K&N help?

[Austen]

Can any one tell me about K&N airfilters? What K&N part would replace just the stock air filter it's self. What K&N airintake would be used to replace the entire stock intake to use that cone filter on the end of a pipe?

 

[Powerslave]

K&N Filters are supposed to be THE BEST. The problem is, when you recharge them, most people put too much oil on them, and that can get into the intake and gunk it up a little. There are no specific instructions on the AMOUNT of oil to use, so, you can't be sure you won't saturate the filter...

You can buy an intake system on Ebay, then go buy a K&N Cone filter.

The STOCK replacements are 64.00, and I forget the number, but you can look it up.

 

[Austen]

Thank you for your help I will buy a nice simple $64 stock replacement and snap it in. How do you clean them to re-oil them? Where did you buy your headlight bulbs and how much did they cost?

 

[long_tall_texan]

I had a K&N drop in in my KJ for a while. I have always used K&N in other cars and motorcycles, so why not here. I saw an initial MPG gain of about 1-1.5 MPG, but after about 3 tanks, it was back to the same mileage as before. No real difference. Power gains were too small to feel if at all.

But... I did have a problem with the K&N filter. It was oiling down my MAF sensor. I would pull the MAF at each oil change and it was coated in oily (and dusty!!!) stuff. As I said, I have used K&N filters for years, so I know the "proper" way to clean and re-oil them without over oiling them. But no matter how little of amount of the filter charger that I sprayed on the K&N filter, I always ended up with a greasy MAF.

So I gave in an bought an Amsoil drop in filter. It is a 100,000 mile filter, so I still don't have to buy new air filters all of the time, but you just vacuum it out or blow it off with air. As far as performance, it is about the same as the K&N, both MPG and Power. And now I always have a nice clean MAF.

So that is my experience. Take it or leave it. But if you haven't bought a K&N yet, I would highly recommend the Amsoil for about the same price. If you want Amsoil, PM jjskj. He is a dealer and can give you a discounted price and ship it directly to your door. Should be less than $64 too IIRC.

Remember this is just the Drop in that I used. My best friend put the full FIPK kit on his Nitro and had no problems at all.

 

[Searcher67]

Must be some things being done wrong here... Shouldn't be dust OR oil on the MAF from a K&N filter. There are specific instructions as to how much oil to apply..Apply until opposite side turns red..But read the directions theres more too it than that.

K&N are great filters if used as per manufacturers instructions. As long as it is oiled properly and SEATED properly in the housing and FACING the proper direction then you should get increased air flow to engine. Having said that, Have I noticed any real increase in MPG/HP.....No, not really! But, I like that the filter is reusable, filters better than paper elements (less contaminants get through oiled cotton). It ends of as a cost saving over time.

Filters run anywhere from 34.00 to 64.00 intakes run around 265.00 complete kit

 

[kylewilley]

If you have the full K & N intake you might see some gains if it is making the air intake colder. However, even though I own just the regular K & N air filter, the only gains you are going to get from it is that it will last forever,the intake might sound a tad different, it looks cool, and a sticker. It does not give you any HP or MPG gains, unless the filter you had in there before was nasty dirty, then obviously there would be a difference. See the cylinder can only takes in so much air in at a time and the K & N will possibly get more air through the filter, BUT the intake valve is only going to let in the original amount it was made to take in. A way to get more air into to the engine would be to force it with something like a turbo but of course thats a whole different ball game! I would still buy a regular K & N filter since it will last forever and it kinda gives the intake a little bit different sound, but just saying, don't expect gains like claimed in the ads.

 

[Austen]

I am going with long tall's filter. I will contact your guy. I'd rather blow/vac then oil it.

 

[Searcher67]

Warning........

WARNING:

HIGH PRESSURE AIR DESTROYS FILTER MATERIAL !!!!

High pressure compressed air will cause the filter material to separate leading to loss of filtering capability!

It is never advised to use compressed air to "clean" an air filter.

