K & n filter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
The search engine is your friend.... 
You will find that gauze filters, like the K&N allow a bit more aiflow at wide open throttle, but are actually poor filters when it comes to admitting dirt into your engine. If you google the subject you will find some actual filtration tests that show that K&N's admit as much as 10 times as much dirt, clog sooner and require more frequent service than a good paper filter.
Go with something like the new technology Amsoil air filter, it has almost as low a restriction as the gauze types and good filtraton, like the paper filters.
The benefits of just a filter element change to a K&N aren't worth the reduction in engine protection.
You will find that gauze filters, like the K&N allow a bit more aiflow at wide open throttle, but are actually poor filters when it comes to admitting dirt into your engine. If you google the subject you will find some actual filtration tests that show that K&N's admit as much as 10 times as much dirt, clog sooner and require more frequent service than a good paper filter.
Go with something like the new technology Amsoil air filter, it has almost as low a restriction as the gauze types and good filtraton, like the paper filters.
The benefits of just a filter element change to a K&N aren't worth the reduction in engine protection.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 424
I've had a K&N filter in a Z06 housing for the last several years and over 50K miles. I don't believe I am getting massive HP from it but it seems to be filtering fine.
I clean and re-oil once a year which is about 20K miles.
I don't burn a drop of oil.
When I pulled my intake manifold, the inside of the throttle body and manifold were clean.
The tests I read concluded that while paper filters are better performers when new, the K&N type filtered better and allowed more airflow when dirty.
You pays your money and you makes your choice...
I clean and re-oil once a year which is about 20K miles.
I don't burn a drop of oil.
When I pulled my intake manifold, the inside of the throttle body and manifold were clean.
The tests I read concluded that while paper filters are better performers when new, the K&N type filtered better and allowed more airflow when dirty.
You pays your money and you makes your choice...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
I am. I've got K&N (or S&B) oil gauze filters in all of our vehicles, including my Z16. I clean it with every other oil/filter change. Keep it clean, follow the directions regarding maintenance, oil it sparingly to avoid contaminating the MAF and you'll be fine. Do not use high pressure air to blow out or dry the media.
Don't expect seat of the pants horsepower increases. Do expect that you'll have a filter that you can clean and reuse for literally many hundreds of thousands of miles.
A drop in after market oil/gauze replacement filter will not effect your CA emissions/visual testing (unless you've over oiled the media and contaminated the MAF).
99% of every after market "cold air intake" systems uses an oil gauze filter media. The three major sources are K&N, S&B or GREEN filters.
A drop in after market oil/gauze replacement filter will not effect your CA emissions/visual testing (unless you've over oiled the media and contaminated the MAF).
http://www.knfilters.com/cleaning.htm
http://www.sbfilters.com/Store/Filter-Maintenance
http://www.green-filter.co.uk/information.php?info_id=5
If you're creative, you can modify your oem C5 or Z06 air intake system to look a little better and allow a little more air into the filter media.
Don't expect seat of the pants horsepower increases. Do expect that you'll have a filter that you can clean and reuse for literally many hundreds of thousands of miles.
A drop in after market oil/gauze replacement filter will not effect your CA emissions/visual testing (unless you've over oiled the media and contaminated the MAF).
99% of every after market "cold air intake" systems uses an oil gauze filter media. The three major sources are K&N, S&B or GREEN filters.
A drop in after market oil/gauze replacement filter will not effect your CA emissions/visual testing (unless you've over oiled the media and contaminated the MAF).
http://www.knfilters.com/cleaning.htm
http://www.sbfilters.com/Store/Filter-Maintenance
http://www.green-filter.co.uk/information.php?info_id=5
If you're creative, you can modify your oem C5 or Z06 air intake system to look a little better and allow a little more air into the filter media.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Oct 20, 2011 at 05:21 PM. Reason: added information
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
I am. I've got K&N (or S&B) oil gauze filters in all of our vehicles, including my Z16. I clean it with every other oil/filter change. Keep it clean, follow the directions regarding maintenance, oil it sparingly to avoid contaminating the MAF and you'll be fine. Do not use high pressure air to blow out or dry the media.
Don't expect seat of the pants horsepower increases. Do expect that you'll have a filter that you can clean and reuse for literally many hundreds of thousands of miles.
Don't expect seat of the pants horsepower increases. Do expect that you'll have a filter that you can clean and reuse for literally many hundreds of thousands of miles.
Very little if any performance gain with that setup. It will save you money in the long run though as you don't have to keep buying paper filters.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Get rid of the heat!
The stock airbox setup with any type of filter will pull in much higher than ambient temp air during slow and stop & go driving. Air intake temps as high as 140F while ambient temps are in the 80s is entirely possible. According to Jim Hall at Halltech, you can easily lose 10 RWHP that way. Bringing intake air temps down can be as easy as hole-coring your fog light covers. The advantage that a true CAI has over this method is that intake air temps are always at ambient, whereas the cored holes setup requires a minute to bring temps back down once your car gets back up to 30+ MPH speeds.
The advantage that cored holes or my CAI mod for Halltech and Blackwing filters is that the engine bay is consistently cooler, resulting in longer life of hoses, belts, circuit boards, and batteries.
The advantage that cored holes or my CAI mod for Halltech and Blackwing filters is that the engine bay is consistently cooler, resulting in longer life of hoses, belts, circuit boards, and batteries.
