Installed K&N filter--problems
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 768
Likes: 11
From: austintown ohio
Installed K&N filter--problems
I installed a K&N filter in my 94 and now I have an intermittent engine problem! Sometimes I have what feels like a miss or shutter in the engine when accelerating from an idle. Does not happen all the time. No engine light yet. Occasionally it will stall when I shift from reverse to drive. Starts right back up. Any one have this problem after installing a Brand New K&N filter? Thanks for any help you can give.https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ilies/ack2.gif
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Providence RI
I installed a K&N filter in my 94 and now I have an intermittent engine problem! Sometimes I have what feels like a miss or shutter in the engine when accelerating from an idle. Does not happen all the time. No engine light yet. Occasionally it will stall when I shift from reverse to drive. Starts right back up. Any one have this problem after installing a Brand New K&N filter? Thanks for any help you can give.https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ilies/ack2.gif
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
And to be fair, this has nothing to do with it being a K&N filter.
Any of the other brands that require a filter oil can possibly have the same issue.
Quite a few users put way too much oil on them.
If that oil gets on the MAF sensor wires, it will cause problems no mater who's filter your using.
To properly oil one of these filters takes a little bit of practice.
You put a small amount of oil on the filter pleats and then allow the oil to "wick" through until covered.
If you pour (or spray) the oil on the pleats until they are covered, you will have too much oil on the filter and it will get sucked into the MAF sensor and cause issues.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Missing or stuttering engine on acceleration is usually a plug fouling or an intermittent injector problem. Check your ignition leads resistance and plugs for fowling or cracked insulators, maybe replace the plugs it they have not been replaced in a while. Then maybe look at the dreaded four letter word item ..... OPTI 
Good luck hopefully just a fouled plug
Good luck hopefully just a fouled plug
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,261
Likes: 9
From: sonoma ca
I installed a K&N filter in my 94 and now I have an intermittent engine problem! Sometimes I have what feels like a miss or shutter in the engine when accelerating from an idle. Does not happen all the time. No engine light yet. Occasionally it will stall when I shift from reverse to drive. Starts right back up. Any one have this problem after installing a Brand New K&N filter? Thanks for any help you can give.https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ilies/ack2.gif
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 951
Likes: 3
From: Placerville CA
Filter is brand new--I did not oil it--installed it as it came from factory!
I have to give K&N credit, though, for the best marketing program ever. They convince people to buy a filter for three times the cost of an OEM paper filter (which was good enough for the engineers that designed the car) with the argument that it saves money in the long run because it's reusable. Sure it is -- IF 1) you still have the car 90,000 miles later (replace the OEM filter with a K&N at the 30K scheduled replacement interval at a cost of $75 instead of $25 paper filters at 30K, 60K and 90K); and 2) you don't buy K&N's own proprietary cleaning solution and oil -- which of course you have to do.
Add in the cost of MAF sensor cleaning spray and you have the strangest calculation for saving money that I ever heard.
And of course there's the PITA process of cleaning and re-oiling to just the proper amount to not foul the MAF -- which may in fact not be possible as vettenuchas points out.
I wonder if you can dose the K&N with snake oil insead of their own product and get the same fabulous result.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 951
Likes: 3
From: Placerville CA
Plus you forgot to add that it lets most of the dust , dirt and grime go thru it.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Providence RI
Getting away from the Op's original trouble..
but I understand both sides of the fence w the K&N, or any oiled cotton filter.
the issue is whether his MAF is fouled, and that is causing his sudden onset problem
following the change to the oiled filter. I would try going back to a stock filter, cleaning the MAF's wires, D/C the neg battery cable, checking his MAF three wire connector, gently cleaning the connector with wooden toothpick,on the female ends...and using a very light coat of dielectric grease on the connector, reconnect the battery, give the computer some idle time to reset parameters, then see if the problem persists, and go on to other diagnostics, from that point.
but I understand both sides of the fence w the K&N, or any oiled cotton filter.
the issue is whether his MAF is fouled, and that is causing his sudden onset problem
following the change to the oiled filter. I would try going back to a stock filter, cleaning the MAF's wires, D/C the neg battery cable, checking his MAF three wire connector, gently cleaning the connector with wooden toothpick,on the female ends...and using a very light coat of dielectric grease on the connector, reconnect the battery, give the computer some idle time to reset parameters, then see if the problem persists, and go on to other diagnostics, from that point.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 35
From: Coldville
Exactly. I don't know why anyone thinks that fine oil mist won't be pulled out of fabric by a high-speed air column passing through, no matter how lightly oiled. If the FACTORY can't get the oiling right, how can somebody in his garage be expected to? Dump the K&N.
I have to give K&N credit, though, for the best marketing program ever. They convince people to buy a filter for three times the cost of an OEM paper filter (which was good enough for the engineers that designed the car) with the argument that it saves money in the long run because it's reusable. Sure it is -- IF 1) you still have the car 90,000 miles later (replace the OEM filter with a K&N at the 30K scheduled replacement interval at a cost of $75 instead of $25 paper filters at 30K, 60K and 90K); and 2) you don't buy K&N's own proprietary cleaning solution and oil -- which of course you have to do.
Add in the cost of MAF sensor cleaning spray and you have the strangest calculation for saving money that I ever heard.
And of course there's the PITA process of cleaning and re-oiling to just the proper amount to not foul the MAF -- which may in fact not be possible as vettenuchas points out.
I wonder if you can dose the K&N with snake oil insead of their own product and get the same fabulous result.
I have to give K&N credit, though, for the best marketing program ever. They convince people to buy a filter for three times the cost of an OEM paper filter (which was good enough for the engineers that designed the car) with the argument that it saves money in the long run because it's reusable. Sure it is -- IF 1) you still have the car 90,000 miles later (replace the OEM filter with a K&N at the 30K scheduled replacement interval at a cost of $75 instead of $25 paper filters at 30K, 60K and 90K); and 2) you don't buy K&N's own proprietary cleaning solution and oil -- which of course you have to do.
Add in the cost of MAF sensor cleaning spray and you have the strangest calculation for saving money that I ever heard.
And of course there's the PITA process of cleaning and re-oiling to just the proper amount to not foul the MAF -- which may in fact not be possible as vettenuchas points out.
I wonder if you can dose the K&N with snake oil insead of their own product and get the same fabulous result.
I worked at a company that makes and made High Performance air filters for C4, C5 &C6.
I got to know a old guy that did development for over 30 years and HE told me they tried the K&N against there products and that cause allot a problems with some of there test fleet vehicles from Oil collecting on Inlet sensors.
I use one In my 86 put I spread it evenly and coat it just enough.
It works great in my Pontiac 400 engine because its Carbed and has no Computer, and no inlet sensors, in fact it slightly lubricates the carb and keeps moisture out.
Last edited by rad928music; Dec 31, 2012 at 10:30 AM. Reason: change
