K&N comparrison

[Andyb]

Got this from another site.
The idea that adding more air flow capability at the air
filter will create more horsepower is false. The only time
air flow will affect horsepower is at peak rpm at WOT. Most
engines never see this operating condition. Personally, I consider K&N filters in the same catagory with Turbulators, cow magnets, and HHO generators. Unless you do alot of mud bogging.


https://www.dieselbombers.com/chevy...l-forum/16611-duramax-air-filter-testing.html

That is a pretty broad statement. If you add a K&N to an engine and do not make any other changes, then it may not increase horsepower. But, if you make appropriate other changes such as jetting and exhaust flow, it can make a significant difference.

I used to have a Suzuki Bandit 1200. Bandits are famous for gaining significant horsepower by adding a K&N, changing the jets and increasing exhaust flow. This is not just a WOT increase. It is across the RPM band. This is not just my butt dyno making the claim. This is proven by numerous folks using real dynos.

 

[scdmarx]

guys check this out.
this guy seems to be independent, and knowledgeable.
check out his results.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

I'm not convinced. I'll bet it's even worse. But how do you argue with a really cool look'n winder sticker? :headscratch:

 

[Tory]

Although I sell them as well as the amsoil,wix,purolator and AC delco,I am not a K&N user.

The biggest problem I have with that test is it looks like something AC DELCO put together.Unfortunitly,AC delco doesnt manufactor anything but boxes.They dont make there own filters.I can take two of the same number,and one will be made by champ industries,and one is made by purolator.That little fact to me discredits that entire test.

As for me,I will stick with a good old EMGO paper filter. k:

Same with oil filters. There's only a few companys that manufacture them. They're all reboxed.
Just like everything is from China and the boxes are made in Mexico.
I also felt the test was put together by AC Delco. But let me ask you this: Does AC Delco offer an oil saturated filter? Why would they not rebox a K&N to boast more power from their filters? Why did K&N finish last in all the tests, as opposed to any one of the random others? (We know why AC Delco finished first) Do you suppose AC Delco just has a hard on for K&N?

I'm not recomending AC Delco over any other brand. I will recomend a "quality paper" filter with a good seal. In my mind, a K&N filter on my daily driver is next to having no filter at all. I don't think I'm going faster. I think I'm scratching my cylinder walls.

I agree with you,and was not assuming because I didnt believe the test,that I was indorsing K&N.I dont use them,or sythetics for that matter.Many do,and swear by all of it,and I will sell them what they want,take there money,and we are both happy.But as for me I will use traditional oil (never mind what brands I prefer) and stock type filters and maintain things at regular intervals,and drive the wheels off them.

I do this with my cars as well as our company trucks and I have 250,000 on my 2000 impala,and we run our trucks to 300,000 before trade in and we do nothing special.No special oils,additives or filters,and very little trouble.

I have had a few performance only machines in the past and that is a differant story,but my wing is a asphalt eater and I am more concerned with long life,not hi speed.

Another problem with K&Ns is over oiling.Not so much for older vehicles,but newer fuel inj. models.The excess oil causes trouble codes.

 

[scdmarx]

That is a pretty broad statement. If you add a K&N to an engine and do not make any other changes, then it may not increase horsepower. But, if you make appropriate other changes such as jetting and exhaust flow, it can make a significant difference.

I used to have a Suzuki Bandit 1200. Bandits are famous for gaining significant horsepower by adding a K&N, changing the jets and increasing exhaust flow. This is not just a WOT increase. It is across the RPM band. This is not just my butt dyno making the claim. This is proven by numerous folks using real dynos.

After doing these other performance mods like jetting and exhaust, what was the difference the K&N itself made? Are you talking tenths in a quarter? I don't use a K&N so I don't know. The question you need to answer for yourself is, is it worth it? I can't justify investing in mods, then useing a window screen dipped in oil to protect it. Unless it's something like an 8,000 HP sprint car motor that is gonna come apart every 3 races anyways. Call it peace of mind, but I'm starting to have thoughts of leaveing my Goldwings to my son when I die.

 

[Andyb]

That is a pretty broad statement. If you add a K&N to an engine and do not make any other changes, then it may not increase horsepower. But, if you make appropriate other changes such as jetting and exhaust flow, it can make a significant difference.

I used to have a Suzuki Bandit 1200. Bandits are famous for gaining significant horsepower by adding a K&N, changing the jets and increasing exhaust flow. This is not just a WOT increase. It is across the RPM band. This is not just my butt dyno making the claim. This is proven by numerous folks using real dynos.

After doing these other performance mods like jetting and exhaust, what was the difference the K&N itself made? Are you talking tenths in a quarter? I don't use a K&N so I don't know. The question you need to answer for yourself is, is it worth it? I can't justify investing in mods, then useing a window screen dipped in oil to protect it. Unless it's something like an 8,000 HP sprint car motor that is gonna come apart every 3 races anyways. Call it peace of mind, but I'm starting to have thoughts of leaveing my Goldwings to my son when I die.

