k&n panel filter advice

hendoau99 · 02-11-2010, 05:08 PM

g'day all, im looking at putting a k&n panel filter in my au. a couple of people have said there no good and that a replacement filter from ryco or motorcraft is better. i live down 8 km's of dirt road. im just after your opinion on whether they're worth the money. my dad reckons it isnt because we live down a dirt road and it wouldnt filter aswell and id be forever cleaning my filter and having power and economy issues.

b2tf · 02-11-2010, 05:11 PM

They filter better than a paper one and they are washable - meaning you never have to replace them, you just clean them. that alone makes them pay for themselves.

I've had one in every one of my cars with no hesitation at all.

galaxy xr8 · 02-11-2010, 05:37 PM

Yeah I also agree with b2tf, I have one in the AU and like has been said, all you do is clean and put back in and away you go, pay's for itself,
With you living on a dirt road, all you will need to do is clean it more often but as long as you do, it should breathe and out last a standard filter.

sneaky · 02-11-2010, 06:46 PM

i have one of the 'finer filter' brand foam filters sitting on the garage shelf. i used it for a while but didn't notice any difference on performance or noise, the only difference was that instead of swapping a paper filter in 30 seconds i had to take the foam one out, clean with petrol, dry, re-oil, remove excess oil and refit.. and it was too much effort for me to be bothered..

having said that i don't know what the cleaning process is for a k&n, and i was looking for the cheap way out when i got the finer filter - i think it was $60 or $80..

so i'll put one vote in for paper filters, because they are cheap and easy (like my women

)

Bobman · 02-11-2010, 08:30 PM

Anyone tried a BMC filter on their AU? Have seen posts here from others saying they prefer using BMC over K&N.

hendoau99 · 02-11-2010, 09:41 PM

sounds like k&n are the go then, that way i dont have to fork out every month for an air filter, i've just gotta wash it.

UU TS50 · 02-11-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobman

Anyone tried a BMC filter on their AU? Have seen posts here from others saying they prefer using BMC over K&N.

I took out a K&N and fitted a BMC on the TS with back to bck dyno runs and got an extra 4rwkw

GK · 02-11-2010, 11:09 PM

I have K&N filters in both my AUs.

The fact that they're serviceable and will last the life of the car is the major factor for me.

Didn't do dyno runs before and after, but it's not the performance gain I'm after really, more of a cost benefit.

I do suspect though, that they will flow better than a stock paper filter. Many on this forum said as much when I was buying the K&N gear a number of years ago.

All the best with it.

GK

Bushbasher · 03-11-2010, 10:17 AM

I run Framm Airhog filters in both our AUs' and I have a third sitting on the shelf in the shed so I can do a quick swap when required and clean the removed one at my leisure. They're cheaper than K&N and every bit as good in my book if not better. We've just spent the last 2 years living up a dirt road and not had any issues with the filters that were being swapped out every second service unless there was a noticable drop in performance of economy. Unless you're following someone your car should be drawing clean air from the front of the car for the most part and only getting dusty air if you pull up to open a gate or something so I'd have thought a filter should last more than 30 days. I should note that I bought my filters from Supercheap Auto on special for $35 each which is why there's a spare.

Bushbasher

bartsau · 03-11-2010, 11:17 AM

I previously had a BMC panel filter in mine and certainly found it to be as good if not better than a paper filter. Just give it a clean every now and then and like brand new again. Dearer than a paper filter but will pay for itself after the first few cleans.

hendoau99 · 03-11-2010, 03:46 PM

ill go over on the weekend and have a look around supercheap and autobarn. after hearing everyones replies the k & n sounds overpriced for what it is and the BMC and framm filters sound like a better, cheaper alternative.

b2tf · 03-11-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hendoau99

ill go over on the weekend and have a look around supercheap and autobarn. after hearing everyones replies the k & n sounds overpriced for what it is and the BMC and framm filters sound like a better, cheaper alternative.

Generally the K&N is actually cheaper than a BMC.

kinksta · 03-11-2010, 04:42 PM

I washed mine and all the red colouring came out....normal?

b2tf · 03-11-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kinksta

I washed mine and all the red colouring came out....normal?

Yep cos the oil you spray onto it after it is washed and dry is what gives it it's colour.

GK · 03-11-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Yep cos the oil you spray onto it after it is washed and dry is what gives it it's colour.

Indeed!

It's a good idea, as you see where the oil has gone, thereby avoiding over oiling.

GK

hendoau99 · 03-11-2010, 08:09 PM

what oil do you use for a k&n? the only air filters i've ever oiled are in my dirtbike, and for them i use castrol foam air filter oil. it is specifically a motorcycle filter oil but could i use them on my car filters?

AUIIPURSUIT · 03-11-2010, 08:16 PM

you guys want to be careful using oil filters on MAF vehicles. very quick and easy way to foul the sensor.

Bushbasher · 03-11-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hendoau99

what oil do you use for a k&n? the only air filters i've ever oiled are in my dirtbike, and for them i use castrol foam air filter oil. it is specifically a motorcycle filter oil but could i use them on my car filters?

K&N do a recharge kit for about $20 which has a can of solvent to dissolve the old oil and the crud with it and then another pressure pack of fresh oil to spray back onto the filter.

Bushbasher

WMD351 · 03-11-2010, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUIIPURSUIT

you guys want to be careful using oil filters on MAF vehicles. very quick and easy way to foul the sensor.

+1 what he said.

hendoau99 · 03-11-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUIIPURSUIT

you guys want to be careful using oil filters on MAF vehicles. very quick and easy way to foul the sensor.

thats something i hadnt considered, a fouled MAF sensor is the last thing i want. im just gunna buy a couple of paper filters, they're doing a good job at the moment and it seems like to much hassle to wash, dry, re oil and remove excess oil. i do that everytime i ride my bike. plus being a student i dont have alot of money and living out of town, thats $80+ that could go towards petrol. sounds like a good investment for the future though.

b2tf · 03-11-2010, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hendoau99

thats something i hadnt considered, a fouled MAF sensor is the last thing i want. im just gunna buy a couple of paper filters, they're doing a good job at the moment and it seems like to much hassle to wash, dry, re oil and remove excess oil. i do that everytime i ride my bike. plus being a student i dont have alot of money and living out of town, thats $80+ that could go towards petrol. sounds like a good investment for the future though.

6 cyls dont have MAF sensors

GK · 04-11-2010, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

6 cyls dont have MAF sensors

Most true! They are certainly a good option for us I6 owners.

GK