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I am considering changing from a paper filter to a reusable “permanent” filter. Does it really improve HP? Which brand do you recommend. I have seen ads for K&N and Spectre. Advice is appreciated!
I also have one, for the last 15 years. I'm VERY surprised people are having issues with filters that use an oiled gauze/cotton/whatever filtering media. ESPECIALLY a K&N. K&N made their mark in the early 1970s on OFF ROAD/DIRT bikes!!! If this type of filter wasn't up to the job, it would've failed miserably breathing nothing but dirt and dust. They used to advertise against cleaning the filter too often!! Consequently, my Blackwing has been cleaned and re-oiled just once in 15 years. The early Blackwings were made by the Donaldson Corporation, who claimed to supply the government with air filters for tanks and other military vehicles used in the desert, for Operation Desert Storm. It would seem that if they can filter well in desert conditions, you would think they should be good to go for street use. I don't think they claim to increase airflow by compromising filtering ability, I believe the increased flow comes from the tremendous increase in filtering area. Who knows. Mine has served me well. I didn't buy it so I'd save money by not having to buy another paper element. I bought it for increased air flow. It hasn't disappointed me in the least. I will say that people who buy them thinking it's a 'cold air intake' will be mistaken, and disappointed. Because it's not a CAI........
Last edited by grinder11; Apr 11, 2021 at 04:51 PM.
There does seem to be mixed messages about oiled air filters. Now that you mentioned tanks etc. I have a tractor that I mainly use to bush hog and scrape....both very dusty activities. It uses an oiled filter. Of course a tractor is not a high performance Vette. I am definitely going to do more research.
I do not like the idea of an oiled filter for some of the reasons mentioned here. I did the zip tie mod on my Z06 with an Airaid dry reusable filter. That and a Borla Stinger exhaust are the only changes and my car made 375hp 370tq to the tires on the dyno.
If money were no object, I'd get Halltech Killer Bee Conversion package. It gets rid of the small blow-through MAF, and gives good breathing for larger throttle bodies.
That said, I use a stock paper filter with a modified Z06 airbox. The tuner told me that the car is still "breathing through a straw" when he got done tuning it. (243 heads and a decent-sized cam made 415 at the wheels). He said that judging by the MAP readings, I was leaving an easy 20 wheel hp on the table by using this airbox over something aftermarket.
