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k&N filter vs. paper filter

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Old Oct 8, 2009 | 07:03 PM
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Default k&N filter vs. paper filter

hey, i was wondering if a k&N air filter will actually give me any hp over a cheap autozone paper filter? is it worth $60? and will a p&p throttle body give me any good hp gains?
thanks
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Old Oct 8, 2009 | 07:09 PM
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supposedly running no filter at all vs air filter is a 1-3hp difference so i would doubt the K&N would do anything at all power-wise. the real benefit is that you can clean it so you never have to replace it. there are also debates about whether they actually filter as well as paper and whether the oil used to clean them messes up the MAF but i don't know if there's any truth to either of those.

you'll feel a difference in throttle response with a ported tb and pick up a few hp. if you're handy with a dremel just DIY and you'll save yourself some money
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Old Oct 8, 2009 | 07:09 PM
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I like the K/N because you can wash them so you will get your money back over time. But as far as a power gain not realy. A P/P throttle body is worth a few HP. If your looking for some more power... Might be time for a cam.
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Old Oct 8, 2009 | 07:38 PM
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The K&N is NOT worth it. I just took mine out and relplaced it with a Fram paper filter. There are threads on here about paper filters out filtering a k&n and how the oil on the k&n filter can and will come off and clog your maf but I dont have them handy right now. Also the guy that tunes my car did a dyno test with a k&n, stock paper filter, and no filter at all and they all made the same power and he has a 485HP head and cam car. Another thing that turns me away from a k&n is they are about $60. A paper filter (Fram in my case) is about $10. You are recomended to replace a paper filter every 15000 miles. I put about 5000 miles a year on my car. That being said, It would take me 12 years if im correct to start saving money with the washable k&n. Just my 2cents
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Old Oct 8, 2009 | 08:30 PM
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If you over-oil it then it is more restrictive as well. What's paying $10 for a paper filter and never having to do guesswork with re-oiling it?
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Old Oct 8, 2009 | 09:40 PM
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I had one becuase it was like an extra $20 bucks or something when I bought my lid. That being said it isn't even on there anymore. I just run paper frams and replace them like 5k miles. I have a the free ram air mod done and it makes the filters dirty. Even thought I highly doubt the dirt I am seeing on the Frams is restricting them in anyway I still replace them becuase they cheap. My K&N made my MAF all oily and I never cleaned it or oiled it. All facotry oiling.
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Old Oct 8, 2009 | 09:41 PM
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I had one becuase it was like an extra $20 bucks or something when I bought my lid. That being said it isn't even on there anymore. I just run paper frams and replace them like 5k miles. I have a the free ram air mod done and it makes the filters dirty. Even thought I highly doubt the dirt I am seeing on the Frams is restricting them in anyway I still replace them becuase they cheap. My K&N made my MAF all oily and I never cleaned it or oiled it. All factory oiling.
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Old Oct 8, 2009 | 09:51 PM
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I would just run the fram, or the AMSoil cleanable dry filter.
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Old Oct 8, 2009 | 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by speedfreak2685
The K&N is NOT worth it. I just took mine out and relplaced it with a Fram paper filter. There are threads on here about paper filters out filtering a k&n and how the oil on the k&n filter can and will come off and clog your maf but I dont have them handy right now. Also the guy that tunes my car did a dyno test with a k&n, stock paper filter, and no filter at all and they all made the same power and he has a 485HP head and cam car. Another thing that turns me away from a k&n is they are about $60. A paper filter (Fram in my case) is about $10. You are recomended to replace a paper filter every 15000 miles. I put about 5000 miles a year on my car. That being said, It would take me 12 years if im correct to start saving money with the washable k&n. Just my 2cents
only if you over oil them, ive never had any issue with my k n filter. no oil in my maf.
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Old Oct 9, 2009 | 08:59 AM
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okay thanks guys guess ill be sticking to my paper filter then. how bout the ported tb. has anyone done one themself or is it not even worth wasting my time/money on
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Old Oct 9, 2009 | 09:04 AM
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Ported tb makes a huge difference in throttle response, but I didn't see anything at the track from it. The throttle response alone makes it well worth it, IMO.
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Old Oct 9, 2009 | 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by RevGTO
Ported tb makes a huge difference in throttle response, but I didn't see anything at the track from it. The throttle response alone makes it well worth it, IMO.
A ported and polished TB will make 5 HP maybe 6 HP and better throttle response...it is very hard to feel or measure 5 HP at the track...might be good for one, two, or three hundreds of a second on your ET and you know that anything can vary a ET that small number. But it all adds up in the end...no such thing as too much HP/TQ ... so do it you will not be sorry ...
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Old Oct 9, 2009 | 09:52 AM
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ok, it sounds like a good mod then, just for the better throttle response. did you guys port it yourself or send it out and have it ported?
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Old Oct 9, 2009 | 09:54 AM
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do it yourself, there's a lot of good writeups on it
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Old Oct 9, 2009 | 10:05 AM
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Originally Posted by ls1curt
ok, it sounds like a good mod then, just for the better throttle response. did you guys port it yourself or send it out and have it ported?
I had BriancWS6 port mine and he did a great job.
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Old Oct 9, 2009 | 11:05 AM
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i also wondered the same thing. i had my K & N filter for a good year or 2.. i ended up just throwing it away and picking up a brand new fram air filter. i doubt that i would even notice a difference.
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Old Oct 9, 2009 | 01:51 PM
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I've had a K&N filter on my car for over 5 years. I've never had a problem with it. You just can't go nuts when you re-oil it and you'll be ok.
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Old Oct 9, 2009 | 04:09 PM
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Sorry kind of off topic, but if a porting a TB makes 5 hp, how much does a porting an intake manifold normally make?
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 09:34 AM
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i decided to port it last night, took quite a bit of material off and smoothed it out. didnt get a chance to really get on it cause it started raining but now its done and didnt cost me anything
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 10:09 AM
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Ive done a comparison on k+n v.s. paper filter v.s. no filter. on a dyno and the numbers were very different. i gained 17 hp with a k+n filter compared to a paper filter. and it was about the same with no filter on it but obviously you all kow not to do that. i run one in my car and have since i got it, making my own pulls on our dyno showed me all the difference i needed to see. id go with a k+n all the way.
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