K&N oil filter failure...beware
01-20-2016, 06:59 PM
#103
I think the synthetic media allows a filter to continue a good flow rate throughout it's lifespan. A regular filter will have more reduced flow rate. This is why OTR trucks have a longer OCI.
Yes, all makers have a cheap filter.
So, what was known as The Synthetic from Purolator is no longer made? Their Boss filter is it now? If this is the case, I'll get and open The Boss, no use doing a filter no longer made.
I'd like to clarify something you said, Purolator makes K&N & Mobil1?
Yes, all makers have a cheap filter.
So, what was known as The Synthetic from Purolator is no longer made? Their Boss filter is it now? If this is the case, I'll get and open The Boss, no use doing a filter no longer made.
I'd like to clarify something you said, Purolator makes K&N & Mobil1?
10-02-2016, 06:35 AM
#106
Staging Lane
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The K@N filter I fitted at the start of the year leaked as soon as I started the car, so i tightened it a bit harder and it still leaked, but less. I then tightened it harder than i would have expected and it now seals, but in over 40 years of experience I've never needed to do that. Perhaps the rubber seal is a harder compound than normal and that's why there is the hex on the base. i won't be using them again in my imminent oil change.
Pete
Pete
10-02-2016, 07:04 PM
#107
The K@N filter I fitted at the start of the year leaked as soon as I started the car, so i tightened it a bit harder and it still leaked, but less. I then tightened it harder than i would have expected and it now seals, but in over 40 years of experience I've never needed to do that. Perhaps the rubber seal is a harder compound than normal and that's why there is the hex on the base. i won't be using them again in my imminent oil change.
Pete
Pete
Pete, off topic but that Morris Minor in your avatar looks mega cool, there wouldn't be too many around that look that good, is it yours?
Jason.
10-03-2016, 11:45 AM
#109
When I purchased my car a few years ago I searched and inquired about oil and got some feedback on filters too, that I wasn't looking for. I just always assumed Fram was the "good" filter and have used them on everything I have owned just like my father and grand father. I also assumed that the K&N and Mobil1 type filters were a load of BS. Now I run an AC Delco on my trans am because that's what "you guys" told me to do. Now I'm confused.
As far as the OP's OP goes, yes it is a little harsh to bash a company and its product based on one experience and give no evidence to support it. Then again, we kind of rely on one another for information and experience so if he says it's a POS then I'll stay away from it. There are some pretty eyebrow raising noobs on here now and then, but for the most part we're all car guys with some, though varying levels of, experience.
I over tighten oil filters BTW. That's bad. But I do wipe the surface if the engine, fill the new filter with oil and lube the new ring with it as well. That's good. I have never had a filter leak, never heard of anyone of my friends or family experiencing a leak.
As far as the OP's OP goes, yes it is a little harsh to bash a company and its product based on one experience and give no evidence to support it. Then again, we kind of rely on one another for information and experience so if he says it's a POS then I'll stay away from it. There are some pretty eyebrow raising noobs on here now and then, but for the most part we're all car guys with some, though varying levels of, experience.
I over tighten oil filters BTW. That's bad. But I do wipe the surface if the engine, fill the new filter with oil and lube the new ring with it as well. That's good. I have never had a filter leak, never heard of anyone of my friends or family experiencing a leak.
10-03-2016, 11:51 AM
#110
That "made in china" bandwagon is so cliche these days. Consider the fact that 90% of all the products you own are made overseas, and probably more then 50% of those are made in china, the anti china sentiment makes me laugh. I'd also consider the fact that alot of the parts made in the USA are equally junk half the time as well. I look at the quality and track record of the product, not the mfg country. I put little faith in an american union worker on a friday night trying to get out of work early producing my products in the same manner I put little faith in the mexican sweatshop producing alot of OEM GM parts, and the chinese rip off brands that cut out every possible safety implementation in a product to sell it at a fraction of the cost.
There can't be such a large Made in China stigma for no reason.
10-03-2016, 11:54 AM
#111
I believe the OP's leak came from a bad spot weld on the can nut. I'm sure it's a very rare problem with K&N filters but it is a place where problems can pop up.
Years ago, I was solid user of AC-Delco filters but as ACDelco now exists outside of GM as a group of sub contractors, it's not the same. This was after the 2008 GM bankruptcy. ACDelco filters today are known to often be made by Fram and are no better.
Years ago, I was solid user of AC-Delco filters but as ACDelco now exists outside of GM as a group of sub contractors, it's not the same. This was after the 2008 GM bankruptcy. ACDelco filters today are known to often be made by Fram and are no better.
Last edited by Paul Bell; 10-03-2016 at 12:24 PM.
10-03-2016, 02:48 PM
#112
I believe the OP's leak came from a bad spot weld on the can nut. I'm sure it's a very rare problem with K&N filters but it is a place where problems can pop up.
Years ago, I was solid user of AC-Delco filters but as ACDelco now exists outside of GM as a group of sub contractors, it's not the same. This was after the 2008 GM bankruptcy. ACDelco filters today are known to often be made by Fram and are no better.
Years ago, I was solid user of AC-Delco filters but as ACDelco now exists outside of GM as a group of sub contractors, it's not the same. This was after the 2008 GM bankruptcy. ACDelco filters today are known to often be made by Fram and are no better.
10-03-2016, 03:10 PM
#113
I've never used them myself but one of the guys here at work asked me if I knew anything about them because he had an issue. He said the first one leaked as soon as he cranked his car. He yanked if off and went back to the parts store and got another one and that one started leaking after a week and when he went to remove it with the "nut" on the bottom it tore out the bottom of the filter. He asked what I use and I said WIX...or sometimes the Mobil 1 brand.
10-03-2016, 09:14 PM
#115
+1 for Wix filters here as well. I won't run any other filter on any of my engines. It never fails to amaze me how people can spend thousands, if not tens of thousands, building a top-tier engine, and then finish it off with the cheapest off the shelf oil filter (and usually oil to boot), just because it saves them 5 bucks. Oil and filters are the best and cheapest insurance you can buy for a long lasting engine, and the absolute last place I would want to cheap out on.
10-04-2016, 06:12 AM
#116
Staging Lane
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I used K&N for years with no problems and still have one on one of my cars but have switched to a Wix for my LS1 powered car after reading this thread, they're not cheap over here in Aus though.
Pete, off topic but that Morris Minor in your avatar looks mega cool, there wouldn't be too many around that look that good, is it yours?
Jason.
Pete, off topic but that Morris Minor in your avatar looks mega cool, there wouldn't be too many around that look that good, is it yours?
Jason.
cheers,
Pete
10-04-2016, 08:17 AM
#118
Again, the parts are approved by GM so they have their hand in it to a certain extent, but are made by all sorts of manufacturers. I have purchased several parts that were clearly not factory and of course foreign made. I don't have decades of experience with checking out Delco parts so maybe it is a new thing, but the explanation certainly made sense.