I work for a company that specializes in filtration. We (well they back in
the day) invented the engine intake air cleaner. We primarily play in the
heavy duty truck and off-road equipment market. We make air filter for
$100,000+ engines and are the only company certified to supply air filters
for military applications. We only dabble in automotive.
We have tested K&N vs. stock paper (not ours) for many applications. These
tests are run to SAE (Society of Automobile Engineers) specs. Paper filters
average about 99% efficient, K&Ns average about 90% efficient. K&N says
they filter more dirt but this is based on the life of the filter. If you
reuse the K&N several times, the total amount of particles captured will add
up to more than a paper element used once.
I am not trying to sell our filters, we only have then for a handful of
automotive applications. I just want to make sure that people have all the
data to make a good decision (the engineer in me). For some people, a
couple more hp is worth the trade off, but for most it isn't a wise choice.
Ted
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net]On Behalf Of RayB
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 4:07 AM
To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
Subject: DML: RE: RE: K&N -- good people, good product.
Well Ted, if you're going to condemn a product with statements like "letting
10X as much dirt through", it would be helpful if you identified your
source. I use a K&N FIPK on my daily driver Grand Cherokee and asked
Blackstone Labs what they thought about K&N filters. Their response was..
"We have seen no problems with using K&N air and oil filters". My analysis
results were excellent.
RayB
http://www.dragtruk.com/ENTRIES/20KM1FD2KWBP.html
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net]On Behalf Of Ted
> Wiegandt
> FWIW
>
> K&N does cover their product, just not the damage you are doing to your
> engine by running it.
>
> Using a K&N air filter may give you a minimal hp increase in the
> short term,
> but will decrease your hp in the long term. K&N filters are only
> about 90%
> efficient at filtering the intake air. Your stock paper filter
> is about 99%
> efficient. This means that while the K&N may let 5% more air
> through, it is
> letting 10X as much dirt through. Think about what all that extra dirt is
> doing to your cylinder walls.
>
> K&N filters were designed for race engines that get rebuilt on a regular
> basis. They are designed for high airflow and to hopefully filter the big
> stuff. They were never designed for everyday use.
>
> If people want to run them, great. Just make sure it is an informed
> decision.
>
> Ted
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