grampi50

I'm assuming any CAI will use a K&N, and I'm also guessing that many people use a drop-in K&N to replace the stock filter. Have any of you noticed more engine wear when switching to a K&N? I have read many threads in many different forums where claims are made stating the K&Ns don't filter as well as stock filters. Also, is it possible to use a stock filter in a CAI?

Velocity_Vette

1) K&N filters have to be oiled, which is one of the reasons I don't like them. Residual oil from the filter medium will eventually push itself through the intake, past the MAF, and into the combustion chamber. Typically it is burned off along with the residual oil from the PCV which is normal engine operation. Would the residuals cause engine wear or damage? No, it shouldn't with normal operation. At absolute worst it would likely coat the MAF overtime and cause MAF reading anomalies if you don't service it. MAF issues can cause noticeable driving issues, such as fuel mixture anomalies.

2) A cold air intake utilizes whatever filter medium the manufacturer produces for it. Some may utilize a similarly oiled filter, while others may just throw on a typical cone that you replace at the standard service intervals. Subsequently no, you cannot utilize the stock filter medium and design in most any aftermarket CAI as the aftermarket completely redesigns the filter housing.

Personally I run a hacked OEM box with a stock filter medium (I hacked the front and the sides, as I have a 99 since 97s-00s are side fed not front fed like 01s onwards). The stock filters are ridiculously cheap despite how huge they are; they're BIG filters. Most of the gains you see from CAIs are due to an accompanying tune, which can yield pretty much the same results OEM. Another consideration is that if you get any sort of open-element CAI you will absolutely have to run a front hood seal, as the area around the filter housing gets very dirty with normal driving (especially in rain).

dinocajic

Have you looked at Vararam? I have them on both my C5 and C6

grampi50

I haven't looked at anything, I'm just trying to find out what the pros and cons are to running an aftermarket filter vs using a stock one.

Fcar 98

This is the setup I've been running for 20 years. K &N. You do have to be careful when you oil them. I don't put a lot of miles on my car, so when ever it gets dirty i clean it. I do take it apart to see if the MAF is staying clean. I have never found any oil on the sensor. I don't oil it heavily.

dinocajic

More power. I haven't dynoed mine but I've seen others dyno theirs and getting pretty good results with Vararam (Vararam claims that it can add up to 40hp, which I doubt but who knows). That's the reason why I mentioned it. Out of all of the intake systems their seems to be designed the best for maximum air flow.

With the Cone filters you will get that additional intake sound.

I've never heard of an intake cause any damage to a Corvette engine like it will in some other cars (i.e. WRX without a tune).

grampi50

I'm more or less just interested in finding out about the filter elements, not the intakes...I have heard that K&N filters, and other brand high flow filters allow more foreign matter into the engine and was wondering if anyone here has experience abnormally high or premature engine wear due to running aftermarket filters...

redzg

There are a number of internet sources with data on K&Ns and other oiled cotton filters. The common denominator it they pass more air by also passing more dirt. Enough to be a problem? Perhaps not. Depends on the circumstances, obviously. But I'm going to switch back to a stock filter with air box mods at some point soon.

Whiteonrice

Years ago I bought a new Ford pickup and put a K&N in it. After awhile it started running and idling little rough so I took it to the dealer. The technician told me the MAF sensor had oil on it and this was causing the problem. He cleaned it and said this was not the first truck that had this problem that had a K&N filter. I bought a new paper filter that day and the problem never came back.
I think it's a trade off more flow = more dirt. Here is an article some might find interesting. http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html

Gordy M

In the old Carburetor days, air flow into the carb was usually restricted by the oem air cleaner. Today with computer controlled motors, it is more of a mute point. On the stock C5 motor your max hp is at 5750 rpms and falls off allot at 6200 rpm. Your engine will hold approx. 43.25 cubic inches of air in each cylinder. Switching air cleaning elements will not effect how much air or the velocity of air entering the cylinder. The major component of air intake is what is the temperature and what is the velocity (how fast are you going). Heated engine bay air will not change more than a few degrees regardless of the air cleaner you use. Using outside ambient air--which is considerably cooler--will let the same amount of air into the cylinder but being cooler, it is more dense. Denser air means slightly more oxygen enters per revolution.

That said the difference with air cleaning elements is the oiled system, improperly oiled, will allow droplets of oil attach to the MAF which in turn changes the information going to the PCM which will adversely affect the efficiency of the engine. While I realize this is an over-simplification, hopefully it will help. Remember engine noise does not equate to HP. On a Z06, a freer flowing air filter will lower the incoming air temperature more and will result in an incremental (Small) increase in HP at 6500 rpm.

The reason a good tune will work so well is the average owner is not running their Corvette with the car floored all the time. Most of the improvement is gained in the lower rpm range where you will notice the difference in acceleration.

leadfoot4

I always get a chuckle out of people saying that a K&N filter "lets in more dirt". You realize, don't you, that any more "dirt" that may get by a K&N filter, is at the PARTICULATE level, don't you?? Stuff that even a microscope would have trouble seeing. Think something THAT small is going to help wear out your engine??

On the other hand, yeah, over-oiling a K&N, and possibly coating the MAF sensor, yeah, that can be a problem.....

Fcar 98

If you have ever cleaned a K&N like i showed. It does accumulate a bit of debris that is brushed off before any other step is taken. I have worked these filters for quit a few years and over time if i found any indication that there was a problem. i would have seen, then removed them.

grampi50

I don't know what the particulate stuff does to an engine, if anything, that's why I'm asking....

johnson-rod

I've used K&N filters in several cars and motorcycles including my C5. The bikes never show any problems but I do appreciate the lower restriction and better water repellent nature of the oiled filters. My Acura went over 200K miles with no oil consumption. Would have gone on longer but the frame rotted out.

I replaced the original paper filter on the C5 with a K&N due to it's inaccessible location and the amount of junk the bottom feeding air cleaner was picking up. The C5 is at 145K with no oil consumption.

I don't know if the performance claims are valid but I"m happy with the performance of the K&N in the stock air cleaner.

Clancy209

I have been using Air Raid dry filter. I just blow it out once in a while. Been working for me

grampi50

Is this a paper or foam element? Does it fit into the stock air intake?

Clancy209

Paper filter, comes with everything for install, just remove OEM box. I been reading on the forum people think the filter gets wet and chokes out. I have a hood seal around my engine and/or filter never gets wet, never had a problem. Hope I am not jinxing myself

Corvette#2

I've used K&N filters on motorcycles and other cars.
I run the stock filter on my C5. It's too much hassle to screw with cleaning, drying, and re-oiling to gain maybe a couple hp.

I run a NAPA gold air filter which has about twice as many pleats as your typical FRAM filter. Once a year or whenever it's dirty, I can just pull it out and toss it.

killian96ss

The never ending debate. I've been using K&N filters for at least 25 years now and have been very happy with their performance and filtration capabilities. I've run them on drag cars, daily drivers, off road rigs and now my Corvette. They are superior to paper filters in just about every category, excellent flow at low and high rpm, impervious to water, exellent filtration, resistant to clogging up and since they can be cleaned and re-oiled you only buy one to last the life of your vehicle. Every vehicle I have put one on has gained throttle response and top end power. I've also never had any problems with fouling MAF sensors on any of the 12 vehicles I've had them on, but that's probably because I clean the sensor at every oil change as preventative maintenance. Hope this helps make your decision.

Steve

msandym

I guess not for a c5 though