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Author
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Topic: Do K&N air filters really work?
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rockafellz
Gearhead Posts: 1348
From: San Lorenzo, CA, USA
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 05-19-2003 11:01 AM
   
Is it worth the $50.00 for a K&N air filter? Can I really free up 2-5hp or more over the paper air filter?Erik ------------------
1966 Ford Mustang 2+2
Mine - Restomod in Progress 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe
Dad's - Original Unrestored
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 14201
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 05-19-2003 01:26 PM
Alex has said NO.He has said any good paper filter will work.
I use use a K&N it's worked good for the few times I've had the car in the rain.And it's nice to be able to clean the filter and reuse it.My car sucks in alot of dirt into the filter with the that big a$$ scoop.I'd be changing a paper filter at least once a mouth.
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SCOOP
oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs
2.26 60'S
14.9 @ 90.86MPH 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8"3.40 TracLoc,Cragar SS,Black Suede. https://mustangsandmore.com/ubb/Fastymz.html
[This message has been edited by Fastymz (edited 05-19-2003).]
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 1700
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-19-2003 01:37 PM
Erik,
I think your question should read - "Should I run an air cleaner or not?" First off, I'm sure you've noticed LOTS of racers don't run one. Why? Not because they think they're useless and too much $$, but because they don't have the room necessary to run one large enough to allow all the cfms in their carb/engine that they need at a target power level. Either they don't want to install any hood scoop or they don't want such a huge air scoop to allow one. So they live with the fact that their engine will ingest some dirt. With that being said, personally, I like the idea of running an air cleaner AND I have the room; I run a 14" X 3" K&N air cleaner and a K&N Extreme filter lid. According to K&N calculations provided at their site ( www.knfilters.com ), this combo will filter more than enough cfms of air that I want to feed my SBF at the rpm level I run. When I see a fella with a 500+" engine, running a 1000cfm carb, wanting to make HP at 6K rpms, and has a 9" X 2" air cleaner on it - does he really believe that the engine/carb is getting all the air that it needs to do the job? I highly doubt it...but maybe he prefers the looks of the small air cleaner more so than worring about getting all the power out of it he can. I suggest you go to the K&N site and run the numbers on your combo to figure out what amount of cfms you need/want and then determine the size of air cleaner that would require - then decide if you want to cover your carb with a air cleaner or not. Be it a K&N or a paper unit. Ryan  [This message has been edited by Ryan Wilke (edited 05-25-2003).]
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N266fords
Gearhead Posts: 1039
From: Spokane ,WA USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-20-2003 05:34 PM
I run a drop base and a 14X6 yes i said 6 inch K & N I love it and it does move the air of coarse i think having a boss 429 hood scope helps but it only sticks up about 1/2 inch above the hood..
Bruce
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 21725
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-20-2003 05:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by rockafellz:
Is it worth the $50.00 for a K&N air filter? Can I really free up 2-5hp or more over the paper air filter?Erik
Save your money, or if you just want to throw it away, please throw it my way. 
I can sure use it. 
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Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
MCA member# 53321
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,&'03
First SS/MA in the TENS!
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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65_289
Gearhead Posts: 761
From:
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 05-20-2003 05:45 PM
On the chassis dyno (yeah, I know), the K&N cost me 1.5 horsepower over no filter at all. To me, losing 1.5 hp is worth the clean air.I did not, however, compare the K&N to a paper filter. [This message has been edited by 65_289 (edited 05-20-2003).]
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jsracingbbf
Gearhead Posts: 2160
From: Batesville,MS. , U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-21-2003 08:58 AM
The only air filter I run is a screen gasket between the hat and the manifold. The K & N filter that fits the outside of the hat is $300.00 plus. 
I would run one if I could find one reasonably priced, as it is I am just keeping small debris from getting in my motor with the mesh screen.
I would run one if you can, maybe not a K & N but some type of filter. JS
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 1805
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 05-21-2003 09:56 AM
Alex, I assume your answer is coming from a 'racing' perspective, where you are comparing the use of a K&N filter to no filter at all... Is this correct?------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 1700
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-21-2003 11:05 AM
quote:
Originally posted by jsracingbbf:
... as it is I am just keeping small debris from getting in my motor with the mesh screen. JS
....like birds & bees and such things!
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 1700
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-21-2003 11:15 AM
If anyone thinks you can't make power when you run with an air cleaner in place, hasn't been watching any BBF sand dragsters or BAJA desert trucks run lately!!! -- It's just a matter of providing enough square inches of air filter media that will allow enough air in to mix with the fuel to feed the beast!!  Ryan ------------------
The '3-Pedal Attitude' Kid
In a '69 FB w/ 4-spd'd 306",
but the 460+ is on the stand!
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CometGT1974
Gearhead Posts: 286
From: Asheville, NC USA
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 05-21-2003 03:03 PM
I think more then anything the cost savings is worth buying a K&N. I did the calculations a long time ago and decided that over a period of like 5 years the k&n would pay for itself on a street car. As far as race cars go you dont' need an air filter.
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 1700
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-21-2003 03:44 PM
quote:
Originally posted by CometGT1974:
....As far as race cars go you dont' need an air filter.
