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CARB is CA emissions laws and has nothing to do with the warranty. No idea if an aftermarket filter will violate those or not.
Why waste money on a K&N filter when it doesn’t do anything, whether it voids the warranty or not? Don’t fall for the advertising hype. It’s a waste of money on a C7.
I would avoid any of the gauze filter products that require oiling. A max effort race car is something different but for a street car just use a normal air filter.
I've never had any issues what-so-ever with K&N or any other brand of aftermarket high-flow air filters. My dad had a K&N intake system on his 2004 Pontiac GTO for 150k miles and never had a single issue with it, the engine, or warranty work (rear differential replaced under warranty by GM 3 separate times). My Chevy dealership hasn't even mentioned my AFE intake during warranty work, nor has my GMC dealer mentioned my K&N drop-in air filter.
If I were retaining the stock airbox on my C7 though, I'd be going for the Attack Blue drop-in since it maximizes the filter size inside the box, along with using an enlarged flange opening. Info here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-s-and-h.html
I've never had any issues what-so-ever with K&N or any other brand of aftermarket high-flow air filters. My dad had a K&N intake system on his 2004 Pontiac GTO for 150k miles and never had a single issue with it, the engine, or warranty work (rear differential replaced under warranty by GM 3 separate times). My Chevy dealership hasn't even mentioned my AFE intake during warranty work, nor has my GMC dealer mentioned my K&N drop-in air filter.
Have used K&N for years. If you know how to clean and reoil no issue. It takes me time as I clean with their (or in the case of the aFe their solution) than after it dries (takes overnight) I put a small amount of their oil only on the top of each rib. Tel it soak in. It's colored so after an hour or so can see if it has wicked all over the corrugations If not apply a very small amount of oil in those areas.
The aFe does more than just use a lower restriction air flter. It's bigger that requires a bigger housing. For those concerned they have a somewhat higher restriction but larger paper filter you change like the OEM.
When I removed the aFe I had on my 2014 Z51 for 2 1/2 years when I sold it - took it off and installed on my Grand Sport. All I did was clean and reoil. Has worked fine and no CEL's.
Pic of larger "made in US" Oiled cotton aFe air filter versus made in Thailand OEM GS filter!
I'm a total sceptic about the whole air filter thing but after reading so much about the BMS in the Z06 section I added one to my Z. Well worth the $89 IMO. No it will not void warranty.
I'm a total sceptic about the whole air filter thing but after reading so much about the BMS in the Z06 section I added one to my Z. Well worth the $89 IMO. No it will not void warranty.
Agreed the BMS works well on a forced induction car. However on a NA C7 it'll do nothing. The motor is already getting all the air it can use. Just like the new CAI from GM. It makes a little power on the Z06 but nothing on the base car. It's basically for looks as it won't be felt on a Z either.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by Kracka
If I were retaining the stock airbox on my C7 though, I'd be going for the Attack Blue drop-in since it maximizes the filter size inside the box, along with using an enlarged flange opening. Info here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-s-and-h.html
Besides the design and the increased power, another huge advantage with the Attack Blue for the C7 is that is uses actual Nano technology instead of paper or gauze..etc Nothing allows more air in and captures more dirt than nanofibers, period.
It stops particles down to a ridiculous sub micron level! Protection is an air filters main function and the the Attack Blue has that covered.
Its dry a dry filter. NO oils are used. And, Its washable & reusable too! Only use soap and water!
Last edited by TKO Performance; 06-28-2018 at 02:29 PM.
Don't expect any of the "arm chair induction experts" will believe anything you or I post but here are some facts:
First this is what Tadge stated in a post answering a Forum question re intakes-condensing:
"We engineer all Corvette intake systems for minimum restriction and to meet many other requirements that aftermarket companies do not.
We do not routinely test aftermarket induction systems or any other aftermarket parts for that matter. We have our hands full designing, building and testing our production hardware. Although simple in concept, induction systems play an important role in many vehicle performance areas. Aside from the exhaust, there is no greater noise source on a performance vehicle. Induction systems generally have many tuning elements that ensure the quality of the sound emanating from it are pleasing and harmonious with the exhaust note. These tuning elements also dampen the sound energy to help with pass-by requirements. Aftermarket companies don't have to worry about it, but as the OEM, we must guarantee that our products are quiet enough to be driven at full throttle by a microphone by the side of the road and meet certain decibel levels. There are pass-by laws in many states and pretty universal around the world.
