Maroonz2800

Are k&n filters worth it? they say they give you a few extra horsepower and better fuel economy blah blah blah blah...do they actually do the job better than your average filter?

Killerz187

iTrader: (1)

If they do, I've never felt a difference.

I'd say just stick to one of the cheapos. Purolators have never failed me before, and I can buy a load of them for the price of a K&N.

DJP87Z28

You either use K&N filters or you don't. I have been using the same K&N's since 1988 (do clean and reoil) and I like them. But do they give extra horsepower, anyones guess.

DJP87Z28

You either use K&N filters or you don't. I have used the same K&N filters since 1988 (do clean and reoil) and like them. Do they add extra horsepower, it is open to anyones opinion.

Killerz187

iTrader: (1)

I will give them one thing, they do last forever if they are taken care of, so they're worth it in that regard.

Ron U.S.M.C.

I prefer this with my cowl hood. Its a Summit brand power lid and filter. It oils and cleans like the K&N
Dose it filter well or better ? I know it sucks air like there no tomorrow put your hand on top and you can feel it.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Summit K&N knockoff stuff is allegedly made by Spectre. I run a summit K&N type filter too.

Whether they give a power increase or not... Im sure that just depends on whether or not in your entire engine, whether the filter itself is a bottleneck or not. It's entirely plausible than the K&N filters flow better, but the paper filters may not be anywhere near their maximum flow capacity in your engine to begin with.

Personally I Just like them because they look nice. Thats about it. The cleaning and re-oiling... i still think a paper filter is cheaper than maintaining a reusable one, but they sure do look nice.

ROCFATHER

More horse power? I doubt it. Your paying more because they last forever if properly maintained. Thats about it.

ironmansed

how do u maintain them. i know how to clean, but how do you re-oil them

71nova

k&n filter oil

DJP87Z28

K&N has a maintance kit with all you need. That kit will last for years, Only warning... DO NOT OVER OIL.

tater

iTrader: (10)

Just wish I would have thought of something that has no proven hp advantage and persuade the majority of the public it is the best thing since sliced bread.....

Just envious, I guess.

Ron U.S.M.C.

"To me" paper looks cheap, because it is.Even "if" K&Ns flow/filter only a little better than stock, "to me" they still say performance. ?

On a different note..... When I open my hood what do I see ?.This is my daily driver. Its not spotless or have allot of nice bolt on shining up at you. So whats left.Most definitely the K&N style filter and assembly,and my cap, wires .Dang it even the filter has to come off to pass smog here.Kind of limits what I can do with it.

There is another thread just like this one somewhere on debating the subject extensively.

DeathStarr89

iTrader: (1)

Power gains depend on what you started with.. If it's an undersized paper filter then sure there is going to be a gain with one that flows more air.



They last forever, that's the real advantage.

Dizturbed One

A K&N isn't about HP gains, they are about economy.

Sure they flow better, when you're pushing a ping pong ball with a fan in an autozone display... LOL. Nothing your car will use though. And they let A LOT more dust through them than a paper filter does.

But they save a lot of money in the long haul.

ZZ3 Z28

A Fram 327 filter for my car is less than 6 bucks at AZ and the K&N filter is $40+. If I replaced the filter once a year (the car is summer only) it would take me about 7 years for a ROI. I'll stick with the paper filter and forgo the "increased horsepower" myth.

IROCtheRoad

I've always used K&N filters and am very happy with them.

eseibel67

This is the biggest disadvantage of K&N. Also, if your engine uses a MAF, the oil from the filter will contaminate the sensor and give inaccurate readings.

If you've ever cleaned and oiled a K&N, it's not a nice job. I'd rather buy a new filter paper, and I'm the epitome of cheap.

DJP87Z28

Don't like to get your hands dirty. Only nasty when you go overboard with the oil which most people do. They are not suposed to be dripping oil. Used the same TPI type K&N filters for 24 years (with simple maintance once a year) and NEVER had ANY problems with my Maf Sensor..

dctrouant1995

just put one on yesterday, along with spark plugs, wires, and a cap and rotor kit. Do I notice any difference? not really, fuel economy is better and it a tad more power than it did before. Its not noticeble but you can kinda tell

Jason E

In a stock third gen Camaro air cleaner, 2 fresh K&Ns with the removable baffles taken out yielded a little bit snappier throttle response on a 21k mile 350 in perfect health. Other than that, I couldn't tell ya...but all my performance cars have always used K&Ns. I get paper ones for the DDs every 20k or so...

chazman

iTrader: (4)

That's how it starts Jason. First you take out the baffles, the you drill holes, then you simply cut the bottoms out.....


As far as K&N's, I've been using them forever and have put hundreds of thousands of miles on them. Did they increase my performance? I don't know. I guess compared to the dirty paper filters they replaced.

justcallmeclassy

iTrader: (1)

Summit K&N IS Spectre... I've got one. You can go get them at O'Riellys, Pep Boys, Auto Zone they're a lot cheaper and do the same thing

keeslinger31

Sure they do the same thing. Filter air. But do that do it as well as a k&n? I would rather have a paper filter than a spectre and a k&n over the paper.

justcallmeclassy

iTrader: (1)

And for what reason? Every review I've ever read on Spectre says they perform EXACTLY like a K&N, in both longetivity and performance gains. Just because they're cheaper and don't come with a nice sticker for your rear window doesn't mean its an inferior product. Hell the only way you can tell the difference on a PROPERLY MANTAINED one is that it say SPECTRE right on it

keeslinger31

Because a spectre filter to me screams cheap teenager from autozone rice rocket pvc looks like ***** filter

justcallmeclassy

iTrader: (1)

Oh I see. Wanting to save money on an identical product is a bad thing now and makes you riced out.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

I don't think spectre's filters are of any lesser quality than k&n and I've had multiple examples of both. I'm not worried about it in the least. Got a k&n in the closet and a spectre on the car.

RSCAMAROGUY91

Personally I've got a K&N filter on my Camaro, and a K&N intake system on my 2000 K2500. I've never had any problems. When I put the filter in the Camaro I didn't notice any real difference in the performance mainly because I already had several other mods done to it. The K2500 was a little different. I noticed That there wasn't as much of a "sucking" sound during acceleration, and I check my millage, and it has consistently gotten about 1-2 mpg better than the stock system. But the main reason that I've gone with K&N is the ability to reuse them.

Ian Irvine

I have had the same K&N on my 84 Z28 since 95...still works. I am running a supercharged 383 and there is no power loss with or without the filter on the dyno. I'm a believer.

DethVenture

Me and my dad put a K&N Air Filter on the family Suburban and it made a difference in engine response and bumped the MPG up to 17-18 from 15-16.

8t2 z-chev

I use K&N on my CFI z28 and my porsche and have
found K&N filter and flow very good-whenever i clean
the filters(very easyBTW)i always carefully inspect for
any dust getting past-has always been very clean past
the filters with no dust foundAlso the K&Ns fit well,
further protecting against dust getting past.

white1991rs

I'd say K&N filters are worth it because they claim its lifetime filter. You can wash it and its brand new and I think there's a warranty if anything happens to it.

calebzman

iTrader: (3)

Unless the engine is carbureted, you will not see a mpg change with an air filter change. That myth has been debunked.

I use K&N cone filters in both the TA and cobalt ss.