Should I keep it: K&N

[Boaring1961]

I just bought a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab 4wd to replace my 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Regular Cab 4wd. I need a quad cab due to a new baby and since I loved my 2005 so much I bought another one with 66,000 miles on it. Now I got to sell the regular cab.



Question is this... the quad cab came with a K&N air filter on and I was thinking of going back to stock air filters. The reason is from my experience with re-useable filters that have to be oiled, result in oil and dirt/grime collecting in the air box and down the intake tube. What are folks opinion on keeping the K&N or going back to stock Fleetguard air filters?



The previous owner also cut holes in the bottom of the air box for more air intake. Shall I replace the air box or just leave it. I hunt quite a bit and the roads out west can be a dust cloud driving down them.



This truck definitely has more power than my other 2005 and I'm not sure if it has to do with the air filter and holes.

 

[MChrist]

I've used K&Ns on my trucks and never experienced the "dusting" in the intake you and everybody else speaks about, probably because I don't drive in dusty conditions. I'm also very particular with the oiling process. I've gone as far as placing a dab of clear grease in the intake after the filter to see if any dust shows up on the grease. It is as clear as the day I put it there, so I feel comfortable with that.
That said, in dusty conditions, I would stick with stock paper filters. They keep more dust out of the engine due to their filtering efficiency rating.

 

[JJPage]

This truck definitely has more power than my other 2005 and I'm not sure if it has to do with the air filter and holes.

No, the filter and holes would hardly make a noticeable difference in the SOP meter.

 

[ABennin]

I have never used a drop in filter for the stock air box, but I have a K&N FIPK kit and have had zero issues. Over oiling is the worst thing for these filters. I don't run in the dust too much, mostly interstate. If you plan to keep the truck stock, I'd stay with a stock filter for dusty conditions.

Maybe the previous owner had a programmer. I did not feel any difference in power when I put on my K&N.

 

[rscurtis]

I've said this before and I think it's worth repeating: If the K&N was so good, it would be standard equipment on OTR trucks, construction equipment, portable air compressors and OPE small engines.



According to some of the performance guru's on the TDR, the stock filter assembly can support about 500HP. The K&N gives you nothing more than a possible lesson on Murphy's Law.

 

[Simplysmn]

If K&N filter's were so great for Diesel's then they would be used alot more the general Rule is Stay away from the oiled filter's because they tend to suck the oil from the filter into the turbo and Intake system there is no Power increase what so ever when using the oiled filter IMO your better off leaving the filter stock it's better for the motor that way

 

[Boaring1961]

Thanks guys. That was where I was heading and glad for some support. I'll get rid of the K&N and go back to the Fleetguard filters.

**For sale - K&N Filter that fits 2005 Dodge Ram 2500, lol!**

 

[JR]

I think ya started WWIII my friend:-laf

Ive used K&N on my mustang and an IROC I had a while back and they were great filters in that application. I think that is what they are intended for, street applications. Youll never see an oil element as an oem filter because of the maintenance requirements and liabilities from people not maintaining them properly. Paper has better all around filtration and any dummy can swap em out for a new one. If you were on the road all the time youd probably be fine but if your getting in the dust better to stick with factory box.

 

[JJPage]

If the K&N was so good, it would be standard equipment on OTR trucks, construction equipment, portable air compressors and OPE small engines.

Not if the automaker/manufacturer had to pay a single penny over a paper filter... not defending nor crucifying K&N or any other oiled or dry filter, responsible maintenance is a must.
That statement rscurtis, is equivalent to saying "if Bilstein shocks are so good"... no argument, just saying .

 

[SierraRam]

I have an AFE filter and properly maintain it. Never had an issue with oil or dirt entering the intake tract. Use it off road in the dust and sand. Love it and would never go back to the stock paper filter. I seem to be in the silent minority and know I will be told how wrong I am. Just stating my experience and opinion.

 

[DogramTD]

Mopars "new filter design" (as of 2 years ago) has much deeper pleats; Genos or your local dealer sells it. I had an AFE on my truck, then swapped to the amsoil dry filter and finally ended up with the stock redesigned Mopar filter... perfectly happy with it. I have seen as much as 50 lbs/boost and didnt move my filter minder.

 

[JJPage]

I have an AFE filter and properly maintain it. Never had an issue with oil or dirt entering the intake tract. Use it off road in the dust and sand. Love it and would never go back to the stock paper filter. I seem to be in the silent minority and know I will be told how wrong I am. Just stating my experience and opinion.

