Newby thread Highjacked - Lets talk about filters!

[Xotik H3]

I am not a K&N pusher, but use the product. There are a lot of people on here who dislike them. So here is the place to discuss.

From the K&N site,

http://www.knfilters.com/testmethod.htm

http://www.knfilters.com/efficiency_testing.htm

Other opinions

http://www.duramax-diesel.com/spicer/index.htm


My experience,

1999 Camaro - 90,000 miles, no issues K&N on since new.
2003 ZO6 Magnacharged - No issue's with K&N kit 15,000 miles (sold)
2002 Jeep Rubicon - No issue's 50,000 miles K&N and Gibson Exhaust Nice power gains with the two (Sold)
2004 Infinity FX35 - No issues K&N 75,000 miles (Sold)
2005 Big Dog Chopper - No issue's, K&N added per dealer request, and no I did not purchase it from them.

[lennyrebel]

I liked that independent report--K&N plugged up 3x faster and passes 7x more dirt so everything comes with a price. Good Info Regards The Rebel

No thanks, any puny increase in power is offset by suspect filtration and unpleasant intake noise.

[Viet Nam Vette]

Originally Posted by Steve - SanJose

No thanks, any puny increase in power is offset by suspect filtration and unpleasant intake noise.

And A Motor Full Of Dirt...

[Huck BB62]

It does make sense that the K&N lets more dirt through. An air filter traps dirt with media. The air flow is restricted by the media. The only way to trap dirt is to have smaller openings. To have better air flow, the openings either have to be larger or their has to be a lot more surface area, more pleats. Since the K&N obviously doesn't have more surface area of media, it must have larger openings. This would explain the enhanced flow when clean. BUT the dirt IS attracted to the oil. I do know from our testing (we have air filters three stories tall) that as the filters clog up, they become better at filtration. So about the time K&N filters become as efficient as the dry filters, they also lose their advantage for air flow.

If you're not going to keep your vehicle a long time, go for the K&N, it does flow better. Keep it clean and enjoy the increase, if you believe the hype that is.

A few issues back in the Diesel Power Magazine, they tested ten of the intakes. High dollar to low, they made zero difference.

The intakes are a waste of money in my opinion.

[kma]

Have you actually tried an after market intake on an h3? There is definitely a noticeable difference in power including holding speeds and downshifting.

There is another question as to air filters though and that is if the engine need more air. I think the H3 performs better with the additional air flow after switching back and forth between a K n N and the OEM filter.

Also, I read somewhere(have to look around) that oil gauze filters pass like 99% of the dirt in the first 3% of the filter life. So I wouldn't install an oil filter right before going off-roding in the desert. On a recent trip I replaced my OEM Filter for the trail.

[H3.007]

Sorry guys but-



Mine picks up much more speed, much quicker...

But agreeably, it is loud in the high end.

I wonder how many vehicles were tested during those tests. One vehicle plus ten filters doesn't equivocate to a proper research sample in my book. Ten vehicles with ten different filters applied to each vehicle - now we are getting somewhere....

I drove the dealer's H3 with the SMA intake, all I could feel is more noise. Measuring acceleration differences is not the same as the illusion of more speed/perception based on noise. So far, haven't seen any facts to support the intakes and improved performance on H3.

[bparker]

K&N all the way here too on all my race cars, Corvettes and Motorcycles.

Consiracy Theories that you have mounds of dirt in your motor from these filters are rubbish.

All and any tiny pieces of "dust" that makes it into the cylinder chamber is incenerated upon detonation OR if not it is passed out of the motor through the exhaust port on the cylinder head into the exhaust and then burned up again at the cyatilic converter.

Also if for some other reason it is left behind it is caught by the oil and then filtered out by the oil filter..

[Xotik H3]

In this case, more noise is the byproduct of more flow.

Really though, when it comes down to it, I would not think it would be easy to "feel" 5 HP. Where you would notice the improvement is down low in the RPM band where the extra flow will improve the efficiency adding torque.

On my Wranglers stock engine, 5 speed, 33 inch tires.

- 5 gear was not usable at 1500 RPM -
- K&N added, you could use 5th at 1500, not usable at 1300 RPM.
- Added Gibson exhaust you could use at 1300, not usable at 1100 RPM.

What does that mean, I improved the engines ability to get more air, more fully filling the combustion chamber, ADDING TORQUE, then more fully expelling the exhaust, adding MORE TORQUE.

I could not "feel" the difference and could not tell you if it made a zero to 60 run difference. I am sure it did but only in a 10th of a second or two. In the higher RPM band is where you will always see the best gains, but really, who wants to twist the I5 to 5500 RPM.

An engine is like an air pump, the easier you can make it pull air in, or expel air the more efficient it is, which means more HP and more torque. In the H3 you will notice it under load from towing, and perhaps in 1 to 2 additional MPG.

Please do not confuse my statements with engine management - fuel or spark curves, ect. This is a basic look.