Who has had problems with their K&N Air Filter??

[sdalton]

I have seen many threads on people who like the K&N filters and those who dont. I had nothing but problems with mine, involving oil and grit on the turbo blades. The factory did the oiling. BHAF solved all the problems.

 

[Briar Hopper]

Not criticizing, sdalton, but you left out a common problem, in fact the most critical one, that has to do with K & N filters being used in the stock air box . They do not seal around the edges, and that little tube of Superlube you're supposed to put on there doesn't even make contact with the airbox lid! In addition, the metal screen came out of mine, and the filter was starting to come apart.

 

[Ted Constantine]

I am with Briar. i chose no problems because the only issue I ever had with my k&n in the stock box was when it was not sealing well. A litttle foam tape fixed that easily.

 

[hdm48]

On my first gen I have no problems and no FOD. I build Racing Engines for M/C, ATV, Sandrails, Snowmobiles, Mini Sprints, Hovercraft, Ect. and as long as the filter is sealed at it's 'sealing points' the K&N filter is the best filter out there. I have tried ALL other brands.

If you guys are having sealing problems I would go to K&N's web site and let them know or call them. This sounds like an issue that they should know about but maybe nobody has told them there is a problem or something is missing from the kit you got.

I'd call them.



good luck --dave--

 

[tragicwagon]

Im with Briar too,turbo black,and oily,the screen didnt come out but I held it up between me and the big bright ball and there were 8 or 10 holes in it about the size of a pencil lead,so I trashed it and installed the BHAF.

 

[EShaw]

I've had NO PROBLEMS... ..... checked it when I changed oil/filter.

I have used K & N air filters since 1984 on all my engines(TOYS)

Eric

 

[GSchlegel]

I also have had NO problems with K&N. My truck has put close to 150,000 miles on using the airbox K&N and around 5,000 miles with the 0880. No oil or dust in the intake horn or on the silancer ring. The ring is so dry its showing signs of oxidation. Maybe it needs a little oil!!!



Gene

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

My factory oiled, very very well sealed RE-0880 did a lousy job of filtering the fine dust in this area. It let so much dust through I could wipe my finger inside the intake hose and it came out filthy gritty brown. This was with the red foam prefilter that was lightly oiled. Going to the Amsoil filter box unit cured the problem.



Most K&Ns are probably good but there is no question there are bad ones out there!!



Vaughn

 

[EShaw]

Vaughn,

You've brought up a very interesting point, it's possible that the gauze fabric that they use has a consistency problem. I think that perhaps you should contact K & N and send it back for them to check out... ... . Nothing is perfect all the time..... Maybe it will result in different Q. C. procedures... ...

Eric

 

[illflem]

I have many trouble free miles with K&Ns but have noticed inconsistencies with the factory oil job. Too heavy in some areas and misses on others, no doubt the oil is applied by hand at the factory by minimum wage employees who don't give a durn. Just service yourself before the first install following K&N's instructions to the letter.

 

[Rammin On]

Just out of curiosity ... Illflem ... what do you base your inconsistencies on? Do you but a bunch of these filters?

 

[illflem]

I've probably installed around ten new K&Ns on Rams alone, at least half were over oiled. An 0880 was so soaked it dripped, the plastic shipping wrap had a puddle in it. One airbox type showed white on one side of the pleats like the oil was sprayed on at an angle from one side. I noticed this at the counter of the auto parts and pointed it out to the to the counter man, all of them he had in stock were like that. I still bought it, but he threw in a free service kit with it. I still think they are a great filter, just poor quality control.

 

[sdalton]

Only 70 votes so far. Not very many users here. 21% with problems. That is still not a good percentage. I wonder what the percentage of happy BHAF customers are, and Amsoil customers are. Better yet, what percentage of these and stock air filter customers have oil and grit contamination are.

 

[Texas Diesel]

I used to be Mr anti-K&N till someone gave me one to try. First observations:

more turbo whistle, lower EGT's, definately faster spool-up.



No dust inside the air intake but I coated the top (clean side) of the filter with grease, no oily grit so far on turbo blades, but there was black stuff on the tips of the blades with the OEM filter.



I really soaked mine with oil but let it sit in the sun for a couple of days to "dry" out.



I'll keep checking it and will know (for myself) in a few more thousand miles especially through the dusty summer.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I've had a few K&N's on different vehicles and had no problems to date. Mine don't last the mileage like they claim, but I do live on a dirt road.

 

[JLEONARD]

I just changed to a 16 cm housing this weekend..... had the intake hose off and inspected it and the turbine for evidence of contaminates after using the K & N for about 6 months.

None found. I have the K & N installed in the factory airbox. It seals perfcectly as far as I could tell.

The K & N also helped the engine run much better than with the stock filter... ... all the traces of smoke completely disappeared after the installation .

 

[Steve M]

I have no problem whatsoever with the K&N filter. I do have a problem with K&N's warranty. It states in writing that K&N WILL NOT be held responsible if the filter fails and results in damage to the motor. The million mile warranty only covers replacement of the filter element. Fram on the other hand, with it's problems and claims that they have paid on in honor of their warranty like WIX had to do a few years back, states in writing that they WILL cover damage to the engine if caused by a failure of thier filter. And they have done so. I will not use a Fram oil filter. Not even the new revised filter with the problem said to be resolved. But a Fram air filter fits the stock airbox and seals perfectly. I like the filter media in a Fram air filter too. Best of all, I like thier warranty. There has been no documented reports of failed Fram air filters on stock Dodge Cummins engines.

If K&N decides to change their written warranty to cover damage that a failed filter caused, I'll buy one today. As it's written now, they don't have enough faith in their own product for me to trust it. It can't even be trusted to fit and seal in the stock air box that it's designed to go in...

 

[sdalton]

It just seems as though the quality control of K&N isnt what it should be. I too like the idea that K&N has but the failure of mine scared me away from their products. What might work better is a two stage filter system. The first barrier for larger particles and the second for fine dust. But that might restrict the airflow too much.

 

[mimprevento]

K &N

I had mine in for 7000 miles before going to the BHAF and Jasons mount- box was clean as well as intake hose inside as far as I could see- but it was already streaked with black on the intake side- I think they are fine but I think other set-ups discussed here are probably better and I really like the BHAF so far

 

[Boost]

I had a K&N in the stock airbox on my 01 for about 30k miles. When I traded it I noticed that the aluminium on the turbo, just on the side that is closest to the engine, which would be on the outside of the bend in the hose connecting the airbox with the turbo seemed to be "sandblasted" it had a good amount of aluminium missing. Whether it was a casting flaw or not I dont know. I did not notice it before though. I did not see any oil or anything else on the turbo blades, nor did they look affected at all. But I did not put the K&N on my new truck and never will. If anyone wants it PM me and I'll send it to you. I now have a BHAF and am happy with it. I have tried to stay away from the K&N debates, but this is my experience with that filter.



Rob