Interesting K&N filter factoid...

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 05-29-2007, 11:31 AM

I'm just back from Baja, where my wife and I retraced the route of the original 1967 Baja 1000, from Tijuana to La Paz, with factory Hummer team drivers Rod and Josh Hall. (Susan navigated for Rod last November.)

So while driving with Rod, I asked him about K&N filters, since one of the claims always advanced in their favor are that "they're so good that Baja 1000 drivers use 'em." (Rod is the winningest driver in Baja history, with 18 class and one overall outright win in 39 years.)

"I won't tell you who it is [I suspect it indeed was K&N, from the way he said it], but an aftermarket air-filter manufacturer wanted to get onto our Hummers. We tested their filter and found that the stock filter outperformed it."

So there you have it: the top Baja production-vehicle driver doesn't use K&Ns. And believe me, we went through some silt beds that were like having a dozen guys standing alongside the truck throwing five-gallon buckets of silt at it. Never seen anything like it...

the · 05-29-2007, 11:34 AM

HOLY CR@P DON'T LET THAT DUDE FROM AIZNONA SEE THIS HE IS GOING TO GO FREKING BULIISTIC!!!!!!!

EarlyPorsche · 05-29-2007, 11:38 AM

K&N filters are terrible. I own a pair though, I'm ashamed.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 05-29-2007, 11:41 AM

Well, I do too, but they're what fits in the air cleaners on my PMOs...

randywebb · 05-29-2007, 11:46 AM

Hummers - story doesn't say whether civilian or military - may well have super dust- filters.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 05-29-2007, 11:52 AM

We had an H2 and an H3--totally stock, civilian, pre-production 2008s.

Long Nose · 05-29-2007, 12:02 PM

I have alwayse suspected as much. I chose to stick with the OEM air filter housing for my webbers. It was a real pain though, because they were rusted and no one makes those OEM housings anymore.

charleskieffner · 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by the
HOLY CR@P DON'T LET THAT DUDE FROM AIZNONA SEE THIS HE IS GOING TO GO FREKING BULIISTIC!!!!!!!

that dude from arizona wishes all of you the best w/yer paper filters.

by the way my uncle used to race/build jeeps w/rodney in calif. many many many moons ago. RIP don blackburn.

steve .....why didnt you stay for the race?

KTM introduces their new katoom 690! yikes!

VW -FABRIK is running (2) count'em P-D TOUR-EGGS!

and about 525 other total entries to date so far.

also a first..........RALLY-TRACKER will be giving REAL-TIME updates as vehicles and quads/bikes pass checkpoints.

fer further uppem-datums..............go to score international .com

oh by the way..........mi amigoes in their chevy powered -class -1 car from HELL..............still run a crummy old K & N ! but what do they or i know..............except not to OVER-OIL it!

Wavey · 05-29-2007, 01:05 PM

I just wish someone would make a cone-type filter using the OEM filter media, so that we could get the improved engine compartment access AND OEM filtration.

Tim Hancock · 05-29-2007, 02:28 PM

Most aircraft used to use filters constructed similar to K&N's. They could be cleaned/re-oiled and reused. Now most have been upgraded to oiled disposable foam filters. Every motocross bike I ever raced, used mutli-layered oiled foam. All that said, I do use a K&N on my ultralight, but I TRUST foam the most in dusty conditions, but they will probably clog sooner in LONG drawn out dusty races (reducing airflow/performance).

For the average road going car, I don't believe for a second that anyone needs to worry about the level of protection stock or name brand aftermarket filters provide. IMO, it is much ado about nothing as far as protection goes.

randywebb · 05-29-2007, 02:32 PM

Good if true as no paper filters are made to fit the oval of PMO/Weber carbs.

911pcars · 05-29-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by randywebb
Good if true as no paper filters are made to fit the oval of PMO/Weber carbs.

Only to the extent that the housing dictates the filter dimension. Nothing prevents someone from fabricating a filter housing that fits an off-the-shelf filter. There are plenty that are close, but no cigar for an exact fit. I'm pretty sure K&N planned this when they first designed their filter housings.

My previous filters were Amsoil foam elements modified to fit an early Filtron/K&N-sized housing.

Sherwood

Zeke · 05-29-2007, 03:33 PM

I ran K&N's on karts for years mainly because they were high flow, easy to find and we needed something to keep the crap out being as how the intake was like 12" off the ground (very dirty). That, and they could be washed and reused. A thin foam sleeve over them or under them could provide more filtration, IMHO. Those too, can be washed and oiled for reuse. But, we rebuilt the motors often, so ultimate protection was not the goal.

From what I've seen, dirt racers use foam. A K&N is a lousy overall, long run maintenance filter from what I've read,, especially if you don't know how to properly clean and oil it. In most cases, I would rather see the ordinary Porsche owner buy a stock, factory approved unit and change it out accordingly.

That all having been said, I got a K&N in a package deal with a snorkel and didn't hesitate to install it for freeway use on my tired engine.

gerard vaglio · 05-29-2007, 04:54 PM

Years ago I took a class with Bruce Anderson and the K&N question came up.

BA said that the K&N might offer increased airflow but it would significantly shorten the life of the engine. I got the impression he felt the tradeoff was not worth it.

That said, its very possible that the K&Ns have been improved over the years, I have not followed this product in any way.

I have worked in advertising agencies for twenty seven years so I found his comment to be, um, illuminating.

island911 · 05-29-2007, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson
... So there you have it: the top Baja production-vehicle driver doesn't use K&Ns. ...

Icon busting . .. I Like it.

samsnead · 05-29-2007, 06:44 PM

didnt use the the K&N for very long on my porsche, but I have had a K&N on my maxima with 180,000 miles for the last 120,000 miles, no complaints.

jackb911 · jackb911's Garage

I was a K&N user for many years and never had a problem with them, but the one I got for my 993 just didn't fit right (the surround was too thick), so I switched back to OEM.

The cotton filtering media in the K&N may allow a bit more airflow, but I'll bet the stock paper media traps more dirt. I never noticed a performance difference after installing the K&N's I had in various cars and trucks over the years, nor does the 993 seem any slower after switching back to the stock filter.

911pcars · 05-29-2007, 08:14 PM

I think it's safe to say putting a filter material in front of the air intake isn't going to improve performance. A filter is supposed to filter air, not increase performance. despite what the advertising tries to convey.

Sherwood

charleskieffner · 05-30-2007, 07:31 AM

steve wilkinson.........

funny how rodneys 1987 CLASS 4 DODGE TRUCK (#400) HAS A
K & N STICKER(STEECKER) on the LEFT REAR LOWER 1/4 PANEL BEHIND TIRE!!!!!!!!!!

HMMMMMMMMMMMM! another interesting FACTOID!

i would more than likely assume due to rodneys contract with GM that only parts that are DEEMED "GM" certified and sold across counter at all hummer dealers would be allowed on their test vehicle. by the way.........how did the new springs work?

yep george thompsons team hummer updates cross my puter also. they'll be starting around noon this race.

petevb · 05-30-2007, 07:55 AM

Hasn't this been beat to death to the point where everyone knows the advantages/ disadvantages of the K&Ns? There is a lot of data out there...
The K&N, when freshly cleaned, will generally flow better than stock paper media, but will also let larger particles through.
The K&N will generally clog faster than stock, so over time will flow worse if it's not cleaned.
Race motors care more about flow than particle size, so the err in the direction of the K&N, or even open cell foam filters that flow even more but let through larger particles.
It's a tradeoff- pick your poison.