I have used K&N for years and now I may have my mind changed. I had a friend email this to me and you all can read it and have you own conclusion.
http://members.***.net/jmfnd/ISO%205...t%20Report.mht

 

It's not rocket science.

More air flow= more dirt flow

Buy an air filter to filter the air, not to brag about.

 

I have a dual cone intake with K&N cone filters

 

Wow , common sense prevails at your house , I can see. I too have used the gauze filters back in the 1950s and then later when K&N first set about with their hugh advertizing campaign. From motorcycles to diesels , I tried but failed to see filtering.

Remove you gauze filter and feel past the filter seal for any grit. Well that grit is going thru your engine. Someone told me that it was the top or bottom seals that were letting that grit thru . I would apply a bead of sealer ( any kind that you can later peal off) but still the grit showed up . Didn't take long to convince me. The first job of a filter is to filter.( Oh the area which I tested was the SF Bay area which does have dusty roads , or dusty conditions, ect. Can't imagine driving in Tuscon or Barstow.

 

I have done a number of used oil analyses using an oiled filter setup. Previously K&N and now Green filter. While they were excellent they were good. I think some if it may depend on location since it is not dusty where I live like it would be in the western states or as mentioned Tucson. When I worked for the Army many years ago the M1 tank filters were tested at Yuma for good reason.

 

Could you restate this, "While they were excellent they were good." ?

Did you mean to say "While there were NOT excellent, they were good."

What was exact numbers? I do believe this and only use paper filters, but if someone has had used oil analysis done, the silicone numbers should show this difference.

 

I use the best of both worlds---trap dirt and more air--its a sheet of bounty cleaner-upper against an accel kool blue filter-yep

 

WHY ? What are the flow characteristics of Bounty? I would guess it is pretty restrictive. You do realize that the paper in your air filter is pleated so as to have more area and concentrate dirt in the folds.

If you are going to do this, just use a paper filter.

 

i believe he is pulling your leg

 

To quote "Bob the oil guy" from the other thread...

From the Air Filtration test (on a '92 Miata)

"There are no definitive independent tests. Automotive enthusiasts have to rely on the claims of filter makers, which I feel are misleading."

It's no different than any other product. Each manufacturer will say theirs is better than the other manufacturers. We tend to believe the manufacturer with the best graphics and/or other internet opinions.

Do an oil analysis with whatever filters you chose to use in your cars.

 

The stock air filter is the best compromise of performance and engine protection, plus they are inexpensive enough that you can just throw them away when they get dirty.
I have never really understood why anyone would bother with an aftermarket filter for the marginal (and possibly short lived) performance gain.

 

if K&N and other oil filters is krap why did they stand the test of time? If they allow through so much dirt why don`t the engines break down? or loss of power or...something?....just asking

 

K&N is a triumph of slick marketing over substance. As people learn more the figure out the truth, that they are junk. Statments like "the K&N filters out 97% of the junk entering your intake" is fine, until you learn that a good filter cleans out more than 99 percent. I doesn't sound like much difference, but it's actually letting almost three times as much crap into your engine.

For most people, the reduction in filtration isn't a big deal. You won't see the results for over 100,000 miles anyway, and most people don't keep their cars that long. It's pretty simple, K&N is counting on you not keeping the car long enough for it to show the additional wear, so it doesn't matter.

The aftermarket for auto stuff is full of snake oil salesmen. K&N has done a good job of selling an inferior product by concentrating on the "performance gains" that are supposed to come from less intake reduction. The gains are small and come at the price of more engine wear.

Here is a link to a recent post on the same subject where a fellow member Subdriver had been using a K&N and was finding higher leakdown after several years...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...k-and-n-2.html

There are better filters out there now, the Amsoil being one that looks better at filtration and has almost as low a restriction as a K&N, so I'm thinking that the k&N is on it's way out.

 

Yes, that is what I meant. Should have proofed my post. I have trouble typing after cutting off a finger last year.

I would have to dig up the files and see where they were (on my other old computer).