The air filter itself is the focus of many discussions on low restriction. Its job is to keep foreign material out of the engine. Here again, there are many trade-off decisions balancing restriction with filter life (service interval) and filtration quality. Sacrificing either of the latter two improve the former. We tend to be conservative to make sure that our engines are very durable, so that does open up an opportunity for aftermarket system.
As with many of the questions on this forum, all vehicle design is a balance of trade-offs. We do what is legal and right for the vast majority of customers. Aftermarket companies offer products that strike a different balance that might appeal to some folks."
Second: I bought my aFe for that loud sucking sound at WOT. I'm sure it does not meet the driving past at WOT test Tadge quoted! My Street Rod intake with a 14 inch diameter, 5 inch high K&N feeding the 850 CFM Holley double pumper makes as much Intake noise at WOT as the long tube headers and straight though Bolas in that 502 cid engine! I also talked to the engineers at aFe before I bought their system to be sure I would not trip a Cell. They indicated the existing air/fuel MAPS can handle any needed change in air/fuel. It takes about 150 miles of driving to optimize.
Don't expect those "that know it can't produce extra power" will believe the aFe dyno data (see below) so will quote the dyno test from a forum member who also bought an aFe system but with the higher restriction paper not the oiled cotton filter. He got a 10 hp increase after the addition.
I look at it this way: For my 2014 Z51 I paid $1100 for 5 hp and noise. I paid less than half that for my aFe and got measurable noise and perhaps ~10 hp!
The aFe filter is much larger as is their filter holder-it has to be to hold the low restriction larger filter. The GM system appears to be the same size as the OEM and it's a paper filter.
Although the GM system looks similar to the aFe it does not have the larger air filer box or the larger filter. Bit of a puzzle, perhaps to meet GM's max noise requirement as Tadge stated they must.
You don't have to replace the air filter very often so I don't think this is a big deal.
BUT ...
My wife's C7 is due to have the engine air filter replaced so we went on line to see what the prices were. It seems that the OEM GM part costs the same as the K&N.
You through away the GM paper filter but you can clean the K&N instead of having to replace it.
Why not just use the K&N and never buy another air filter again ?
^^
No I talked to the engineers at aFe! Better than your "arm chair expertise", IMO! I was looking for the loud sucking sound at WOT I have in the 502 cid engine in my Street Rod with a K&N that is as loud as the exhaust at WOT with long tube headers, 3 inch pipes going though straight through Borlas! Got it at WOT in the C7! Just what Tadge said was the reason they must restrict what they can do and meet the noise tests for various states and overseas. ! Read his post on the subject- but oh forgot you're probably much smarter the Corvette Chief Engineer!
Didn't say I believe the 17 hp peak hp increase they show on a dyno test is what I achieved, but bet it's a better value than the 5 hp I got for over twice for the $1100 I paid for NPP on my 2014 Z51!
Always chuckle when folks who don't try something believe it can't work! Just like the fox in Aesop's story who, when he could not reach the grapes, "Just Knew" they were sour!
Besides the design and the increased power, another huge advantage with the Attack Blue for the C7 is that is uses actual Nano technology instead of paper or gauze..etc Nothing allows more air in and captures more dirt than nanofibers, period.
It stops particles down to a ridiculous sub micron level! Protection is an air filters main function and the the Attack Blue has that covered.
Its dry a dry filter. NO oils are used. And, Its washable & reusable too! Only use soap and water!
It seems to me a “High Flow” filter by default has LESS filtering material hence the higher air flow. Thicker denser material reduces flow but traps more dust/particles.
^^
You're right to a degree! However oiled cotton does a good job and can be cleaned at a very low cost so where an OEM paper filer (and it also) would flow less well before the GM recommended changing at 37,500 miles, I clean and reoil at 15,000 to 20,000 miles! There are also several pages of good documentation on the technical aspects on the K&N website. They show there testing Lab and equipment.
However the aFe low restriction system also uses a larger filter that requires a larger housing and they use a lower restriction air inlet tube. More area is less restriction for the same amount of filtering. But I don't doubt it captures slightly less. There are no doubt better filter materials than the cheap paper used for OEM filters (cheap to make not to buy!)
US Make aFe Versus Made in Thailand Grand Sport OEM Filter!
06-27-2018, 09:19 PM
Have used K&N for years. If you know how to clean and reoil no issue. It takes me time as I clean with their (or in the case of the aFe their solution) than after it dries (takes overnight) I put a small amount of their oil only on the top of each rib. Tel it soak in. It's colored so after an hour or so can see if it has wicked all over the corrugations If not apply a very small amount of oil in those areas.
