K&n ???????

[Deerassassin]

I'm thinking about getting one. I have a 03 Sierra 1500 5.3 4x4. Will I notice any more power from it? Is it worth it?

 

[Z15]

A lot of hype and noise but little to gain IMO.

 

[knucklehead27]

I have a K&N in my 01. I like simply because there's no need to buy another, just clean it when needed. I you want power your gonna want a kit with an open element and intake tube but even that wont get ya much..

 

[Z15]

Putting these on a stock vehicle will not do a thing. Its all ego engineering.

 

[Bill325]

The most desirable products for selling on the automotive aftermarket these days are products that are easily approved for sale by the EPA, because they won't affect exhaust emissions or fuel economy. The products don't necessarily make any improvement , they just don't hurt anything. Air filters , miracle gas and oil additives, and appearance items are all in this category. If it was that easy to increase horsepower with an air filter, reliable companies like Fram and AC Delco would also be selling them. Some call it the JC Whitney effect. If you install all of those miracle gas saving gizmos on a single vehicle, and they worked as claimed, you would have to stop every 50 miles to drain fuel OUT of your tank ! An automotive magazine ran an air filter comparison test about 4 or 5 years ago, looking for increased flow and increased horsepower from several brands, including K&N. They didn't find any more horsepower from simply changing air filters. And, I think it's easier to change filters than wash them out. I used to conduct chassis dyno tests for a petroleum chemicals company, and we were swamped with requests from small companies to test their products for effects on fuel economy and exhaust emissions. In 12 years , I never found anything better than the factory installed components. ( We did not test for maximum horsepower.)

 

[Wartsnuff]

very kewl read!

thanks
Warts

 

[jagtoes]

The most desirable products for selling on the automotive aftermarket these days are products that are easily approved for sale by the EPA, because they won't affect exhaust emissions or fuel economy. The products don't necessarily make any improvement , they just don't hurt anything. Air filters , miracle gas and oil additives, and appearance items are all in this category. If it was that easy to increase horsepower with an air filter, reliable companies like Fram and AC Delco would also be selling them. Some call it the JC Whitney effect. If you install all of those miracle gas saving gizmos on a single vehicle, and they worked as claimed, you would have to stop every 50 miles to drain fuel OUT of your tank ! An automotive magazine ran an air filter comparison test about 4 or 5 years ago, looking for increased flow and increased horsepower from several brands, including K&N. They didn't find any more horsepower from simply changing air filters. And, I think it's easier to change filters than wash them out. I used to conduct chassis dyno tests for a petroleum chemicals company, and we were swamped with requests from small companies to test their products for effects on fuel economy and exhaust emissions. In 12 years , I never found anything better than the factory installed components. ( We did not test for maximum horsepower.)

I somewhat agree with your summary with the exception of overall cost. Normal air filter replacement is maybe 10-20K miles. A lot of people don't do this so if you go 50-75K before you replace it then it's not worth the K&N. If you change it on a regular basis then depending on your mileage it could be very cost effective. In my case with our 89 Volvo I purchased a K&N at 15K miles and clean it every 15K miles. I have 315K miles on the car so it was cost effective ($35 back in 89) to buy one. I've got 11 years (60K)on my fun car and have not replaced the one on the family car (only 9K miles). I will replace the one on the Sierra at 20K miles next month. So when I do the ROI it pays. Oh I don't believe in the HP hype either.

 

[Bill325]

One important factor that none of us has mentioned is whether the K&N filter removes dirt particles as well as paper filters, and in the micron size range that is most desirable. I frankly don't know the answer. I did read an SAE paper on the most desirable air filter changing schedule for heavy duty trucks. It seems that changing the filter too often leads to more dirt entering the engine, and not less. The reason was that in the process of changing the filter, some dirt is always knocked loose, and often gets into the engine. (Some types of filters are considered " depth" filters, and become more efficient at trapping dirt as they become clogged, but that issue was not presented as a factor in this study.) It's a case of letting sleeping dogs lie, I suppose. Complications, always complications !

 

[armyman89]

heres the thing about KN i have learned this from being an teenager and and every weekend i would pull off my intake tube and there would be dust in my intake tube that my KN didnt stop there would be a layler of dust on the throttle body and i lived on a farm and after about 2months of owning my KN i trashed it and went back to a paper fitler because the KN did not filter as good as they say it did. in my personal opion i would go with a dry flow filter like a AFE or specatre filter they do not require oiling or washing and filter better than a KN and a CAI is pointless unless it pulls air from the outside of the engine bay. just my 2cents a snorkel or a air dam would be better but if you go mudding or drive in dusty condtions the air dam would be usless a snorkel would be better because it is pulling air from up higher and from outside the engine bay

 

[dirtclod]

You won't see K&N spouting HP increase while using a 3yr old "washed in their special chemical formula" filter. Because a "washed" filter cannot draw more air than a new filter. Does Ron Capps' pit crew wash air filters? I don't think so. They'll grab a new one. I think I can agree with the above statements about saving money, long term with a K&N, providing a person holds onto their vehicle for a few years.

There's nothing wrong with some one buying cool performance parts, like a K&N filter(would if I could). But because I don't have the cash to throw into the engine compartment, spraying a Fram or Purolator out with a water hose, seems to work just fine. Get a little extra life out of it.

 

[Z15]

Washing out a paper filter with water is not wise to do IMO. Its paper and water will ruin the cellulose fibers and render the filter useless at stopping dirt. May look clean but that all it is, looks clean but useless. Show me anything made out of paper that can be washed and reused, not much.

K&N filters are just a gimmick. People think they get better mileage and more horse power by just installing an air filter. All you get it more work (cleaning it) and more noise because there is less material to filter.

It takes time to wash it, time to let it dry and time to re-oil it. You save a few $ in cost but waste hours of your life cleaning an air filter? We have a term for this; penny wise and pound foolish.

 

[dirtclod]

Hey Z15, let's both just disagree about the resiliency of paper to withstand a water wash. It's been working for me for years. If it didn't or doesn't work for you, I can accept that. For me, and I'm sure for you too, it's important to show people how to save a few bucks.

I'm in total agreement with your thoughts on K&N filters. But they are cool looking filters and for that reason, I understand why some of us install them.