Air Filters (Oiled vs. Paper)
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 48
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From: Fort Lewis, WA 98433
Air Filters (Oiled vs. Paper) I have been hearing a lot of stuff about oiled air filters (i.e. K&N) verses paper. 
What’s the real truth? 
Do oil filters coat the MAF sensors making it throwing codes and are they worth the money for the 2 or 3 extra points gained with horsepower. And do paper filters really suck all that bad. 
Mastronardi
What’s the real truth? Do oil filters coat the MAF sensors making it throwing codes and are they worth the money for the 2 or 3 extra points gained with horsepower. And do paper filters really suck all that bad. Mastronardi
I've used Fram since day one for my car. I've never seen a car gain HP from K&N or other filter, but some say they have. I've never seen hard data showing a performance filter flow better than paper. It comes down to personal choice.
The oil from oiled filters can accumulate on the MAF elements over time and cause problems. I usually clean mine every so often with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol.
The oil from oiled filters can accumulate on the MAF elements over time and cause problems. I usually clean mine every so often with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol.
The air filter on an LS1 F-body has enough surface area that it doesn't create enough pressure drop accross it to hider the airflow into the engine.
You will see no gain with a K&N / Holley style filter over a paper filter. I had a K&N and sold it. It fit bad (w/ the gasket thing) and made no more (or less) power than the Fram that is in the car now.
Spend your money on another mod.
You will see no gain with a K&N / Holley style filter over a paper filter. I had a K&N and sold it. It fit bad (w/ the gasket thing) and made no more (or less) power than the Fram that is in the car now.
Spend your money on another mod.
Overoiling is supposed to be the problem with the
oiled filters. But any oil is more than none and a
clean MAF is a happy MAF, and probably happier
than one that has been to the prison shower.
And it's hard to know whether your MAF oil came
from the right kind of snake.
oiled filters. But any oil is more than none and a
clean MAF is a happy MAF, and probably happier
than one that has been to the prison shower.
And it's hard to know whether your MAF oil came
from the right kind of snake.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 559
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From: Garden City, Michigan
Originally Posted by Ed FvC
Any good paper filter will flow as well as a reusable filter, and without any chance of oil messing with the MAF, why waste money on a K&N?
Dan
Trending Topics
Originally Posted by Ed FvC
Any good paper filter will flow as well as a reusable filter, and without any chance of oil messing with the MAF, why waste money on a K&N?
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On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 112
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From: Central FL
Getting a K&N has been the one mod I regret on my car. I say that even though mine seals fine with my SLP lid and I don't have a problem with the MAF because I don't overoil it. It's still a pain in the *** to clean and reoil it, it's no cheaper than buying a new paper filter over the life of the car (cleaning/oiling kits only last about three jobs, so it's a wash with new paper filters), and there's no real difference in power.
It was one of those things I tacked on to a large order of basic bolt-ons when I bought my car, but I wish I'd saved the money.
It was one of those things I tacked on to a large order of basic bolt-ons when I bought my car, but I wish I'd saved the money.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 559
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From: Garden City, Michigan
Originally Posted by Carvinta
Don't the oil filters trap more minute particles. :dunno
Dan
TECH Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
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I have no flow bench test results, but I bought a K&N LS1 filter in 1998 and I've used it in three cars cleaning it and re-oiling it several times since. I don't have a problem with it and I can actually feel the difference for a short time once I actually clean it.
Takes a couple of hours to do so, but I trust it and I don't see any accumulation of crud on my MAF.
I did do some general dyno tests between GM, Fram and K&N way back when and the K&N flowed better. Not a big deal, mind you, but I like mine and like I said, have moved it from my '98 Formula to my '99 Trans Am to my '02 Firehawk Trans Am with no issues.
Takes a couple of hours to do so, but I trust it and I don't see any accumulation of crud on my MAF.
I did do some general dyno tests between GM, Fram and K&N way back when and the K&N flowed better. Not a big deal, mind you, but I like mine and like I said, have moved it from my '98 Formula to my '99 Trans Am to my '02 Firehawk Trans Am with no issues.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 393
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From: Tucson, AZ
Originally Posted by Mastronardi
I have been hearing a lot of stuff about oiled air filters (i.e. K&N) verses paper. What’s the real truth? Do oil filters coat the MAF sensors making it throwing codes and are they worth the money for the 2 or 3 extra points gained with horsepower. And do paper filters really suck all that bad.
Mastronardi
What’s the real truth? Do oil filters coat the MAF sensors making it throwing codes and are they worth the money for the 2 or 3 extra points gained with horsepower. And do paper filters really suck all that bad. Mastronardi
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4
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From: Nebraska
DO NOT BUY K&N if you can help it. My friend bought his car (01 SS Slomaro) with one on it, and we put the car on the dyno, and since the maf was dirty from the oil, it was way too lean and it was pinging. Bad news. So we cleaned up the maf and replaced it with a paper air filter and gained about 5 hp. Good thing he hadnt ran nitrous yet, because he was about to, but decided to tune it before we did.
