K & N air filter. YES, I finally get it (post #13) + PIC of my LIL NOVA

[john59]

Also, see my other post about 8 posts down.

A lot of good feedback about the K&N air filter. It appears to be a big NO-NO for diesels, but outside of dust accumulation, how about a 5.3L Chev gas burner ???????----- is the K&N at least OK----Nervous john. What may the worst case scenario be, not to include getting ripped on COST.

I just changed the oil/filter in my truck and put a new air filter in.

The old one was mighty crapped up. I put a K & N in my Silverado. I started the truck to circulate the engine oil I just changed and I said is that an excho ????

My truck does have a different, call it a healthy, sound or do I have to up my meds ? ?

K & N claims performance will improve. They are pricey, but if I get a tad more shove it will be worth it.

Your thoughts.
john

 

[LarryJ]

I just changed the oil/filter in my truck and put a new air filter in.

The old one was mighty crapped up. I put a K & N in my Silverado. I started the truck to circulate the oil and I said is that an excho ????

My truck does have a different, call it a healthy, sound or do I have to up my meds ? ?

K & N claims performance will improve. They are pricey, but if I get a tad more shove it will be worth it.

Your thoughts.
john

As long as it's not a diesel you should be fine, but on diesels the K&N get bad reviews and I would sure be doing an Oil Analysis at each change and watching the Silicon levels for air filtration.

Larry

 

[LarryJ]

I just changed the oil/filter in my truck and put a new air filter in.

The old one was mighty crapped up. I put a K & N in my Silverado. I started the truck to circulate the oil and I said is that an excho ????

My truck does have a different, call it a healthy, sound or do I have to up my meds ? ?

K & N claims performance will improve. They are pricey, but if I get a tad more shove it will be worth it.

Your thoughts.
john

As long as it's not a diesel you should be fine, but on diesels the K&N get bad reviews and I would sure be doing an Oil Analysis at each change and watching the Silicon levels for air filtration.

Larry

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I used to run a K&N in my gas trucks, as years have passed and I learned more and more about filtration (oil and air) I removed the K&N's I had and pitched them. You will notice a slight HP increase by running the air filter but in my opinion it isnt worth the potential damage to the engine because of poor filtration. In diesels it even less relevant since the K&N does not produce any HP increase over a stock paper filter, the turbo overcomes any difference in flow, I have seen tests of K&N vs OEM vs no filter and they all come out essentially the same on most diesels.

 

[LONE-STAR]

The problem with a K&N air filter is that it has to be oiled to filter the dirt out. On a turbo diesel the turbo sucks the oil out of the filter. When the filters are dry they no longer stop the dirt. Witch they then sand blast the turbo. That's how it was explained to me by a Ford Mech. years ago. As far as gas motors the people I know that have them like them and never have a problem.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

The problem with a K&N air filter is that it has to be oiled to filter the dirt out. On a turbo diesel the turbo sucks the oil out of the filter. When the filters are dry they no longer stop the dirt. Witch they then sand blast the turbo. That's how it was explained to me by a Ford Mech. years ago. As far as gas motors the people I know that have them like them and never have a problem.

The independant test that I read showed the K&N was the first one to clog in the heavy dust test and allowed the most contaminants through in all the tests, this was worst out of at least a dozen different filters.

 

[john59]

Just a bump to get the topic back up top, after editing.

john

 

[Tnbob]

I am sure glad I saw this thread just in time. I was just about to order one for my Diesel when I read this. We used these in race cars yrs ago with great results but then again we were cleaning and oiling them after each race. I guess I will go back to a regular good filter since the posts on a diesel sucking the oil out makes sense.

 

[john59]

And still nervous

TNBOB----When you said you raced cars----Was it oval, drag racing, dirt, hard top ??????? I was a drag racer back in the late mid 50's early 60's.

My first brand new car was a '57 Chev 150, with the 283 cubes, Duntov cam & two 4 barrels. 4:56 posi in the rear. Things were simple in those days.

I have a bit of knowledge, but that can be dangerous.

This oiling thing has me stumped. K&N says the filter is washable.

If I pull it every time I change my motor oil/filter in my GAS BURNER (about 3000 miles) and wash the filter----Will it help ???????-----or run it for 10,000 miles and dump it-------Bite the Bullet.

Nervous john

 

[kc5grw]

For what it's worth I ran a K&N in my 1994 Ford 7.3L diesel with Banks turbo for 4 years before I sold the truck. I had oil analysis done nearly every oil change and never saw a change in results what would be indicative of a problem with air filtration. That being said I am currently running a DIY mod on my 2000 7.3 with the 6637 paper filter. Now, that really helps the engine breathe.

 

[medic9016]

I have a bit of knowledge, but that can be dangerous.

This oiling thing has me stumped. K&N says the filter is washable.

If I pull it every time I change my oil/filter in my gas burner (about 3000 miles) and wash the filter----Will it help ???????-----or run it for 10,000 miles and dump it-------Bite the Bullet.

