K&N or stock air filter?

[dabrovsky]

Hi all,
I am just about to service my car and want to use K&N air filter. Has anyone got any experience with it?
Recently, I have tuned my 2.5t and want to give it move fresh air. On internet I have found a lot of different opinions.
Thank you.
Chris

[Jim314]

Originally Posted by dabrovsky

Hi all,
I am just about to service my car and want to use K&N air filter. Has anyone got any experience with it?
Recently, I have tuned my 2.5t and want to give it move fresh air. On internet I have found a lot of different opinions.
Thank you.
Chris

Your engine does not need more air than supplied by the stock air intake system. You would be wasting money and likely causing harm to the MAF sensor. The oil in the K&N filter media can be swept onto the MAF, coating it and interferring with its operation.

[frazz]

Hi Jim314, that's a 'damn' good point you have made!! never crossed my mind about the oil in a K&N???

[mark1964]

I have fitted K+N's to all my cars and never had a problem with any of them, and you know your car is getting a much better airflow. Oil from a k+n, never heard of it.

[LJD]

Originally Posted by mark1964

I have fitted K+N's to all my cars and never had a problem with any of them, and you know your car is getting a much better airflow. Oil from a k+n, never heard of it.

Better airflow ???


Again, what type of filters are fitted to Ferraris, big mercs and Astons etc ????

there is so much bull**** believed when it comes to "performance filters "

[popuptoaster]

Originally Posted by mark1964

I have fitted K+N's to all my cars and never had a problem with any of them, and you know your car is getting a much better airflow. Oil from a k+n, never heard of it.

You have been oiling your K&N filters haven't you? They are NOT fit and forget and must be regularly oiled.

If you don't oil them they wont be trapping the small particles of dirt and even when oiled they don't filter as well as a paper filter element does.

This discussion has been had many times, there are NO independent and scientifically valid tests that prove they flow better than a clean paper filter of the same size (although there are some that indicate they take longer to get blocked).

Even if it cvould be proved a K&N flowed more air, there is still no benefit to fitting one unless your stock filter is not flowing enough air for your engines needs.

For instance, the stock paper filter on my 940 will flow enough air for a 250bhp engine, there would be no power increase even if I were to run without a filter at all, the engine already gets all the air it needs.

[Jim314]

K&N filters are an expensive solution for a problem that does not exist.

[Spike1918]

Over the lifetime of a volvo they`ll save you money of that there`s no doubt. But ONLY if they are taken care of properly, cleaned sensibly and not awash with oil before being put back to use.
I`ve one in my S70, but I`ve used them for years in cars and motorcycles so know how to take care of them and also know not to over-oil them either.
I leave mine out of the car overnight after oiling actually, propped up on a side so any excess oil runs off.

[bodger]

When I had a BMW 5 series the forums advised against them for the reasons mentioned here, and also the fact the stock air box draws air from outside the engine bay, whereas a cone filter will draw a certain amount of warm air in unless you fit some king of cool air duct. The car doesn't run as efficiently on warm air!

You could of course get a K&N panel filter to fit in the airbox, although I'm doubtful the extra cost and effort of cleaning and oiling is worth it

[Spike1918]

That is exactly what my post was referring to a K & N panel filter that fits inside the stock airbox (sorry I should have been clearer).