? about K&N Panel Filter

[Bob Ayers]

im not denying that a paper filter filters better. but what research have you done that proves that a paper filter isnt overkill?

Ok, you have admitted that there is NO performance advantage to a K&N, and now you admit that the OEM paper filters better, why would anybody in their right mind want to spend more money for a K&N?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

becase a K&N will save you money in the long run.

both of mine have paid for themselves several times over.

 

[Bob Ayers]

becase a K&N will save you money in the long run.

both of mine have paid for themselves several times over.

I'm sorry, but I disagree!! How has one paid for itself over and over in 30K miles, and another paid for itself over and over in 20K miles?

I've got a novel idea, you keep using K&Ns, I'll keep using the OEM paper filters!!

But, I'm glad we do agree that there is NO performance advantage to the K&N, and the OEM paper filters better.......

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i wasnt try to convince YOU to switch bob...i hope thats not what you thought i was doing.

i just wanted the OP to hear both sides of the story before he made HIS decision.

my K&N filters HAVE paid for themselves already, thats fact...but youre free to disagree if youd like

EDIT: you keep editing while im posting

i never said how many times either paid for itself. the rangers has paid for itself many times as the truck sees tons of dusty and severe conditions (towing, hauling).

the escorts has paid for itself like 1.33 times or something like that (id have to go get my book).

 

[Bob Ayers]

my K&N filters HAVE paid for themselves already, thats fact...but youre free to disagree if youd like
.

Ok, here is the math:

Ford recommends that the air filter be changed every 30K miles

From Advance Auto website:

K&N airfilter for Ranger = $59.88

Purolator OEM paper airfilter for Ranger = $9.19



Looks to me like you are still about $50 in the hole at 30K miles!

How did you recover the $59.88 over and over in 30K miles?

Again....I disagree.......

 

[BlackBII]

Just because Ford reccommends it get replaced every 30K, doesn't mean it doesn't get caked with dirt before you hit 30K.

I've cleaned my KN dozens of times, I usually check/clean it when changing oil, No need to go and buy a new one.

 

[gw33gp]

Try running a paper filter for 30K miles in dusty conditions compared to a K&N under the same conditions. You will then see an advantage in performance with the K&N over a paper filter because the filter will be so restricted. I would venture to say the paper filtered engine would probably not even run. The K&N filtered engine will run and run well. This is not hear-say nor a report I read. I have done it with a K&N.

Suck in a little water with a paper filter and see what happens. Paper turns to mush when wet.

There are other advantages to K&N filters but the main reason I use them is because I am lazy and don't want to bother with changing air filters all the time. I would rather spend a little more time cleaning one every 50K miles.

I have been on a dirt trail for about 25 miles behind about 10 other Rangers. At the end my truck was covered with about a 1/8th inch of fine dirt. When I got home I decided I should clean the K&N filter even though I had cleaned it only 20K miles ago. While I was in there I took a white cloth and wiped the inside of the intake tube to see if anything got passed the K&N filter. Guess what, the white cloth was just as white after wiping as it was before. I guess it all got sucked down the engine and went right on out the exhaust. I have also had my oil analyzed and there was no out of the ordinary amount of silicon. Excess silicone is an indicator of dirt getting past or through the air filter.

Everybody should use what they want, I do. Just don't tell me what I use is crap from hear-say and some reports that are done in a not real world conditions. So what if the K&N passed some very fine particles. From my experience it does not harm the engine. Paper filters work very well when used as intended, so do K&N filters.

 

[Bob Ayers]

Try running a paper filter for 30K miles in dusty conditions compared to a K&N under the same conditions. You will then see an advantage in performance with the K&N over a paper filter because the filter will be so restricted. I would venture to say the paper filtered engine would probably not even run. The K&N filtered engine will run and run well. This is not hear-say nor a report I read. I have done it with a K&N.
.

You are correct!!!! This was the scenario at off road races like Baja, as I have previously posted!!!!

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

Again....I disagree.......

heres some more math for you bob:

as i already said, my truck sees "unaverage" service conditions. my filter requires service at more frequent intervals than what fords manual specifies (who the hell goes by mileage for an air filter anyway?).

your also about $10 high on your K&N cost.

but you forgot to add the cost of the K&N cleaning kit (if one so chooses to use one).

thats all been accounted for in my calculations.

you can disagree with my methods all you want...but the fact remains that a K&N is more cost effective for me (and many other people that operate their vehicles in extremely dusty conditions). and since you dont know me, my truck, or my preventative maintainence habbits, i can accuratly say that, in this case, you have no idea what your talking about

 

[Bob Ayers]

heres some more math for you bob:

as i already said, my truck sees "unaverage" service conditions. my filter requires service at more frequent intervals than what fords manual specifies (who the hell goes by mileage for an air filter anyway?).

your also about $10 high on your K&N cost.

but you forgot to add the cost of the K&N cleaning kit (if one so chooses to use one).

thats all been accounted for in my calculations.

you can disagree with my methods all you want...but the fact remains that a K&N is more cost effective for me (and many other people that operate their vehicles in extremely dusty conditions). and since you dont know me, my truck, or my preventative maintainence habbits, i can accuratly say that, in this case, you have no idea what your talking about

Well, lets see some details!!!!!!! So far, I would say your F.O.S.


And here is where my prices come from:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/ProductList.aspx?parttype=2&ptset=A&searchfor=Air+Filter

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

my details are hand-scrawled maintainence logs that i keep in the glove box of the truck. if i thought it would prove anything, id take some pics for you....but i dont so i wont (im sure your keen eye would find a way to prove that i had scribbled the logs out 30 seconds before taking the picture, or some such thing). and im sure since i denied you your "proof" you'll say it doesnt exist now....kind of lose-lose for me

so far, your the only one that seems to have a problem with my reasoning, and since im not trying to convince you, ill let it be.

as i said before, i just wanted the OP to hear both sides of the story before he made a decision for himself. i think we've accomplished that (and more).

 

[jax4bangin]

i would think that the more surface area to a filter, the more air flow and filtering capabilitys. which has more surface k&n panel or OEM?

i made a piece of 3" dia. tube for my stupid MAF to sit in so i could switch to a larger k&n cone style filter(way way more surface than either of the 2 panels) using the old "butt dyno" i couldnt tell if i was gaining any power.. but since air is being pulled through much more surface material it seems as though i will be able to go longer on cleaning intervals because the amount of dirt is much less concentraited on the larger unit

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

a K&N panel filter drops into the factory air box...it has roughly the same surface area as the original filter.

you may be right about the larger filter needing cleaning less often, but i doubt its a considerable improvement over a drop-in K&N filter.

 

[jax4bangin]

yea prolly didnt gain anythin. but it does look pretty slick its kinda loud too, not anoying, u can just hear it pullin some air wen ya put the hammer down