K&N Filter Effectiveness, from oil analysis

MFE92 · Oct 14, 2011

There's been some debate over the years, especially from Amsoil got-religion types, that K&N only filters out large particles and leave the small stuff free to destroy engines. I've been running a K&N on this car for 17 years, and a few months ago I drove it 15 miles through this dust storm...

...and it was like driving in a tunnel of brown talc powder. Very, very fine stuff. Couldn't see 30 feet in front of me. I cleaned my panel K&N a few days later, and when I changed the oil, I sent a sample off to Blackstone Labs like I always do with this car. If the K&N didn't work, like some people claim they don't, I'd expect silicon to be way up in the results. It wasn't:

I'm not a K&N fan-boi or a rep, I just like to have tech to cut through all the eXpErT opinions.

.

jrichker · Oct 14, 2011

Very impressive. Looks like K&N is a winner as long as you don't overdo the oiling of the filter.

93project · Oct 14, 2011

Awesome! Totally justifies blowing $50 on a filter #

90lxcoupe · Oct 14, 2011

That was a hell of a dust storm, i would have parked and waited that one out. Pretty impressive. What did blackstone charge for the testing?

MFE92 · Oct 14, 2011

Yeah, but I worked late that night, and I had no idea how long it would last. I was on a mission to get home. Luckily I knew where to go, because I couldn't read the road signs til I was right under them.

Blackstone charges about $25 for testing.

Gunmetal5oh · Oct 15, 2011

K&N requires you to use a pre-filter if using in sandy or dusty conditions, or they admit it will not provide adequate protection. They've been sued. Call them and ask.

I have personally seen the damaging effects caused by K&N filters when used in sandy environments for prolonged periods of time. If you live in a sandy or dusty environment and drive your car every day with a plain K&N filter it will catch up to you.

What you want is synthetic, oil free media.
Oiled gauze tends to coat everything in the intake tract with a thin film of oil, it takes a toll on sensors over time.

Gunmetal5oh · Oct 15, 2011

PS. Maybe you just have a really clogged filter.
Because according to K&N, the more "clogged" it is, the better it filters! (a real claim)
HAHAHA

Synthetic media:
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/eaa.aspx

Amsoil offers one, there are other manufacturers but they're not easy to find.

Maryland Stang · Oct 15, 2011

Gunmetal5oh said:
K&N requires you to use a pre-filter if using in sandy or dusty conditions, or they admit it will not provide adequate protection. They've been sued. Call them and ask.

If this is real then wouldn't they put a warning somewhere? Like on the packaging, their website or the instructions? I'm just asking.

I have K&N filters in almost everything. Even my lawnmower. I have a $4,000 Kohler EFI 28 hp engine and K&N makes a filter for it.

MFE92 · Oct 15, 2011

Thus why I felt compelled to write the 8th through the 13th words in my original post

.

4rdnut · Oct 15, 2011

Gunmetal5oh said:
PS. Maybe you just have a really clogged filter.
Because according to K&N, the more "clogged" it is, the better it filters! (a real claim)
HAHAHA

Synthetic media:
AMSOIL Ea Synthetic Nanofiber Air Filter (EaA)

Amsoil offers one, there are other manufacturers but they're not easy to find.

K&N can keep their sticky oily filters, they have successfully tricked people into buying their filter, their sticky oil and their filter cleaner and the gimmick the more it gets clogged the better it filters is pretty funny. Help i can't breathe with all that sticky oil.

Maryland Stang · Oct 15, 2011

4rdnut said:
K&N can keep their sticky oily filters, they have successfully brainwashed people into buying their filter, their sticky oil and their filter cleaner and the gimmick the more it gets clogged the better it filters is pretty funny. Help i can't breathe with all that sticky oil.

Not all K&N filters use oil.

wythors · Oct 15, 2011

The thing I love best about forums is that, even when presented with hard, third-party evidence to the contrary, you can still continue to insist that your point of view is right and everybody else is wrong.

God bless America.

Maryland Stang · Oct 15, 2011

wythors said:
The thing I love best about forums is that, even when presented with hard, third-party evidence to the contrary, you can still continue to insist that your point of view is right and everybody else is wrong.

God bless America.

I also have a Blackstone lab report from my mower but what's the point in beating a dead horse. Ah... What the hell. Here's mine.

Part 2

aar0s · Oct 15, 2011

Ive been running a K&N in my car for years with no problems. Dont really see what the fuss is about. My guess is that a couple of ricers bought them and figured that they would oil them up, the more the better, and f'ed their mass air sensor.

wythors · Oct 15, 2011

My brother's best friend's cousin's brother-in-law who's a mechanic said they suck.

Gunmetal5oh · Oct 15, 2011

wythors said:
The thing I love best about forums is that, even when presented with hard, third-party evidence to the contrary, you can still continue to insist that your point of view is right and everybody else is wrong.

God bless America.

Call K&N.

MFE92 · Oct 15, 2011

4rdnut said:
K&N can keep their sticky oily filters, they have successfully tricked people into buying their filter, their sticky oil and their filter cleaner and the gimmick the more it gets clogged the better it filters is pretty funny. Help i can't breathe with all that sticky oil.

Do you work for Consumer Reports or something? You seem to think everything from H-pipes to air filters is an advertising-funded marketing conspiracy. Consumer Reports was founded on that exact same principle, so you have me wondering.

90lxcoupe · Oct 15, 2011

looks like you found the amsoil nutswinger lol

Gunmetal5oh · Oct 16, 2011

You're an idiot, I don't sell Amsoil nor do I buy most of their products.
That was an EXAMPLE of a dry filter that is actually effective at FILTERING.

K&N relies on the oil to catch dust and sand.
In fact, in every test I've ever read, and I've been around this stuff a while, every test shows K&N filters clog up more quickly than even a plain paper filter. So their claim that they filter better when clogged is not just silly, their filters suffocate your engine when they become dirty.

I have also reviewed independent tests, one from an engine builder I knew before his untimely passing, which showed in some cases a K&N filter actually flows less than a STOCK AIR FILTER. This is especially true in diesel trucks utilizing Donaldson filters, namely the Ford 6.0L, which has a high flowing paper filter called a "powercore" from the factory.

Some say K&N should only be used in racing.
I can see how that is logical if you rebuild often, however if it were me, I could not afford to tear down my engine as often so I would rely on more advanced filters.

Sorry to ruin your fantasy of a 20HP gain simply by spending 49.99 on a K&N.

The company, K&N has been SUED. They were sued for a list of reasons, but I can tell you for a fact if you call them they will NOW tell you their filters will not filter fine particles when their filters are used in sandy or dusty conditions.
Then they'll try to sell you a pre-filter for $40, it's made of polyester and slips over their filter to stop sand and dust. Don't listen to me if you doubt what I am saying, call them and THEY will tell you themselves because they don't want to get sued again.

Gunmetal5oh · Oct 16, 2011

PS. Brenspeed, a well known Mustang parts place did A DYNO TEST using a new 2011 5.0L mustang and the K&N resulted in a very slight decrease in power than the FACTORY AIR FILTER.

Slim margin for error, but if K&N made a measurable difference it would be easily noticed. Unfortunately for K&N it showed about a .5 to 1% loss of power compared to factory filter.

K&N Filter Effectiveness, from oil analysis

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