Before K&N and other oiled filters, it was normal practice to tap/vaccum/blow out air filters, yes it worked to remove the contaminants but in the process the filter material would be blown open, thus allowing larger micron particles into the engine.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

If you have the full K & N intake you might see some gains if it is making the air intake colder. However, even though I own just the regular K & N air filter, the only gains you are going to get from it is that it will last forever,the intake might sound a tad different, it looks cool, and a sticker. It does not give you any HP or MPG gains, unless the filter you had in there before was nasty dirty, then obviously there would be a difference. See the cylinder can only takes in so much air in at a time and the K & N will possibly get more air through the filter, BUT the intake valve is only going to let in the original amount it was made to take in. A way to get more air into to the engine would be to force it with something like a turbo but of course thats a whole different ball game! I would still buy a regular K & N filter since it will last forever and it kinda gives the intake a little bit different sound, but just saying, don't expect gains like claimed in the ads.

Yes, but the whole idea of a cold air intake system is that you increase the volumetric efficiency in each cylinder!
Cold air is more dense.

 

[long_tall_texan]

Must be some things being done wrong here... Shouldn't be dust OR oil on the MAF from a K&N filter. There are specific instructions as to how much oil to apply..Apply until opposite side turns red..But read the directions theres more too it than that.

K&N are great filters if used as per manufacturers instructions. As long as it is oiled properly and SEATED properly in the housing and FACING the proper direction then you should get increased air flow to engine. Having said that, Have I noticed any real increase in MPG/HP.....No, not really! But, I like that the filter is reusable, filters better than paper elements (less contaminants get through oiled cotton). It ends of as a cost saving over time.

Filters run anywhere from 34.00 to 64.00 intakes run around 265.00 complete kit

I would agree that I was not doing something right, but as I said, I have used K&N in practically every car, motorcycle, and even go-cart I have ever owned. I like their filters, and still use one in my Suburban. There is just something about the combination of the K&N drop-in filter with the KJ that doesn't mix right. I am not the only one that has seen this issue. I would be curios for some of you that have that filter to check your MAF and see what it looks like. Yours may be oiled over too. You just haven't checked yet. If it isn't - great. But I guess I can say that on SOME KJ's it has been found to be an issue.

As far as blowing or vacuuming out an Amsoil filter, I agree that High pressure air or suction can damage the filter. You have to use common sense though. A light blowing off will be fine, and won't hurt the filter. Now if you put a high pressure nozzle right up to the filter element and open fire for a while, yes, you are going to damage the media.

 

[Searcher67]

/\
l
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What he said! Yes, you HAVE to use common sense.. I do use my shop air to clean off filters all the time, Shop vac filters/small engine filters and the like.

I will check my MAF right now, I have been running a K&N on both our vehicles and just last week re-oiled the Fords. That MAF is closer to the filter so I would think that if oil would be a problem then I would see it there first.

 

[kylewilley]

yeah thats what I was saying. The full K & N intake will possibly make some gains but the regular filter has no gains.

 

[JeepJeepster]

If I had to say, a cold air intake on a kj will pull more hot air in than the stock air box... Personally I use a drop in K&N..

 

[tjkj2002]

K&N filters where designed for racing purposes that require more air flow,to achieve this airflow the oiled filters actually have reduced filtering capabilities.The K&N's do not trap the smaller stuff that paper filters will.Race engines also do not need to last that long so reduced filtering is okay for the added airflow.Adding a K&N will not gain you nothing on a fuel injected vehicle,you must also do the exhaust and performance tune for the PCM.Increased incoming airflow means nothing if your engine can not get the burnt gasses out faster also and the timing and fueling increases to take advantage of both the increased incoming air and outgoing air(PCM tuning).

So basically you just wasted your money for a filter that does not filter as well as a regular paper filter.Plus many auto companies have specific words in there owners manuals that state that if any oiled air filter is used it voids the entire powertrian part of the warranty form the oil messing up MAF sensors and the reduced filtering of those filters.

 

[Dave]

K&N filters where designed for racing purposes that require more air flow,to achieve this airflow the oiled filters actually have reduced filtering capabilities.The K&N's do not trap the smaller stuff that paper filters will.Race engines also do not need to last that long so reduced filtering is okay for the added airflow.Adding a K&N will not gain you nothing on a fuel injected vehicle,you must also do the exhaust and performance tune for the PCM.Increased incoming airflow means nothing if your engine can not get the burnt gasses out faster also and the timing and fueling increases to take advantage of both the increased incoming air and outgoing air(PCM tuning).

