K&N Air Filter

[Christopher J. Bunsey]

Is it worth the money to put one of these on my 76 L-82? What will I notice?
Thanks!

Chris

[Terry M.]

Re: K&N Air Filter

If you test your used oil you will notice more silicon from the increased dirt ingested by your engine. Save your money and your engine -- use a paper filter.

[John O.]

Re: K&N Air Filter

I use the K&N filter on my truck. I noticed alittle more performance and gas mileage. I like it and will stick with it.

John

[Jim T.]

Re: K&N Air Filter

A deceased longtime member Dale Pearman wrote something years ago about using a K&N filter. He was using one on his fairly new Dodge diesel. After talking with someone about test results on using a K&N, he stopped. When I bought my 85 and looked at the original filter I thought that it was one of the best filters I had ever seen for stopping the ingestion of dirt. When I changed it I went with the AC Delco original type.

[Duke W.]

Re: K&N Air Filter

I wouldn't use a K&N filter in any car I own even if THEY PAID ME TO USE IT!

Duke

[Chas Henderson #28127]

O.K. Duke, I'll bite. Why? *NM*

[John H.]

Re: O.K. Duke, I'll bite. Why?

Because K&N's are nowhere near as effective filtration devices as the production pleated paper air filter element, especially in terms of passing particulate matter. Our OEM testing of K&N's confirmed this year after year. This is particularly important on diesel applications, as diesels are unthrottled and draw in their maximum pumping volume of air at all times regardless of power level. The laws of physics don't change - increased airflow means less effective filtration, regardless of the marketing hype.

[Duke W.]

Re: O.K. Duke, I'll bite. Why?

The effectiveness of a K&N is dependent upon the amount of oil. Too little
and it effectively ceases to filter, and since the oil "dries out" over time,
you don't know when this happens.

Too much oil can foul MAF sensors on modern cars, and there is no real way to
tell how much oil is "too much" versus "too little".

Tests I've seen (one in Hot Rod a couple of years ago) show that K&N does not flow any more air at a typical test depression than an average paper filter of the same size. Also, it's not clear if K&N meets SAE J726, which is the OEM standard for air filter filtration performance.

The whole idea of a "washable" filter makes as much sense as washing out an oil
filter an reinstalling it, so I always ask: "Would you wash out an oil filter
and reuse it?" There's no way you can wash out all the tiny particles from an air filter anymore than you could wash them out of an oil filter and washing any filter is a time consuming and messy job. It takes a minute or two to replace an old filter with a new OE quality air filter that costs five to ten bucks and throw the old one away, but OH, I FORGOT, K&Ns COST A LOT MORE than five to ten bucks.

For the price of a typical K&N filter you can buy about six quality paper
filters that typically have a recommended change interval of 30K miles.

Pay more - a WHOLE lot more, and get less. That's the power of millions in marketing expenditures, which you pay for when you buy these heavily marketed, poor quality products.

Duke

[Peter L.]

Re: O.K. Duke,

O.K. Duke tell us how you really feel about K&N filters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pete

[Donald M.]

How much do you think.......

I can get for my K&N filter on Ebay?

[Dick W.]

Re: How much do you think.......

Again this proves the Snake Oil salesmen still exist.

[Rick S.]

Re: How much do you think.......

Just identify it as "NOS" and you will most likely double your cost....

[Peter L.]

Re: How much do you think.......

Better yet say it's for a '67 Big Block.

[Rick S.]

Re: How much do you think.......

Pete,
Better yet, yet, a 1967 L88!!!!

[Brian M.]

Re: K&N Air Filter

If you install a K & N filter along with the "Tornado" do you ever have to stop for gas again?