K&N filters...yay or nay? (from a filtration standpoint)

sfearl1 · 02-29-2012, 06:34 PM

i haven't seen one. aFe might though...

Jordo! · 02-29-2012, 11:37 PM

Oiled cotton or synthetic dry works best, with slightly better flow on the oiled cotton at the cost of some filtration (slightly better for the dry). Both should flow and filter better than paper, so no worries.

Foam filters suck. The HKS is a foam filter.

I too just sell off the old for someone else to clean and purchase new ones. Less of a hassle.

based on my UOA's, which also measure particles that indicate poor air filtration, my K&N's work well.

ImportConvert · 03-01-2012, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Oiled cotton or synthetic dry works best, with slightly better flow on the oiled cotton at the cost of some filtration (slightly better for the dry). Both should flow and filter better than paper, so no worries.

Foam filters suck. The HKS is a foam filter.

I too just sell off the old for someone else to clean and purchase new ones. Less of a hassle.

based on my UOA's, which also measure particles that indicate poor air filtration, my K&N's work well.

Have you compared silicates from K&N vs. non K&N filtered on the same vehicle?

Jordo! · 03-01-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Have you compared silicates from K&N vs. non K&N filtered on the same vehicle?

Hmm. To be fair, no I have not. But silicates were all below levels of concern, so whether or not they filter better than x or y filter is unknown, but they do work well based on the ppm criterion.

Frankly, I found the oiled medium to work better (i.e., better throttle response) in humid or wet weather relative to the dry synthetic stuff -- that could be all in my head, but I've heard a similar observation from others as well, and oil does after all repel water.

Speedy · 03-01-2012, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Oiled cotton or synthetic dry works best, with slightly better flow on the oiled cotton at the cost of some filtration (slightly better for the dry). Both should flow and filter better than paper, so no worries.

Foam filters suck. The HKS is a foam filter.

I too just sell off the old for someone else to clean and purchase new ones. Less of a hassle.

based on my UOA's, which also measure particles that indicate poor air filtration, my K&N's work well.

You got the UOAs posted up anywhere? I'd like to check some out on the Z.

fuct · 03-01-2012, 08:20 AM

i had the HKS drop ins for about 6 months. they seemed so flimsy and the filtration looked like something off my vacuum. :\

ive had the K&N's in for a year now. so far so good!

roplusbee · 03-01-2012, 12:10 PM

This discussion is specifically for OEM replacement or is cone type inicluded? I want to replace the mushrooms that come w/ the Greddy unit with a cone type filter (dry type).

MaDMaXX · 03-01-2012, 03:22 PM

If we're talking ability to filter the crap out, i won't touch K&N with a barge pole these days.

Yes they do breathe more than most filters, however, they filter fairly poorly. When i start seeing the cotton material turning up in UOA's, then stop to think for a second what the path would be to get there, i figure i'd like *some* filtering on my engine.

I don't like wet type filters anyway, dry has a lot more benefits and consistency than oiled types.

BTW, paper is the medium used to see what passes through all these performance filters, you should be using the factory/paper medium filters as a benchmark for filtration ability.

My next filter will likely be an Apexi drop in filter if not the factory fit.

Jordo! · 03-01-2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaDMaXX

If we're talking ability to filter the crap out, i won't touch K&N with a barge pole these days.

Yes they do breathe more than most filters, however, they filter fairly poorly. When i start seeing the cotton material turning up in UOA's, then stop to think for a second what the path would be to get there, i figure i'd like *some* filtering on my engine.

I don't like wet type filters anyway, dry has a lot more benefits and consistency than oiled types.

BTW, paper is the medium used to see what passes through all these performance filters, you should be using the factory/paper medium filters as a benchmark for filtration ability.

My next filter will likely be an Apexi drop in filter if not the factory fit.

Cotton was showing up in UOA's???

MaDMaXX · 03-01-2012, 07:49 PM

Yup

Jordo! · 03-01-2012, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaDMaXX

Yup

Re-used or fresh, never used?

One of the reasons I would just as soon switch them out rather than re-oil (provided I have the $$) is that it's all too easy to cause minor shredding in the cotton when you wash it.

And not just cotton -- I had a dryflow (i.e., synthetic, dry media) AEM filter almost completely fvcking disintegrate on me -- just from washing

If fresh, that's a new one to me -- never heard of such a thing. If re-used, I'm not completely shocked...

MaDMaXX · 03-01-2012, 10:18 PM

I don't recall tbh, but the very nature of their makeup means they're going to fail at some random unknown point, that kind of service life is silly in some areas.

Jordo! · 03-01-2012, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaDMaXX

I don't recall tbh, but the very nature of their makeup means they're going to fail at some random unknown point, that kind of service life is silly in some areas.

Yeesh... well, food for thought. Thanks for letting us know

Rooskey · 03-01-2012, 10:44 PM

What about a k&n with an outerwears cover??

ImportConvert · 03-01-2012, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooskey

What about a k&n with an outerwears cover??

Not applicable for 370Z application IMO.

02-29-2012, 06:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
sfearl1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: St. Louis Posts: 2,300 Drives: 2013 FBO E85 GTR Rep Power: 18	i haven't seen one. aFe might though... __________________ Scott

02-29-2012, 11:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 419	Oiled cotton or synthetic dry works best, with slightly better flow on the oiled cotton at the cost of some filtration (slightly better for the dry). Both should flow and filter better than paper, so no worries. Foam filters suck. The HKS is a foam filter. I too just sell off the old for someone else to clean and purchase new ones. Less of a hassle. based on my UOA's, which also measure particles that indicate poor air filtration, my K&N's work well. __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it. Last edited by Jordo!; 02-29-2012 at 11:39 PM.

03-01-2012, 12:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
roplusbee A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Killeen, TX Posts: 2,360 Drives: 2007 350Z NISMO Rep Power: 23	This discussion is specifically for OEM replacement or is cone type inicluded? I want to replace the mushrooms that come w/ the Greddy unit with a cone type filter (dry type). __________________ 2007 350Z NISMO #0618: Zerolift \| UPREV \| F.I. \| Greddy \| Competition Clutch \| Injector Dynamics \| Aeromotive \| Pioneer \| JL

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03-01-2012, 08:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 25	i had the HKS drop ins for about 6 months. they seemed so flimsy and the filtration looked like something off my vacuum. :\ ive had the K&N's in for a year now. so far so good!

03-01-2012, 03:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
MaDMaXX Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oregon from England Posts: 292 Drives: 350z Rep Power: 14	If we're talking ability to filter the crap out, i won't touch K&N with a barge pole these days. Yes they do breathe more than most filters, however, they filter fairly poorly. When i start seeing the cotton material turning up in UOA's, then stop to think for a second what the path would be to get there, i figure i'd like some filtering on my engine. I don't like wet type filters anyway, dry has a lot more benefits and consistency than oiled types. BTW, paper is the medium used to see what passes through all these performance filters, you should be using the factory/paper medium filters as a benchmark for filtration ability. My next filter will likely be an Apexi drop in filter if not the factory fit.

03-01-2012, 07:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
MaDMaXX Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oregon from England Posts: 292 Drives: 350z Rep Power: 14	Yup

03-01-2012, 10:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
MaDMaXX Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oregon from England Posts: 292 Drives: 350z Rep Power: 14	I don't recall tbh, but the very nature of their makeup means they're going to fail at some random unknown point, that kind of service life is silly in some areas.

03-01-2012, 10:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
Rooskey Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 974 Drives: 2014 Alpha7 GTR Rep Power: 17	What about a k&n with an outerwears cover??