So basically you just wasted your money for a filter that does not filter as well as a regular paper filter.Plus many auto companies have specific words in there owners manuals that state that if any oiled air filter is used it voids the entire powertrian part of the warranty form the oil messing up MAF sensors and the reduced filtering of those filters.

Yup. Racing engines that are rebuilt after running the Daytona 500.....every 500 miles.


Paper filters actually work very well.

Troy is 100% correct in my opinion.

Dave

 

[Searcher67]

You know what....I'm sick of this... Tired of listening to propaganda and opinions...I am going to find out real world IF a K&N filter is better or worse than paper... It will take me some time to build a test set up, but I will have the answer....
Give me some ideas as to what to "feed" the filter.. I have around the house ash, wood dust, panama beach sand and I will dry out some mud and turn that to a dust...

I am going to use a coffee filter as the "ENGINE" that way we will be able to see what hits the engine.

GAME ON!

If this proves paper better than you can believe that I will demand my money back from K&N..

 

[tjkj2002]

You know what....I'm sick of this... Tired of listening to propaganda and opinions...I am going to find out real world IF a K&N filter is better or worse than paper... It will take me some time to build a test set up, but I will have the answer....
Give me some ideas as to what to "feed" the filter.. I have around the house ash, wood dust, panama beach sand and I will dry out some mud and turn that to a dust...

I am going to use a coffee filter as the "ENGINE" that way we will be able to see what hits the engine.

GAME ON!

If this proves paper better than you can believe that I will demand my money back from K&N..

http://www.nicoclub.com/articles.php?id=180100

 

[ridenby]

wow,i sort of knew this from past experrece those graphs,hard to argue with.

 

[Powerslave]

Improperly oiled K&N filters allow higher micron particles to get into the engine. The whole idea behind the oil is to trap the low micron particles, while retaining the higher air-flow. You can also use a K&N without oil, but, it allows much larger micron particles in, but not anything like SAND. Dust? Maybe, but not sand like, cylinder scoring particles. Using an un-oiled K&N is still better than a stainless steel mesh racing filter, which now has a disclaimer. I used a Stainless on my Avenger for one summer season, to later find out it's STRICTLY for racing conditions, not everyday road use. They did not add that to the filter boxes until they had law suits and complaints about the SS-Mesh filters, where the box said BOLT ON and go... Nothing about not being for normal driving...

Anyway, I have a K&N in my Motorcycle, and went to the Butler Fairgrounds for the EadyRider bike show last year (will go again this year, if no rain). Well, their dirt roads were pretty bad, since it was dry, there was a lot of dust there, a LOT!! People ride around all day, and dust is everywhere. So, I did the recharge on my K&N this bike season, and it was pretty dirty, in fact, the DUST had built up on the K&N, nothing on the INSIDE, all outside. I looked and carefully inspected the intake box, and there was no dust or dirt on the engine side of the box. I could see LINES of dust where the K&N seals around the intake housing, but nothing on the inside. The rinse brought out dirt, and sandy-grit, NOTHING got past the filter or the rubber where it seals the intake.

There are new washable synthetic CONE filters out now anyway, I forget who makes them, but Advance Auto has them. Air Hog filters went out of business, so they're done. There is now another filter FRAM makes that is a synthetic, washable filter, no oil required. Not all vehicles are covered yet... There was one that I thought it said you cal clean them with Kerosene, but I could not find them... Kerosene would be like using a light oil anyway, like what spectre recharge kits are like.

If you get a custom intake for the KJ? The breather filter is eliminated, and the line goes directly to the intake tube. Without a catch-can, you are going to get MORE gunk from your breather hose (residual oil) in the intake, before the K&N (IF) lets larger particles in. So, either way, if you want 100% safe and hassle free, whatever, then keep your stock air-box setup, and be average like the majority owner.

I have used K&N since 2000, and never had problems, EVER.

 

[tommudd]

I have went through 4 set ups on the KJ including a K&N (which I also have ran on bikes (all Harleys) Fords , GMCs, Jeeps etc so know from 20 years of running them what they will and will not do.

Best so far on the KJ is.............drum roll.......The Amsoil with a 3 inch dryer hose from the grill back to the stock box, better mileage etc. overall, you can have your K&Ns now

This is after like I said 4 different set ups in the last 123,000 miles