K&N filter problem

[atv98ah]

I have a K&N filter in my 1995 Ford F-150 4. 9L and have put about 20,000 miles on the filter. I decided to take it out the other day to clean it and found to my surprise a couple spots in the mesh that look like something has melted it. The cotton gauze has not been damaged too much yet, but the screen on one side has been melted in a couple of spots. The crankcase breather enters the airbox right below the air filter. I called Area Diesel Service up, which is where I purchased the filter, and the guy I talked to said that he had never heard of this happening either. He had me send the filter over to him, and he sent it on to K&N. A couple weeks went by, and he called me back, and said that he got the filter back, and they hadn't seen anything like it before either. Then he asked me if it had come in contact with the battery posts, which it has not. I have never set this filter down anywhere except in the airbox. He sent me back my filter along with a brand new K&N filter at no charge. Great customer service in my opinion!!





Has anybody ever heard of this type of problem happening with a K&N??? I wouldn't think that crankcase gases vented right below the filter would melt the mesh on a K&N!!

 

[atv98ah]

picture of problem spots on filter

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[Chipstien]

It is nice to see that some companies still believe in customer service.

 

[Steve M]

Unfortunately, that's the extent of K&N's warranty. If the defective filter would have done damage to your motor, you would have received a new filter and the engine damage would have been yours to pay for. It's in writing in K&N's warranty. Ford would have been off the hook since it it wasn't an OEM part that caused the damage. Fram, Wix and the like will and have paid for damage caused by a defective filter. Not downing the K&N. I'm sure they flow more air if more air is needed. But their warranty is nothing less than a smoke screen.

 

[sdalton]

Get rid of that thing and get a BHAF.

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by sdalton

Get rid of that thing and get a BHAF.

That's what I did.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

OK guys - let's get real here - AND a bit reasonable!



K&N at least replaced the filter...



IF your fancy BHAF suffers a similar problem, is the maker likely to replace it for free?



Will the engine maker replace or repair any possible engine damage caused by a BHAF failure? Does ANY aftermarket filter maker warrant their filters OR the engine they are installed on any BETTER than K&N in point of actual, proven FACT, not printed claim?



Tell us exactly HOW the BHAF is a "better" deal - or more protective of the customer than K&N was - and keep in mind, there HAVE been significant problems with BHAF installations as well...



Sometimes we get so eager to BASH, we lose all sense of reason and logic!

 

[bmoeller]

I got a BHAF because water was getting the filter wet when it rained. If you didn't get enough grease on the K&N seal it would let dirt get past it. I've been looking at the BHAF when ever I have the hood up and so far so good. Stays dry and with the turbo heat shield nothing has melted or anything like that. Turbo seems to spool up a little faster( didn't have the gauges on before so I didn't compare. You can hear it a little better too.

 

[sdalton]

Simple- With the BHAF I dont have the dust and grit problem anymore, and I can now sleep at night knowing my turbo and engine will last longer. 25,000 miles on my BHAF and the inside is clean as a whistle. The filter looks a little dusty but the filterminder hasnt budged a bit. Fuel milage has been overall better than with the K&N. No brand wars, just brand facts.

 

[Chipstien]

The manufacturer of the BHAF will not cover engine damage if a BHAF is installed in a application that does not call for that specific filter. This is straight from the manufacturers. Sorry to say that those thinking that their engines will be covered against damage while using a BHAF have been mislead. So in my book that makes the K&N every bit as good as the BHAF.

 

[Chipstien]

FWIW, my HY looked like new after 40000 miles with the K&N and there was not a spec of dust in the intake tract.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

YUP - same with the many K&N's I have running on past vehicles - including the '91 I sold after buying the new '02 - nearly 120,000 miles on the K&N - NO dust in the intake or turbo, great oil analysis - and as good a "warranty" on fiter and engine as ANY of the aftermarket filters provide...

 

[WKener]

I have considered trying a BHAF just for the heck of it, but I've never gotten around to it because I have almost 40K spot-free miles on my K&N. I have always had good experiences with K&N products, be it on my CTD, Jeep, Camaro, or F150. Yet to let me down, so I am satisfied

This doesn't mean I wouldn't want to try another filter... I always like upgrades I just thought I would add my . 02

Wes