on engine as stated.
So all of the independant tests that clearly prove this filter has the poorest filtration on the market is completely contradicted by your personal experience then? Alrighty then, carry on camping McDuff.
 

HEMIMANN

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Maybe we should all just remove our air cleaners to see how long the engines hold power with no filter media allowing anything to be ingested?
 

68PowerWagon

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So all of the independant tests that clearly prove this filter has the poorest filtration on the market is completely contradicted by your personal experience then? Alrighty then, carry on camping McDuff.
I think his point is even if it does have the least amount of filtration it has done great for him in all kinds of vehicles on many different terrains. I have been using them for about 20 years & I have not had any issues either. Grant it all of my miles are highway & not the trails. All my vehicles had about 150k on them before I traded & none of them burnt a drop of oil. And personally yes I do trust my personal experience over so called "independent" tests. Off subject, but I have seen "independent" test show that Amsoil Severe Gear is superior to any gear oil. After only 2 years of towing I pulled my aluminum diff. cover off only to see where that oil looked like crap & was leaving burnt markings on the cover. Pretty sad!
 

HEMIMANN

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It's near impossible to assess the impact of filtration on machine longevity without a big, expensive fleet of test vehicles running for 10 years.

So we do the best we can. I mean, we could make a case for getting rid of all filtration, right? Including oil filters.
 

runamuck

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maybe there is two levels of k&n filters. the ones I have had over the years have all been very solid built and fit just fine. used in my cars, trucks, and motorcyles. take em out every once in a while and clean and put back in.
 

FL-RAM

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I've used them in everything from BMW M3s, to motorcycles to Suburbans. Never saw any change in anything. I quit using them years ago. Their only tangible benefit is that they are reusable. But I wouldn't really call that a benefit because your vehicle is out of action for several hours while you let the filter air dry after washing. Trying to get that thing to dry in the winter can take a while. Net sum of zero for me.
 

JosephPukala

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a week ago I installed a drop in K & N air filter in my 2021 Ram 1500 5.7 E torque…. It changed the entire dynamics and sound of the truck and not to the better either… Im old school I was flipping carburetor housings over on gt mustangs to get that throaty roar years ago. But, this was different!!! It gave it a throaty sound. Butttttt, it also messed w engine tach response and produced a sound that basically seemed to come from the drivers side of the motor. It was sound like the exhaust was loose!!!! Is this due to the sensors getting too much air or what would cause this???? Anyone else encountered this ????
This may have gotten a little off topic. I noticed a vibration after changing filters. Especially while aggressive exhaust brake. It took a little bit to find but it was coming from the rear view mirror housing.
 

turkeybird56

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Can I flip the cover on my Air Box with whatever filter installed and get that Loud Throaty roar used to get from my 67 Chevy with the L4 396 and Rockchester (pos) and air cleaner top bolted on upside down????? My attempt at humor, BWTH, I's a BOIRD. And yes, did run my 67 with top or air cleaner on upside down, sounded cool to a 17 yoa kid, LOL. :33::angels25: PPL getting too serious on the topic of an air filter. Chit yer ride, yer money, run wateva works for you. Makes sense to me, run an oil soaked filter with a catch can, roflmao. Another joke here, lighten up all, hee hee.

DA BOIRD

army turk 2.JPG
 

JW2 Innovations

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This may have gotten a little off topic. I noticed a vibration after changing filters. Especially while aggressive exhaust brake. It took a little bit to find but it was coming from the rear view mirror housing.
Well that's an easier fix than tinkering under the hood IMHO, glad you found it! That kinda stuff can be so annoying sometimes.
 

1 MEAN66

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Sometimes it is very easy to find the changes. Weather can effect this BUT you can stuill get an idea, also the first 100 or so miles it after the filter or filter system is installed (your engine) is pulling excess oil ( I alwats use the clean and re-oil type, have never used the replace it type ( that one of the reasons for the K&N Style-gauze NOT PAPER filters in the first place- As the moisture in the air (even perfectly clean air) will cause the pores of the paper style to close restricting flow. Which is the reason those type have a mileage change interval. Remember DIRT does NOT block off air flow like closed pores do! If it did insects,animals, etc. that live in the ground could not breathe. Ask anyone who rides or races on ANY type of vehicle on dirt why it is the FILTER ALWAYS USED. No matter the ENGINE CAN BREATHE. Anyway before you install Find a nice diner a 100 of so miles away, take your spouse to breakfast - LET THE VEHICLE DO THE WORK - think cruise control (the computer will help eliminate throttle application variances. Install your filter, go the 100 so so miles. Then BREAKFAST TRIP again.
Why when you get a boo-boo due Doctors wrap that boo-boo in gauze? Maybe because it allows the air to get to the skin anf FILTER ALL the bad things that they do NOT want getting to that boo-boo. If you wrapped that boo-boo with duct tape. paper etc. it would for sure be a much better "filter" as far as restriction is concerned but the good stuff "air" would not get to where it is needed. So in a test do you actually want the best filtration? Or the PROPER amount of Filtration? Take a paper towel cover your mouth, you can still beathe, spray a mist of water on it, NOT SO MUCH. Take a piece of gauze bandage from your medicine cabinet preform the same test.
 
