Several people have told me K&N is the way to go... but atleast two people have told me K&N filters is a "system" and requires a new filter box on some cars...

has anyone put a K&N in thiers yet or have any experience with them? and can they really add a horse or two? i just cant see how that could hold true from just a filter.



Black/Auto #1678

 

The crossfire uses 2 air filters.Both are the same size and should be the same as the slk.I've heard some good things about K&N but just remember they flow more air but give up alittle in the dirt filtration department.

 

I was thinking about getting a K&N Filter myself but have not seen a "Performance" filter for the Crossfire - just the normal K&N filter.

 

The Crossfire already has cold air intake and a cold air box (the engine cover is also a cold air box). To install K&N filters it's only the elements (2ea).

 

crossfiretech: Where'd you get the info on K&Ns passing more dirt? I've used them for years on my racing motorcycles and have always found them to be superior both in flow and filtration. Am I delusional?

 

I too have used K&N for years and I have them on all my vehicles now. Have never had any problems with piston ring wear. I have 212,000 miles on my '87 Ranger project truck (2.9 V6 original engine that will be swapped for a 302 this spring) and have had K&N in it for a little more than 3 years. It doesn't burn a drop of oil. Sounds like they work pretty good to me. When I got my '99 Explorer it was getting right at 18 mpg (hwy). I installed K&N filter and changed to Modil 1 oil. I now get just over 23 mpg (hwy). I'll keep my K&Ns.

 

I will try and find the article..I think it was in HOT ROD mag.K&N filters are good for race cars and drag cars where engine life is not long term concern.All the car makers would use them if they didn't have to warranty you engine for 70,000 miles.My brother uses a K&N on his 69 camaro...I would think twice about putting it on my daily driver.

 

For what it's worth this is from K&N's web site.... see the link below.....

"We design our air filters to provide superior filtration of the contaminants that can harm your engine while maximizing the airflow characteristics of the filter in question. The ability of an air filter to protect your engine is generally measured using a testing procedure developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers identified as the SAE J726 procedure. We subject a sample of our filter designs to this test procedure using Coarse Test Dust, which includes particles ranging in size from less than 5.5 microns to 176 microns. As a point of reference, a human hair is approximately 50 microns in diameter. The result of the above test procedure is a specific air filtration efficiency number. This efficiency number represents the percentage of test dust retained by the filter and thereby kept out of an engine. Our goal is to design our air filters to achieve maximum airflow while targeting overall filtration efficiency at 98%.

Because no two air filters are alike, the specific airflow and overall filtration efficiency will vary depending on the filter in question. However, you can rest assured that each air filter we sell, has been designed to achieve high air flow while providing superior filtration."

http://www.knfilters.com/facts.htm#FACTS

I know that K&N is in the business of selling filters and like any manufacture can slant things in their favor, so if there's something out there that can refute what they clame I'd like to see it. I'll quit using them in a flash if I can be convinced they're not doing the job.

 

Notice how they say superior filtration but they never say better than OEM.When I get time I'll look for that article.

 

Thanks

 

crossfiretech�c The point about race motors�and the implied rebuild cycle�is a valid one. That is, because something is "race" used does not always make it appropriate for street use. I've K&N'ed everything I own�cbut will hold off on the X-Fire until I see that article. Thanx.

 

When it comes to filtering, it is all about physics to a large degree.

If you increase the filter efficiency, you'll decrease the airflow, if not immediately, definitely more quickly.

If you increase the flow, the filter efficiency will have to give.

Unless they develop some other non-mesh trap system to capture finer particles that are efficient that the speed that air gets forced through the filter (i.e. electronic media filtration) I don't think that any manufacturer can defy physics.

So the question is how much contamination and deposition can the engine take and how dirty is the environment you drive in.

 

This is one of a few test's I found on K&N filters www.mcagraphix.com/filter/test.htm Hot rod mag did a test with a 14" open element filter and gained a couple horsepower over a stock paper element.I don't know if a couple horsepower is worth the chance of getting more dirt in my engine.Buy a filter for what its supposed to do ....Filter.

 

I wish they had put a micron reading on the filtration findings.

That's the way we select filters for aircraft aplications. Be ot for engines or gearboxes.

Personally I'm going to keep my K&Ns. If for nothing more than the improved fuel mileage.

With 212K on my Ranger and no cylinder or compression problems I think, in my environment, they work very well.... Beach sand and all.

 

Glad to hear your having good results with K&N.