K&N direct replacement air filters

KevMarks · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:37

Worth paying the high price tag for? My engine is a 1.9 turbo diesel.
Anybody actually took one out and washed it. Are they more hastle than they are worth?

I'm not talking about the cone filter things. Just the ones which go in your air box.

Dup · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:41

K&N filters are well known for being unrestrictive, but they also let in a lot of crap by all accounts. There is a well known test online somewhere with obvious results from different cone filters (which use the same materials more oless as panel filters).

Performance wise, neglegible. An engine wants nice cool torrent-free air into the filter to see any minute gain. The value of these drop-in filters is mainly the maintenance value that you don't need to replace them every year as they can be washed.

KevMarks · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:52

Will just buy one for a few quid then. Thanks for your help :-)

TaKeN · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:52

Might let the engine breath a little easier at the expense of letting abit more carp through as said above.

Also on a turbo diesel, surely there is little or no performance gains from using a 'Performance Filter'? as the air is going through the turbo which is going to heat it up! The only advantage would be less restriction allowing a bit more response.

A decent standard paperfilter from your dealer or local motorfactor is sufficient IMO.

Pete19s · 18 Mar 2009 at 16:27

KevMarks said:
Anybody actually took one out and washed it. Are they more hastle than they are worth?

Easy enough to clean and no need for the expensive cleaning kits either. Rinse under tap from the inside (clean) to the outside (dirty) to get rid of the crud, leave to dry then re-oil with WD-40 or similar. Never done me any harm.

TaKeN · 18 Mar 2009 at 16:35

Pete19s said:
Easy enough to clean and no need for the expensive cleaning kits either. Rinse under tap from the inside (clean) to the outside (dirty) to get rid of the crud, leave to dry then re-oil with WD-40 or similar. Never done me any harm.

WD-40

Your suposed to use proper K&N oil.. which I've got somewhere (from when I had a cone on the 205)

Matt82 · 18 Mar 2009 at 16:37

dont bother

its meant to be a FILTER. K&N ones really dont filter well, hold one up to the light and look though it, youll puke if youve had that on your car.

the airflow gain will net zero bhp

2Thumbs · 18 Mar 2009 at 16:41

Don't bother tbh.

Either a paper filter that's replaced often or go for an ITG filter.

Pete19s · 18 Mar 2009 at 17:01

TaKeN said:
WD-40

Your suposed to use proper K&N oil.. which I've got somewhere (from when I had a cone on the 205)

"Proper" K&N oil? The stuff that does exactly the same job but costs you a fortune?

2Thumbs · 18 Mar 2009 at 17:04

WD-40 isn't an oil.

Janesy B · 18 Mar 2009 at 17:08

Indeed, it is a Water Displacement spray and only has a tiny amount of oil in it.

WD = Water Displacement

Pete19s · 18 Mar 2009 at 17:08

Nope but from what I can remeber on of the main "ingredients" is. Still before this goes offtopic your better off saving your pennies as you wont see much if any gain.

Janesy B · 18 Mar 2009 at 17:09

Most of it is solvent and propellant, but most of it will evaporate away and leave the oil content behind.

It will do the job, K&N filter oil is a rip off anyway.

Matt82 · 18 Mar 2009 at 18:18

ive only ever played around wiht pipercross spray and its almost like glue

KevMarks · 19 Mar 2009 at 08:18

So they sell them on the as 'never buy another air filter' But really you have to buy a cleaning kit and special oil to clean it. which probably costs more than a new air filter anyway...

Matt82 · 19 Mar 2009 at 08:44

then you get a new engine because it doesnt filter properly

Duke · 19 Mar 2009 at 08:59

KevMarks said:
So they sell them on the as 'never buy another air filter' But really you have to buy a cleaning kit and special oil to clean it. which probably costs more than a new air filter anyway...

They come with a spray.

ShakenNstirred · 19 Mar 2009 at 09:41

as you have a diesel your better of using a dry filter, as you can get oil from the filter on the MAF

loltim · 19 Mar 2009 at 09:43

Matt82 said:
then you get a new engine because it doesnt filter properly

How many engines do you know of that failed due to a KN filter? (serious question).

Matt82 · 19 Mar 2009 at 09:57

i helped replace a 2.0 16v golf engine that had hopelessly low compression (it only had about 80k miles and had a lot less compression than mine 170-180k mile old engine). his had had a K&N filter for years. seriously worn engine (the bores anyway) and a k&n filter that you could see though when you held it up to the light.