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Dean2

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Sometimes it is very easy to find the changes. Weather can effect this BUT you can stuill get an idea, also the first 100 or so miles it after the filter or filter system is installed (your engine) is pulling excess oil ( I alwats use the clean and re-oil type, have never used the replace it type ( that one of the reasons for the K&N Style-gauze NOT PAPER filters in the first place- As the moisture in the air (even perfectly clean air) will cause the pores of the paper style to close restricting flow. Which is the reason those type have a mileage change interval. Remember DIRT does NOT block off air flow like closed pores do! If it did insects,animals, etc. that live in the ground could not breathe. Ask anyone who rides or races on ANY type of vehicle on dirt why it is the FILTER ALWAYS USED. No matter the ENGINE CAN BREATHE. Anyway before you install Find a nice diner a 100 of so miles away, take your spouse to breakfast - LET THE VEHICLE DO THE WORK - think cruise control (the computer will help eliminate throttle application variances. Install your filter, go the 100 so so miles. Then BREAKFAST TRIP again.
Why when you get a boo-boo due Doctors wrap that boo-boo in gauze? Maybe because it allows the air to get to the skin anf FILTER ALL the bad things that they do NOT want getting to that boo-boo. If you wrapped that boo-boo with duct tape. paper etc. it would for sure be a much better "filter" as far as restriction is concerned but the good stuff "air" would not get to where it is needed. So in a test do you actually want the best filtration? Or the PROPER amount of Filtration? Take a paper towel cover your mouth, you can still beathe, spray a mist of water on it, NOT SO MUCH. Take a piece of gauze bandage from your medicine cabinet preform the same test.
If this argument is to hold true can you clarify why you would be oiling a guaze filter, like the K&N. How does that differ from your wet paper towel example.
 

ThunderMug95

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Ive used K&N drop-ins on every vehicle I’ve owned since 1991. Very minor gains if any at all, but it is a forever filter. I may be sick in the head, but I truly enjoy performing maintenance on my vehicles. Our two vehicles were K&N. Wife has a ‘18 Terrain Denali and thats K&N. My Ram was until 2019 when I went Vararam.
Never an issue with any vehicle over 30+ years.
 

1 MEAN66

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Maybe we should all just remove our air cleaners to see how long the engines hold power with no filter media allowing anything to be ingested?
That is they way it was done probably up to somewhere in the 1920's-1930's. It has already been tested. They started with a wire mesh style, to which was covered with oil. Go figure! Paper filter came about as easier/cheaper to manufacture, and created a new replace part industry. Again go figure.
If this argument is to hold true can you clarify why you would be oiling a guaze filter, like the K&N. How does that differ from your wet paper towel example.
The oil, at least as far as I understand helps stop and trap the unwanted particals from following the "wanted air" into the engine, What ever gauze is made of or how it is made it's pores do not shrink when damp or wet. All air contains moisture. I am not an engineer but I believe that this is the/or one of the reasons it is used. As stated elsewhere bandages are not made the "BEST" filtration. The best filtration could restrict some of the air necessary to heal yet still stop unwanted particles from getting to the boo-boo. Also stated somewhere this is why racing situations (motocross, rally cars, hill climbs, etc. use gauze or sponge type of filtration, both being oiled - a special type of oil of course. I know for me I have never gotten less then a 1 mile to a gallon increase in mileage. The last new vehicle I bought new was my 02 Dakota that I just sold to get my Ram. For 22 years it had a K&N style ( cleanable/oiled gauze filter system in it, The 02 Buick century I still own has a K&N style replacement filter (uses the O.E. air box) in it. I belive at least in my case these 20 and counting years is an OK test, for durability and function.
 

Dean2

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I have read some real BS on forums but I think you have just set a new benchmark that will not be soon exceeded.

What you have posted is complete twaddle. Oil does not allow air to pass through it, gauze does. The only reason to add oil is to partially block all the crap that would go through the dry gauze. Paper elements do not get blocked up by the humidity in the air. Your postulations make zero sense.
 
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