K&N Air Filter Deteriorates?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
K&N Air Filter Deteriorates?
Most of us are fairly comfortable with K&N air filters, although some might believe that it provides no significant performance improvement.
In a related thread (on lifetime oil filters) in this section, C4 member, "Performance Nut" said that, "My take is that it (the oil filter being discussed) is probably the same as a K&N air filter: really good at first but the filter's "performance" declines over time (even after cleaning it). "
I disagree.
Having two, new K&N filters, boxes and all papers in my garage, I re-read everything and could find nothing to support the fact that K&N says its filters go downhill as Performance Nut further stated:
"If you read the K&N booklet, it even says in there that performance degrades after time. It is a flow diagram that shows K&N new and old (so many miles after cleaning) versus varies other model air filters. K&N blew their own whistle on this one. "
I have no booklet from either filter. Maybe it's a competitor's.
So, I thought I'd ask K&N about this "booklet". Here's their response in its entirety:
"Hello,
Thank you for your interest in K&N products. We do not supply any "Book" or "Booklet" with our K&N filters. What he may be referring
to is some POP (Point of Purchase) brochure he found at a counter of a
K&N dealer. Not knowing what he has I cannot comment on it but it is
out of context.
The K&N media is made of surgical grade cotton gauze. As with a cotton shirt, too many cleanings will wash away the fiber of the
material. K&N replacement air filters need cleaning between 30 and 50
thousand miles. The media itself is will last for 25 cleanings. Going
on the excessive of every 30 thousand, this means the filter will last
for about 750 thousand miles. This is longer then the average life of
the average vehicle.
The best way to determine if the filter is in need of cleaning
is to visually inspect it. When the debris build up is about even with
the fine wire mesh that forms the pleats and holds the filters shape, it
is ready. The open conical filter on K&N intake kits will need cleanings about 80 to 100 thousand mile intervals.
Lots of people like the "look" of the filter and the enhanced to
their under hood and at times will clean too often and prematurely wear out the filter.
Thank you,
Leon S. Collins
K&N Technical Support
1-800-858-3333"
Inquiring minds like to know answers... I think I got my answer.
In a related thread (on lifetime oil filters) in this section, C4 member, "Performance Nut" said that, "My take is that it (the oil filter being discussed) is probably the same as a K&N air filter: really good at first but the filter's "performance" declines over time (even after cleaning it). "
I disagree.
Having two, new K&N filters, boxes and all papers in my garage, I re-read everything and could find nothing to support the fact that K&N says its filters go downhill as Performance Nut further stated:
"If you read the K&N booklet, it even says in there that performance degrades after time. It is a flow diagram that shows K&N new and old (so many miles after cleaning) versus varies other model air filters. K&N blew their own whistle on this one. "
I have no booklet from either filter. Maybe it's a competitor's.
So, I thought I'd ask K&N about this "booklet". Here's their response in its entirety:
"Hello,
Thank you for your interest in K&N products. We do not supply any "Book" or "Booklet" with our K&N filters. What he may be referring
to is some POP (Point of Purchase) brochure he found at a counter of a
K&N dealer. Not knowing what he has I cannot comment on it but it is
out of context.
The K&N media is made of surgical grade cotton gauze. As with a cotton shirt, too many cleanings will wash away the fiber of the
material. K&N replacement air filters need cleaning between 30 and 50
thousand miles. The media itself is will last for 25 cleanings. Going
on the excessive of every 30 thousand, this means the filter will last
for about 750 thousand miles. This is longer then the average life of
the average vehicle.
The best way to determine if the filter is in need of cleaning
is to visually inspect it. When the debris build up is about even with
the fine wire mesh that forms the pleats and holds the filters shape, it
is ready. The open conical filter on K&N intake kits will need cleanings about 80 to 100 thousand mile intervals.
Lots of people like the "look" of the filter and the enhanced to
their under hood and at times will clean too often and prematurely wear out the filter.
Thank you,
Leon S. Collins
K&N Technical Support
1-800-858-3333"
Inquiring minds like to know answers... I think I got my answer.
Last edited by AORoads; Jul 6, 2005 at 08:10 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Great info they supplied you, and it sounds like cleaning the filter once a year, let alone at every oil change (not that I'm doing this) is WAY overkill. I'm definitely following the "recommended" intervals on this one...
