K & N air filters--Are They Worth it?

Does anyone know if it's worth it to buy K & N air filters for your Honda?
Does it really improve gas mileage, and is it worth it to pay $70-85 CAD
upfront and then another $15.00 for the oil kit? I mean really, where's the
savings? If they were that good wouldn't manufacturers install them from the
factory? What about warranty? Do they void the warranty?

Thanks,

Nino

 

NO NO NO !!!
These filters clog up very very quickly because they have almost no
capacity to hold dirt. There is no meaningful performance increase,
either. The same kind of nutz that swear by them are the ones buying
100 dollar video cables, because they're "better" even though nobody
can see or hear the difference. If you want to waste your money, use
synthetic oil, at least it won't INCREASE your maintenance obligations.

 

they trade filtering performance for air flow performance and they void the
warranty.

 

Read this and then decide.
http://home.usadatanet.net/%7Ejbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm

if you develop engine problems, your use of a K&N will *definitely* be
viewed very dimly by Honda and the dealer, and my well be used to
invalidate the warranty.

 

Isn't your CR-V going off warranty already? The filter is good for the life
of the vehicle, unless you neglect it to the point that it suffers
mechanical damage during cleaning. If you do get one, then make sure to
keep it clean. Cleaning the element is a pain in the neck, but you do save
the cost of a new OEM style element every time you do it. In my opinion,
that would be the reason to get one. My wife's CR-V had one of these in it
when we bought it used. I am debating whether to keep it or not. I already
have a cleaning kit for the Turbo City Rock-It! Air Tube and K&N I have on
my Jeep.

I have to be skeptical of claims that it flows significantly more air than a
stock OEM filter, unless you install a less restrictive air intake that fits
a significantly bigger filter element (like the one on my Jeep). These are
available for some vehicles, but in my opinion only warranted for extreme
use such as trailer towing or posing. You want the thing visible when you
open the hood, and you want it to make a sound you can hear. The K&N for
the CR-V is just a boring drop-in replacement.

The kind of damage to be expected from a defective or inferior air cleaner
element is accelerated cylinder and piston wear. If your CR-V starts
blowing blue smoke and the oil needs to be refilled more often, then I guess
the nay-sayers were right.

Earle

 

FWIW, according to the service manager at my local Honda dealer, using a
K&N air filter not only won't void the warranty, but he says it will neither
damage the engine nor increase performance. He says he sees alot of these
filters in his customers cars.

I am curious though, what is the recommended maintainence period
assuming normal driving conditions? The manufacturer claims 50-100K,
IIRC.

 

He doesn't speak for honda and your report is irrelevent.

 

putting the old filter back on may work with the dealer or it may not.
if a warranty claim really was push come to shove, you could examine the
cylinder walls under a microscope and clearly identify a discrepancy in
wear particle size, hence non-factory filtration.

 

Can you name a single time that has ever happened?

 

no i can't. i'm simply saying that it /is/ possible to tell, should
someone want to be that pedantic.

 

I have used a K&N filter on 3 different vehicles and not only did I
recieve better gas milage but I actually had to clean my throttle body
and intake manifold LESS with the K&N. And it is also true you dont
need to clean it for at least 20,000, some at 50,000. The K&N "look
alikes are what you need to be cautious of, they will be more
restrictive and once they are wet they cannot be used again. I you
want better efficiency and performance from your engine you need a K&N.
The K&N does flow better but at the same time it does not let more dirt
through due to the oiled cotten element. The oil traps the dirt onto
the filter and does not allow it to enter the engine. If you do not
oil the filter you will deffinitly let dirt through.

 

I was about 9 years old when I found out that an 'oil-bath' air filter
existed. Later I had a friend with an old Chev Biscayne (sp) that had a
similar thing. There was spoonfuls of sludge in the bottom of his. It
seemed logical to me, since dirt sticks to oil like s#it to a blanket.

Are / were they any good and why aren't they used on modern passenger
cars?

'Curly' (let the flames begin)

 

And of course you had two cars driven, one stock and one with the K&N, at
the same time on the same routes so you might have the slightest validity to
your finding, right? Otherwise, your findings are no different than those
who think putting magnets on their fuel lines improve their gas mileage.

 

Or they could find your post on the newsgroups stating you are using a
K&N filter.

 

Little off subject but a good point.

The old true oil bath filters are the best air filter made.
They catch a lot more real fine dust than the paper types.
They are still used on some HD equipment, stationary engines,farm
tractors.
One qt. of new oil and some cleaning and they are ready to go again.
But who wants to get there hands dirty and pay the extra cost of a good
oil bath filter on a new car.

Way back in the early 60's when I was working for a dealer cry/dodge
HD trucks went from oil bath to paper filters.
The dealership sold about a 100 HD trucks for cement hauling on
construction jobs.
In about 5K-10K miles on every one I was overhauling everyone and
installing a good HD oil bath air filter back on them.
Got so I could ring one one of them in my sleep.
The paper air filter would not catch the fine dust.
Modern car paper filters may be a little better but do not drive in a
lot of dust and dirt. A K&N might work good there.
And if you do carry plenty of spare air filters.:grinyes: :rofl: :lol:

MT

 

Yo Nino,
I've been using K&N filters on a Ford Explorer and Toyota Tundra (dont
have one yet for my Element) and I have been VERY happy with them. I
prefer high-quality reusable filters vs the disposable ones. Same is
true for my house air circulation system. I asked the people over at
K&N to weigh in on this; here is the reply.
Great topic - thank you for bringing it up!!!!
-Steve
_________________________________________________________

The internet is full of thread akin to this. Many people
assume that they understand the nuances of filtration. There are so
many misconceptions in that thread alone it would take a good hour to
explain in type the how and whys. Then you would need to do this at
about 2K BBB's. K&N filters meet and exceed factory air filters for
air flow, capacity holding and filter efficiency. All these are tested
using the ISO 5011 standards that all major air filter manufactures
use. The "testand" report is full of holes too. The author of
that report was invited to come to our facilities and bring what ever
filters he wanted to conduct the test as per the official ISO 5011.
his prior test was not done correctly. He did show up and did his
tests and is soon to write a follow up of this experience and his new
learning.

It is against the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act ( A Federal
Trade Commission Law) for a dealer to decline warranty on a vehicle
because of use of a K&N or any other aftermarket air filter.

These links may help you understand more.

http://www.knfilters.com/warrantyletter.htm

http://www.knfilters.com/filter_facts.htm


Read the second link in entirety. There is a wealth of information
there.