Nervous john

I have been using a K&N filter on my 5.9L Cummins for 3 years. I wash and re-oil every other oil change. I have not had any problems. If you follow the directions you will not over or under oil the filter. The problems I see is when someone soaks the filter with oil. I would not use a drop in K&N filter, I would change to a cold air intake. Depending on the vehicle you could also use a pre-filter.

 

[Tnbob]

And still nervous

TNBOB----When you said you raced cars----Was it oval, drag racing, dirt, hard top ??????? I was a drag racer back in the late mid 50's early 60's.


This oiling thing has me stumped. K&N says the filter is washable.

If I pull it every time I change my motor oil/filter in my GAS BURNER (about 3000 miles) and wash the filter----Will it help ???????-----or run it for 10,000 miles and dump it-------Bite the Bullet.

Nervous john

Being your from a great racing area, I hope you remember the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway that was bulldozed a long time ago. I raced the same kind of open wheel modified at the Flemington Speedway in New Jersey in the late 70's early 80's. Flemington was also bulldozed about 10 yrs ago sadly.


K&N sells an oil that is sprayed on the filter and washed off along with the dirt and then reoiled. The oil catches the dirt and is able to washed out then you reoil the filter. We used to use trans fluid to oil the filter for racing, I saw a spray bottle of K&N oil at a parts store over the weekend for $9.95.

 

[KimIce]

We use a K&N on our 06 F250 Diesel and have no problems with it, so do the majority of our friends. It has actually helped.

 

[john59]

1st)To TNBOB----Yes I remember Reading, also Hatfield, Sanitoga, Langhorne, I could go on and on. DW Shirley & I still spend Sat Nights at 1/3 & 1/4 mile dirt tracks---Grandview & Black Diamond. YA GOTTA BE THE BEST to fight your way through 30 cars on a 1/3 mile dirt, in the finals.
I'M out of drag racing since I sold my 63 Nova ll shoebox two years ago.

The K&N new, comes already oiled. I just could not get that into my noggin. The rest now makes sense. Clean and re-oil.

Yes, I get it. Thanks for your help.

I have attached a pic of my LiL '63 Shoebox. 350 Chev, Cam, 2 quads, 4:11, racing automatic etc $$$$, etc $$$$, etc $$$$---and a few broken wrench knuckles keepin' it chuggin'.

LOOKIN' GOOD IN VIPER YELLOW

 

[Tnbob]

1st)To TNBOB----Yes I remember Reading, also Hatfield, Sanitoga, Langhorne, I could go on and on. DW Shirley & I still spend Sat Nights at 1/3 & 1/4 mile dirt tracks---Grandview & Black Diamond. YA GOTTA BE THE BEST to fight your way through 30 cars on a 1/3 mile dirt, in the finals.
I'M out of drag racing since I sold my 63 Nova ll shoebox two years ago.

The K&N new, comes already oiled. I just could not get that into my noggin. The rest now makes sense. Clean and re-oil.

Yes, I get it. Thanks for your help.

I have attached a pic of my LiL '63 Shoebox. 350 Chev, Cam, 2 quads, 4:11, racing automatic etc $$$$, etc $$$$, etc $$$$---and a few broken wrench knuckles keepin' it chuggin'.

LOOKIN' GOOD IN VIPER YELLOW

Great lookin wheels! Love that color on that body style, easy to see lol. Side note: I was almost killed in a car like that when I was a kid, 9 of us on a Sunday morning hit head on when my uncle turned in front of someone, all survived, says something bout the sturdyness.
Grandview and Big Diamond have some of the guys I used to race against every week still running along with their kids, 2 great racetracks.

 

[stacktester]

I've run a K&N in my diesel for about 2k miles. No problems as of yet. I keep it cleaned about once a month. If it's letting dirt by I'm surprised because the back side is very clean always. Being that it's getting older and after reading some of the findings here I may just switch to paper. I drive in a lot of dusty areas and I've always felt this thing has worked well. CONVINCE me to to change it out to paper lol. Here's to hoping for another 266k miles.

Not to change the subject but is anyone using Amsoil products? My mechanic buddy is a distributor now and he's been impressed by what he's seen. When he serviced my differential last week he put Amsoil brand in. I'm also using it as a fuel additive now when I fill up.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

The tests I read show no gain by running the K&N in a turbo diesel, a cold air kit is the best way to improve the intake on a diesel. I run a simple cold air kit on mine with a paper filter.

 

[prowlerregal335m]

Stacktester,I use amsoil in my motor,trans and rear.But I use a paper air filter.

 

[LONE-STAR]

I have amsoil in my golf cart rear end.

 

[stacktester]

The tests I read show no gain by running the K&N in a turbo diesel, a cold air kit is the best way to improve the intake on a diesel. I run a simple cold air kit on mine with a paper filter.

I meant to say 200k miles. I may go back to paper as the k&n is a pain to wash.