You may be right -- IF you can tear your race car engine down and hone the cylinders, install fresh rings & bearings every year or so, maybe then it wouldn't matter much.....it's a matter of whether you can do that or if you want to protect and extend your engine life beyond that. My last comments re: this matter - I've been to more than one track when the breeze was more like a wind and it was hot, dry & blowing the dirt/dust in the pit area around & the race cars were stirrin' it up even more & they were ALL breathin' it in.... 
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 21725
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-21-2003 04:32 PM
Over 5 years I can use maybe 4 air filters at $10 each that work just fine in all of my street vehicles. ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
MCA member# 53321
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,&'03
First SS/MA in the TENS!
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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afret
Gearhead Posts: 144
From: Lancaster, CA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 05-21-2003 07:09 PM
I have a K+N filter and a layer of fine dust on the inside of the air cleaner base. I'm considering going back to a paper filter for street use. The paper seems to do a better job of filtering. JMHO
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CometGT1974
Gearhead Posts: 286
From: Asheville, NC USA
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 05-23-2003 09:50 AM
I guess the cost benefit over the long haul would be depedent upon what type of driving you do and how many miles you log. I have a K&N filter on my daily driver, simply because I do alot of driving on dirt/gravel roads and therefore find myself cleaning the K&N filter out quite often. So for me I can see the cost benefit and on a lesser note there is less waste going to the landfill by not throwing away a paper filter.
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orangemach1
Journeyman Posts: 41
From: Southgate, MI
Registered: May 2003
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posted 05-23-2003 09:57 AM
An article in Mustang Illustrated Dated October 1999 did a modified 351C build, at the end of the dyno runs they added a K&N air filter, with no other modifications and got a 8hp increase ... ------------------
Brian, 1970 Mach 1, 377C, Shaker, 4-Speed
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mystuffonline
Journeyman Posts: 13
From: Lufkin, Texas
Registered: May 2003
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posted 05-23-2003 11:56 AM
Have any of you looked at the Holley Power Shot Air filters? They claim to be even better than K&N.http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Products/AMS/PSAF/PSAF.html
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Scott
'69 Coupe Grande 351W
in progress
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N266fords
Gearhead Posts: 1039
From: Spokane ,WA USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-23-2003 12:49 PM
quote:
Originally posted by afret:
I have a K+N filter and a layer of fine dust on the inside of the air cleaner base. I'm considering going back to a paper filter for street use. The paper seems to do a better job of filtering. JMHO
Are you using the proper cleaning method and are you oiling the filter w/K&N oil treatment..I live in one hell of a dust bowl and my K&N never has that happen.. Bruce
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 1700
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-23-2003 02:45 PM
quote:
Originally posted by afret:
I have a K+N filter and a layer of fine dust on the inside of the air cleaner base. JMHO
Afret,
Was your K&N filter properly oiled?
If your K&N filter had dried out or was insufficiently oiled, it will allow fine dust through it. The performance (filtering ability) of most industrial air filters is designed to improve with some filter run time. A given dirt loading is designed into the filter rating formula where a fine dirt layer helps filter the incoming air of more dirt. Most filters live a life of: When brand new, it lets 100% of the air thru but some fine dust too; At 50% filter loading, it works the best at keeping the dirt out and allowing all the air in; At 90% life, the dirt is still kept out but it's being plugged off to the point where it isn't allowing enough air thru to properly feed the system it's designed to protect.
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Toronado3800
Gearhead Posts: 364
From: St. Louis, MO
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 05-24-2003 05:57 PM
I like new K&N's but have had NO luck cleaning them and getting them to look like new. I agree with Moneymaker about the costs. No doubt a new K&N outflows paper, but what about a year old "cleaned" K&N compared to new paper? Of course I don't run synthetic oil for the same reason. I can't afford to change synthec every couple months or else I'd run it.
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afret
Gearhead Posts: 144
From: Lancaster, CA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 05-24-2003 10:52 PM
Speaking of dust bowls you should see the CA high desert with the daily wind storm!! Anyway my K+N has very few miles on it (maybe 1500) but it is very old. Bought it in the mid to late 80's.  I guess it might be older than some of you on this board. You guys might be right it probably is dried out. I guess I'll just get a new filter before I get my car back on the road in a couple of months. Would have been on the road already but decided last week to switch to Edelbrock heads from CJ heads. The neverending project.
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 1700
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-25-2003 08:52 AM
quote:
Originally posted by afret:
....You guys might be right it probably is dried out. I guess I'll just get a new filter before I get my car back on the road in a couple of months....
Afret,
You may want to review the info provided at: http://www.knfilters.com/faq.htm
which explains how to get your K&N filter back 'in shape' before you decide to purchase a new filter. I bought a spray can of K&N filter oil for about $5 from Jegs and spray my filter every Springtime and I think it does the filtering job I expect from it. Ryan ------------------
The '3-Pedal Attitude' Kid
In a '69 FB w/ 4-spd'd 306",
but the 460+ is on the stand!
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afret
Gearhead Posts: 144
From: Lancaster, CA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 05-25-2003 11:02 AM
Thanks Ryan.
Earl
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