Sierra, I also have an AFE oiled filter, this is my second one, but an AFE has been on my truck since it left Dishman Dodge's lot brand new. I have an Amsoil Nano that I use while servicing my AFE, it is not as stout but seems to do the job, never have had any dusting or oil messing up my ambient/mass air sensor.

In the past I have used K&N's on two gas vehicles(86 Ford F150, 94 Bronco) without issue, however on my ATV's the K&N's were awful, even with an outerwear, they passed dust into the carburetor slide and eventually the piston and cylinder walls. Had I not been very diligent in my maintenance, results from using a K&N on my ATV's would have been disastrous.

Poor maintenance practices with a paper filter will also net carnage.

 

[JR]

Sierra, I also have an AFE oiled filter, this is my second one, but an AFE has been on my truck since it left Dishman Dodge's lot brand new. I have an Amsoil Nano that I use while servicing my AFE, it is not as stout but seems to do the job, never have had any dusting or oil messing up my ambient/mass air sensor.

In the past I have used K&N's on two gas vehicles(86 Ford F150, 94 Bronco) without issue, however on my ATV's the K&N's were awful, even with an outerwear, they passed dust into the carburetor slide and eventually the piston and cylinder walls. Had I not been very diligent in my maintenance, results from using a K&N on my ATV's would have been disastrous.

Wasnt your factory air filter oiled? Every machine ive owned had an oiled element including my current 05 honda rincon. They are pretty stout filters from my experiences as long as you keep them cleaned and oiled. Im tough on my machine and it sees pretty extreme conditions i generally clean mine twice a year and have had good results.

 

[rscurtis]

Not if the automaker/manufacturer had to pay a single penny over a paper filter... not defending nor crucifying K&N or any other oiled or dry filter, responsible maintenance is a must.

That statement rscurtis, is equivalent to saying "if Bilstein shocks are so good"... no argument, just saying .

Cost is not a factor when you're talking about a $150,000 truck or a million $ bulldozer. The life of the equipment is more important, without depending on the skill or diligence of the person servicing the air filter. If you're going to take a risk (using a K&N or other oiled filter), there has to be an upside over the stock filter. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see what it is.

 

[SierraRam]

Cost, Performance and sustainability to name three. Everyone may argue these points but I made my educated decision based on the facts at hand. These facts seem to get more and more confusing as time (and great marketing) go on. I know we ge a lot of feed back on how oiled after market filters allow dust to pass through, and then we get feed back that they don't. We never do know how the truck and filters are maintained?

 

[Jim W]

I know this is a marketing news letter from Cummins, which I get every month from them. But they do have science and testing backing up their data which Cummins has put out for us to review and understand why the Fleetgaurd air filter is the best option. See the below links that I have provided.


http://turbodiesel.cumminsnewsletters.com/2012/10/the-importance-of-cleaning-your-air-filter/

http://turbodiesel.cumminsnewslette...s-archives-the-effect-of-dust-on-your-engine/

You can use what you like but from an engineering and design perspective the Fleetgaurd air filter is the best option for our engines based on test data that is provided.
Jim W.

 

[JJPage]

Wasnt your factory air filter oiled? Every machine ive owned had an oiled element including my current 05 honda rincon. They are pretty stout filters from my experiences as long as you keep them cleaned and oiled. Im tough on my machine and it sees pretty extreme conditions i generally clean mine twice a year and have had good results.

You are correct, my factory ATV filters were a foam oiled filter. I had changed them out to K&N's expecting better performance and a better fit in the airbox, Yamaha's filter/airbox design was terrible. I ended up going back to a double foam oiled filter that was a "clamp on", as opposed to a "slide in".

 

[JJPage]

Cost is not a factor when you're talking about a $150,000 truck or a million $ bulldozer.

Probably not to an owner as far as maintenance, but if you believe cost is not a factor to the manufacturer, I disagree. Our trucks arrive with less than adequate fuel filtration, lousy shocks, cheap seat material, just to name a few.



Now as far as the OEM paper air filter, it is a good sufficient filter, I do not believe they cheaped out in that respect.

 

[AH64ID]

Good call on switching back, but don't get the 2" Fleetguard, go to the dealer and get the 4" Mopar filter. The 4" filter is as good as it gets for the OEM box.

 

[Boaring1961]

I was always under the impression that the Fleetguard stuff was much better than the Mopar stuff. Is this not the case?