K&N Air Filters

[pweezer]

Hi all,
I'm doing spring maintenance which includes changing the air filter. Thinking of going with the K&M instead of the OEM. Worth it? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[joegottberg]

The PO installed a K&N on mine. I've not inspected it since.

There was a thread a little while ago discussing K&N air filters. There was some concern over the "high air flow" they will pass causing a "sandblasting" effect on your engine internals :eek:

Others swore they were fine for over 100K.

My only concern is over the "supposed" requirement to oil them. If I have to dig in that far to access the filter, I'm probably going to replace it.

Search a little for some threads and make up your mind.

You'll either swear at or swear by them ;)

Joe

[Lee510]

I saw a thread in another section of the forum about K&N filters where a member was asking about using a cone filter over the intake and if that would work. A search for "K&N cone filter" should take you to that thread. HTH

[rkirker]

I saw a thread in another section of the forum about K&N filters where a member was asking about using a cone filter over the intake and if that would work. A search for "K&N cone filter" should take you to that thread. HTH


I do place a fine mesh over my intake and clean it off every time I wash the bike. I have not had any ill effects as of yet with a K&N filter, which I oil one a year.
Have not seen a lot of debris in the tray where the filter sits.

[pweezer]

Thanks for the feedback. I've decided to go ahead and get the K&N and put a screen in front of it just for initial protection. I'm not used to paying $50 for a air filter. Hey, guess what? It's going to be 50 degrees tomorrow here in Wisconsin. Man, I HAVE to move to North Carolina!

[Dragpack]

Frankly, the K&N filters rely on what amounts to 30 year old technology and heavy marketing. All of the systems on our bikes and cars have improved yet we reach for this inferior product based on this marketing and the impression that this is all that's available. These filters are based on a porous cotton gauze which, by itself, filters almost nothing and can cause serious dust ingestion (damage) to your engine. Then they recommend that a customer applies this nasty cleaner/oil ( Disodium Metasilicate) to the filter before and during use. Why do you suppose they require this oil? The fact is, once the particulates begin to stick to this oil, the restriction level and flow decrease is very dramatic. So much so that it normally performs worse than the original filter. Either leave the existing filter in the car and replace it regularly or buy a new technology, high performance filter like the Amsoil or the even better flowing and filtering R2C Performance unit. These are a little more money but they are cleaned with low pressure, compressed air and NEVER need DM oil. By the way, read the warning label for the process before you start applying this stuff. Remember, a filter should be a filter first and when designed properly, not subject a user to the compromises we face with existing cotton/oil products. Happy motoring.

[Flying_Duck]

K&N is very good - at marketing.

BMW OEM filters are better. And you don't need to change them out every 12k - 40 or 50k is more like it.