This should raise some ****, I have a 87 GTA with a 350 TPI. IT came with a K&N air filter and ram air box. The previous owner stated that the Filter had not been charge for a while. So I buy the recharge kit, follow directions and instal 2 days later. After driving it for a few miles the SOS light comes on. Throws a MAF Sensor code. So I talk to a few folks including my mechanic friend and he states I wish people would quit putting K&N filters on cars with MAFs, everytime I get one in here witha a MAF light I tell them "Well you spent a fortune on the K&N setup but sometimes it ruins the MAF.

Nice so I pick up a new MAF at Autozone and a "Dry" Fram Air filter. Install it and havn't had a problem since. Coincidence??? I don't think so the previous owner just put a new MAF in a week before I bought the car.

 

If you over-oil the filter, you can foul the MAF.

 

Its the oil, not the filter. User error doesn't make an inferior product. Clean off the MAF before replacing it.

 

Read my post again, I followed the directions exactly. Even let the filter sit out for 2 days, sorry no user error here.

 

well lets give this post a little bit of time, and see if anyone else mentions that, 'cuz on this forum there's TONS of people with factory FI (MAF and otherwise), and I imagine K&N being at the top of the popularity list...

 

So what else failed the MAF? The extra air? No! It was the excessive use of recharging oil that got on to the MAF and destroyed it. The the only feasible thing that can ruin it. Nothing else..

 

I've used K&N's in my IROC for 3-4 yrs. now and never had a problem. Car runs better for having them installed.

 

I have the K&N setup on my car. One day I started it up and I got the MAF code. I talked to the previous owner and he said since it was an unscreened MAF, (don't know if yours is)sometimes the system just sort of freaks out. I disconnected the batt, reset the comp and never had a problem again. The only other time it ever threw that code was when I ran the motor w/o the snorkel thing that comes out the front of the TPI and it did it b/c I didn't have the MAF plugged in. I would say the way to tell if it was a freak thing, or something constant, would be to try the K&N again, after washing it with soap and water, and see if the same thing happens. When you oil it, make sure the REALLY LIGHT coat of oil goes on the side where the air comes in to the box, not the side going into the motor - not saying thats what you did BTW. If you have your old MAF sensor, you could try cleaning it and putting it back in w/ the fram filter. If it works, use that MAF as the guinnea pig not the nice expensive new one. Good luck.

The last time I cleaned and recharged my filter, the kit I had was this silocone stuff for the gasket and an aresol spray can of oil. Just making sure were on the same page. I don't remember anything about letting it sit for 2 days though. Not HERE either

 

Aggree the oil destroyed. But not having any experience with a K&N and following the directions on the recharge kit, still destroyed it.

Had to turn in the old one as a core

 

Not mine.

http://www.ls1lt1.com/forum/showthread.php?t=657

You may be surprised at the list on TGO that pass over the K&Ns.

 

I'd strongly suggest you folks set on your K&N filters have your used motor oil analysed after your next oil change and see how much dirt is getting into your engine. Then try a regular paper filter for a full oil change duration and have it checked. Compare the differences.

I will not allow a K&N on any car of mine. Nor would I buy a car if I know it has had one on it any time in it's past. They do make one of the best oil filters money can buy tho.

 

As an aside, our MAFs with the hot wire typically do not fail due to oil contamination from a K&N unless overly excessive. That's what the burn off cycle is for.

 

oil doesn't dry

and how much oil did you put on the filter?

 

Yes, I would guess it is a user error, sorry, but those stupid cleaning and oiling kits can be hard for anyone get right. And congratulations to those of you who will say "I oiled my filter just fine and never have any problems, blah, blah, blah" well good for you if you are the exception. I have seen, and heard of lots of people with the same problem and approximatley 90% happened AFTER using the cleaning / oiling kit. In my opinion it is too hard to get it just right on your first few tries, so I would just replace it with a new one at about 30K miles. I would rather spend the $45 for a new filter that I know is good, then to waste my time cleaning and oiling it myself.

 

People w/turbo diesel motors know all too well about maf probs coming from K&N oil application even following instructions to a T There has been many a thread on this topic in the Turbo Diesel Register (tdr1.com) There may be particle test on TGO. I know for sure there are at least 25 different tests by diff manufacturers. I went from 5ppm silicon (dirt) W/ paper element to 34ppm W/ K&N and my K&N is MIA.