K&N high flow vs. stock air filter

[CUMMINZ]

I just installed a new K&N high flow air filter in my custom factory air box with cold air intake. My stock filter has 11k miles on it and was reasonably clean. I have a bit more turbo noise and the overhead believe it or not has gone from about 13. 5 to 17. 6 on a trip to Charlotte and back. Judge for yourself. With this combination of mods and the MBRP 5" exhaust tip (DPF back) is a real combination the works for this 6. 7L.

The combination of K&N, custom cold air box and baffle removal is great.



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[DPKetchum]

Any engine issues and that K&N will blow any warranty. Do a SEARCH on K&N filters. Let me reword. K&N is not thought of in high reguards in the diesel truck world. I'm sure others will chime in. .

 

[cruiser_2]

Don't bother listening to DP as I have had a K&N air filter on my truck for over 400,000 miles... most of these fanbatics don't like WIX filters, but again almost 500,000 miles proves there is noting wrong with them You will find all kinds of opinions here some are very good and some don't hold water.

DP is right in one respect is that any issues with your engine and the cheap *******s at dodge will do their best to not honor your warranty.

 

[DPKetchum]

Hey I'm not the only one and I didn't do the testing. K&Ns flow really well. They also filter really poor. Lets see whom else chimes in. I also did not make a approved and NON approved oil filter list. Cummins did. Wonder why?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

K&N in a nutshell: Flows good, filtering quality is iffy, some have good results with them, often times guys do not. Quality is pretty inconsistent. Maybe they're better than they used to be but the RE0880 filter I had once let a lot of dust through.

If you run K&N keep a close eye on the intake hose (do a white glove test) and oil sampling wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[GSchlegel]

Cruiser_2, I have to agree with you. I have had the same 0880 filter in my truck for the last 5+ years and 150,000 + miles. I occassionally check the intake and it is always clean and dry.



I haven't joined the forum in a long time, but in the past the people who complained the most were the ones that never got close to even 100,000 miles on their trucks.



These things are so tough you could probably get 100,000 miles with just cheese cloth for a filter. (Just trying to make a point, don't try this at home!)

 

[DPKetchum]

Theres been plenty of posts over the years of dusted engines and declained warrantys over air filters. I've been on this site a long time. I've used K&N many moons ago. Studies and posts about differant products and which ones to be aware of. If all your concerned about is 100k (some have been less) then fine. Lot of vendors on these sites only sell certain products for a reason. Air and oil filters fall into better be safe then sorry area. Theres even a push to get away from OILED air filters for a reason. Sometimes some of the newbies entering these sites think they know so much more then others that have been involved since 93/94 and have read the tales of woe. Three things are always mentioned to new owners/new to these diesel sites. You play YOU pay. Beware of Fram and other less quality oil filters and K&N has never been thought much of. It gets so theres not much point in suggesting a reason why to be aware of some things. Rather sit back and one day read a post about a preventable issue with a sheepish grin. Thats all I was doing. Heck its your truck,use what ever product you want.

 

[Bobcatpat]

I had a K&N in my '02. Was at the dealer one day for some work. The mechanic had noticed my K&N and warned me that he had recently been to a seminar or whatever where the specifically warned against the use of these filters in my truck. I think one of the issues is the possibility of excess oil on the turbo fins from an over oiled filter. But also, I think the filtering ability of the filter was thought to be questionables. I changed to a bhaf!

 

[BHolm]

As mentioned, you do not have to believe what you read here. The horror stories about K&N filters are all over the web. Those advocating them are few and far between. I will echo what the others have said. Independant tests show flow improvements as a severe cost to filtration. Now depending on your use, it may not be an issue at all. If it is nothing more than a pavement pounder you may get 400k miles with no issues. On the oher hand it has been proven several times that the filtration is not what it is with a stock filter.



When I chose a higher flow filter for my truck, filtration was first, then flow. I went with a product that was designed and tested to meet or exceed factory specs. It flows better and sounds cool too! There are several companies out there offering good filtration with good air flow, K&N just isn't one of them.



Of course this was very important to me because I run lots of dirt roads in the summer. I like remote camping in Moab which means lots of fine sand blowing around. With our dirty dusty roads I would have stayed stock if I could not have found decent fitration in the aftermarket. I'm not sure about the 6. 7s but the airbox on the 5. 9, with a stock filter in it, will flow well enough to make 500hp. Should be more than adequate for a stock truck.



Good Luck

 

[NMcCoy]

This test may answer some questions



Technical Articles: Debunking the K&N Myth - Why OEM is Better

 

[CUMMINZ]

My dealer has said that several months ago he got instructions from DC that warrantys would be declined for use of complete installations of aftermarket air systems. He has seen nothing to single out a manufacturer of the element themselves. He said you may install any element. The box my K&N came in states will not void warranty.



CUMMINZ

 

[bnbrown]

I personally tried K&N when I first bought my '99, kept an eye on the intake tube and turbo fins, was fine while I was just running up and down the hiway... when I started hitting the dirt roads the K&N hit the trash can and went to a BHAF. The K&N had let all kinds of dust and oil (original factory oiling) through, turbo was coated, intake tube was about as clean as the tire... I live back 11 miles on dirt roads now.
But as they say, each to their own, if it works for you, use it.

 

[DavidBentley]

Cumminz, nice job on this post. Great pics!. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[CKelley1]

it did not take very long for a K&N to ruin one of our 5. 9's

 

[BHolm]

it did not take very long for a K&N to ruin one of our 5. 9's

But hey, the box it came in said it wouldn't void the warranty



Good Luck with it.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Here is my Blackstone report, Been using K&N since it was a month old. Mine works fine, silicone(dirt) levels nice and low.

 

[BHolm]

Thats great!



Since it is a 2wd truck can we assume it spends pretty much all of its time on the road?



Do you have a comparison to a stock paper filter?

 

[Jeepstang]

I don't think they check for dirt in the oil do they?

 

[p-Bar]

I don't think they check for dirt in the oil do they?

Thats what the report is by Ram4Sam look at the silicone # it's basically dirt

 

[Ram4Sam]

I don't think they check for dirt in the oil do they?

Dirt past an air filter shows up as silicone in the oil, so yes, it does.



Holm, don't get your undies in a bunch over this. Of course it spends most of the time on the road, commuting, towing, etc. But two or three times a year I go to the off road races near Barstow. Spend the day running around on power line roads, in the Mojave desert, between race pits, in some serious dust and dirt. Not a lot of miles in the big picture, but some.



As far as a paper filter, swapped out mine when new so I have no idea how well a paper filter does. In the far right column on the oil report there is a universal average number, my guess is that is where the paper filters are.



For me, oiled gauzed filters work fine, verified by science, not internet he said-she said, speculation, or rumors. I know mine works, maybe you should sample your oil the next time you change it and see how well your filter works.



Sam