As Randakk says about Goldwings, everything affects everything. In the instance I mentioned above with my Bandit, the K&N was part of the overall changes and noting what difference it made by itself is not the point. If I had used a lower flowing OEM air filter, it would have been running rich and that would have affected efficiency and overall power. I could have compensated by using smaller jets, etc. But, the point is that the jet kit plus a K&N will increase power and torque across the RPM range. Check out https://www.holeshot.com/ if you want to know more. That is Dale Walker's website and he is the best tuner on the planet for old Suzuki oil cooled GSXR based engines.

That being said, I do not know whether or not they make a huge difference in an unmodified Goldwing and I do not argue with your point above about it being a personal choice. I just disagree with the broad statement you made about it not improving power except in the upper range I respect your choice not to use one. I am using one on my wing because when it was time to replace my old air filter, I found a K&N on ebay for about the same price as a paper filter. I figured I would give it a try since I already had the oil, etc. I do not think it gives me a noticeable increase in power, but neither does it hamper performance. My plugs read fine.

 

[joedrum]

i agree totaly with andyb icreased air flow along with other changes all together can make alot of power .....thats why i like the 1000 setup with lots of adjustment ....the 1100s might not benifit a whole lot on how there lock in timing and all.....ive never used k&n filters just open around the filter type top to increase air flow......the 1000s have lots of filter area.....

 

[mcgovern61]

i agree totaly with andyb icreased air flow along with other changes all together can make alot of power .....thats why i like the 1000 setup with lots of adjustment ....the 1100s might not benifit a whole lot on how there lock in timing and all.....ive never used k&n filters just open around the filter type top to increase air flow......the 1000s have lots of filter area.....

Hey Joe, when I get out to Ohio and we get together, your welcome to have my K&N filter for you project! With the adjustments you will be able to make, you might like it!

 

[mcgovern61]

Bump

 

[slabghost]

I've not seen it mentioned here but all particulate matter has weight. Our air boxes are tucked inside the frame up under the faux tank. With the small inlets at the very top. Seems to me that even without a filter at all There won't be much dirt ingested unless you habitually ride dirt roads rather slowly. Also I've not seen any mention of the airflow within the air box. It is possible that air in fact may swirl around the filter before entering which would likely deposit heavier dirt on the walls and floor of the air box. K&N wouldn't still be in business if their product allowed motors to self destruct. Lawsuits and word of mouth would have ended their business years ago.

 

[bronzestarvue]

I'll chime in here. I used to have a 1995 Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport, with big old 40mm Dellorto carbs. I put the biggest K&N pods that would fit, and had the bike rejetted. Ran great, pulled harder than with the stock airbox and paper air filter. I've also used Uni foam filters on other bikes, so I got a pair of Uni dual-stage foam filters, which were bigger than the K&Ns. The first thing I noticed after swapping the filters was that the bike wouldn't idle, it would just die. So I adjusted the fuel/air screws and idle set screws, and it ran fine.

So my unscientific results seem to indicate that the Uni oiled dual-stage foam filters flowed more air than comparable K&Ns, due to the adjustments I had to make when I swapped them. The big plus to the Unis is that they can be "squeezed" to fit into small spaces, whereas the K&Ns can't. I've used Uni foam filters in some cars and trucks I've owned, and they're significantly less expensive than K&Ns.

I think I remember reading an unbiased test that compared stock paper elements, oiled gauze (like K&N), and oiled foam (like Uni). The main criteria they judged was flow rate and particle retention. Long story short, I think the filter that came out on top, overall, was the stock paper element!

 

[dan filipi]

The consensus seems to be stay with the stock air filter.
Maybe I'm imagining it but it sure seems like my van has more power running the K&N. Power seems to come on at a lower rpm, maybe alittle smoother and believe me this van needs every ounce of power I can squeeze out of it being an extended 2500 loaded to capacity and 4.8 liter.

For krins I think I'll put the old one back in for a try.

 

[slabghost]

I have a K&N filter for my little Ranger with a tired little 4 cylinder. It needs all the help it can get.

 

[JoeBarTeam]

The k&n filter is normally one of many things to be changed if power increase is wanted, like carb-tuning for getting the right fuel volume with the increased air volume. With this in you may expect more power. The filter itself will not really do anything but intake noise rising the throttle. Once i had a 1988 yamaha venture royale 1300 with v-max intake, k&n-filter, open filterbox, carb-tuning done, open muffler and other things. After changes, the bike could make wheelies in second gear and instead of running aprox. 110 m/h it did more than 130. The incredible part was the mpg were better than before. I suppose the standard tune for switzerland was made wrong for staying ok with the permited emissions in this time. They were restricted like in california (i have been told). Now we got the rules of the european community and this are the dead of carbs on new bikes. We are riders of dinosaurs. Keep them alive. Playing with injectors and software is not my thing.