Debunking the K&N Myth
07-23-2010, 09:23 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: VA
Posts: 18
Debunking the K&N Myth
I came across this interesting article. The concern here is not about performance, but the efficiency (or inefficiency) to filter out dirt. K&N indeed does a poor job versus the paper filters:
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html
Last edited by kitco; 07-23-2010 at 09:25 PM.
07-24-2010, 09:37 PM
#4
what ever! Every filter maker on that list has some fancy graph showing there filter is better than everyone else's all done by supposed independent shops that want unbiased results. I'll stick with my non paper filters
07-24-2010, 10:27 PM
#7
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 4,039
whatever dude
even if this is an un-biased study, I love the way they made those graphs look like a 3% difference is somehow significant at all. You could have that much difference in two filters of the same brand
even if this is an un-biased study, I love the way they made those graphs look like a 3% difference is somehow significant at all. You could have that much difference in two filters of the same brand
Last edited by tbirdscwd; 07-24-2010 at 10:29 PM.
07-24-2010, 10:45 PM
#8
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NJ / MA
Posts: 1,337
yea, i just went and read the whole article. they make it seem like the smallest amount of dust in the air is gunna make your motor blow up in your face coughing dust everywhere. also, what counts as "test dust"? lol
07-24-2010, 11:13 PM
#9
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
SAE J726 defines Coarse Test Dust as ..."dust which includes particles ranging in size from less than 5.5 microns to 176 microns.", there are also definitions for fine and medium dust. The coarse dust is that most commonly used for testing automobile filters.
Here's my take on K&N filters, please read the first paragraph and the two in green toward the end.
I have run K&N filters in a variety of cars over the years, and have never (with the exception of the V8's in the '60s and '70s that had those crappy 2" tall ring filters) realised any real performance gain from their use.
Currently I am running a Spectre HPR filter (a K&N type unit, that is much better constructed), that my brother gave me--FWIW I dyno'd the 262/305 with a STP filter from Advance Auto Parts...
Here's my take on K&N filters, please read the first paragraph and the two in green toward the end.
I have run K&N filters in a variety of cars over the years, and have never (with the exception of the V8's in the '60s and '70s that had those crappy 2" tall ring filters) realised any real performance gain from their use.
Currently I am running a Spectre HPR filter (a K&N type unit, that is much better constructed), that my brother gave me--FWIW I dyno'd the 262/305 with a STP filter from Advance Auto Parts...
