If i spend the 42.00 at auto zone for a K&N filter,will i see a diffrence?

probably in your wallet more than anything. Try finding it on the internet for cheaper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2413893569&category=38634

If i spend the 42.00 at auto zone for a K&N filter,will i see a diffrence?

Are you just replacing your stock air filter with the K&N filter?

A difference in performance on a stock motor? Nothing noticible.
A difference in gas mileage on a stock motor? Probably slightly increased.

Personally I'd rather buy nine $7 paper filters and replace them on a regular basis rather than spend $42 on one filter and another $20 on a filter recharger kit.

My $.02

:mrgreen:

Agreed.

I just installed a K&N on my '69 SS 396, and for good reason. I know three people who have '93-97 F-bodies and they have all seen 3-5 mpg differences (less in-city) and a definite increase in performance. None of them take their cars to the drag strip, but from riding in one of them, there was a noticeable difference in performance.

My sister's car ('02 Sunfire) went from 32 mpg on the highway to 44 mpg on the highway, but my dad's '94 Suburban with 216k miles on it saw 1-1.5 mpg more.

Everyone that I know that's used one has ended up very pleased with their purchase. Everyone in my family has one installed in their vehicles and everyone has seen a difference.

I'm not preaching, or trying to start anything, but I thought I would add to this discussion because I've had a good deal of experience with the filters and know a lot of people who use them. So don't take this the wrong way, just letting the forum know my experiences. :-)

I ran one for awhile. didn't notice much of an improvement on anything. What I did notice was when I removed the filter for cleaning puposes, there would be dirt inside around the top of the carb. I've never seen that with a paper filter. I switched back.

Hrmm...if I notice any dirt inside I'll seriously reconsider continuing to use it. First I have to get it on the road! ;-)

TO K&N OR NOT...IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN SEAT OF THE PANTS,NOT GONNA HAPPEN.YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF MILEAGE,TANK FOR TANK TO SEE IT.I WAS RUNNING A 305,EDELBROCK #3701 INTAKE (A 2101 W EGR),+ THE STOCK Q-JET WITHA GM PERF PARTS 14" AIR CLEANER W AN AC212CW 3" PAPER FILTER.THAT FILTER WAS IN THE CLEANER WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I RAN A FEW PAPER ONES + SAW NO DIFFERENCE,I PUT IN A 4" K&N + PICKED UP 4MPG.I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR LOSE MPG BY SWITCHING.THE DIRT ON THE CARB IS GENERALLY A POOR FITTING FILTER.
AS WITH ANYTHING WE MODIFY ON A VEHICLE,REMEMBER YUO ARE DEALING WITH A SYSTEM,OCASIONALLY A MINOR IMPROVEMENT NOW PAYS OFF BIGGER LATER.THE MORE COLD,CLEAN AIR YOU CAN PUT IN AN ENGINE,THE MORE POWER COMES OUT.ALSO,CHECK OUT THE MOTORIZED K&N DISPLAY,THAT MIGHT HELP.CARQUEST HAS THEM

Thanks for everyone's input. But i spent $4.00 and bought a fram filter!

Tony

Most intake / exhaust combos are fine for the engine they're fitted to. .Intake / exhaust Mods aren't going to do much unless the engine is modified to pull more air - then you may have to worry about restrictions.

One exception are the F-bodies; especially the 98 and later. They were restricted so as not to compete with the Vettes. My 99 Camaro turned 292 rwhp bone stock. The 98 Vette of a friend turned 299. The addition of a freer intake with a K&N and a Loudmouth catback allowed the engine to breathe easier and create 23 more ponies at the rear wheel. That only happened because the engine had the capability to make use of the mods. Most stock engines don't.

Just my $.02

i HAVE heard goiod things about K&N....and when iget my new intake i'll probably purchase one, but two other things....on a 100 HP engine, 10 HP is a HUGE increase in power....something you can feel...on a 300HP engine, 10HP is kinda like meh, maybe i was just pushing the pedal down further.......or probably nothing at all.

another thing with K&N's and ANYTHING else in the world(similar to drug testing) is the psychological effect of the filter. if you go out and your all "oh sweet this K&N is gonnna add 10 HP to my car, thats a lot of horsewpower, wow this is going to feel awesome, and you get in, ango, well, you might think its going more then it is, this is why its similar to the placebo in drug testing, i'd like to see people drive a car, then drive a car with a "K&N" or regular fram, just to see how many people said they felt the difference even if it was the same filter....

not that anymore input was needed on this topic im just bored

I drive a car daily with an airflow sensor and my engine responded favorably when I switched to a K&N filter. Carbureted cars do not seem to care what kind of filter they're breathing through, as long as it's clean. The added flow of air through a K&N filter definetely helps computer-controlled cars with air flow sensors, throttle response is crisper and I saw an increase in gas mileage after the computer "learned" to deal with the increased air flow into the engine.

Try Kool Blue i herd its the same kind of deal as K&N but not as big of brand there for cheaper

I look at it like 42.00 for 1 filter (guaranteed for 1M miles) vs 6.00 to 12.00 for one every specified mileage.
I have seen 12.00 and higher at parts houses for a paper filter and at that cost it is 3.5 filters then the K&N pays for itself (however small)
also, the oil bath filters are nothing new and technologically advanced, my dad remembers having them when he was young, the paper filters are just meant to be replaced and hence spend more money.
and one last note, a friend of my mother has a '88 Suburban with 350.
He saw 8 miles increase on the highway. At the current and rising cost of fuel, this is an extra 160 miles per tank (per 20 gallon tank)
this computes to pay for itself in one tank. but I'm sure his was the extreme.
my next engine purchase will be a cotton/oil bath filter. (laid off right now :mad: )

I've run K&N filters for years and I highly recommend them. On my work truck (427 Big Block) I used it in very dusty conditions and a stock paper filter would clog up in a few weeks wrecking havoc with my fuel mileage. After switching to the K&N the filter didn't need cleaning for several months. I saved a lot of money on fuel and filter replacement. Yes I know on a car driven in relatively clean conditions there won't be as much difference but the K&N (and the other cotton fiber look-a-likes) is superior to any paper filter and worth the difference to me.

I agree with Robin, I have run only K & n for years & have saved money in the long run plus superior filtering.

A buddy of mine put a k & N on his volkswagen corrado and you could immediatly tell the difference, THe car itself even sounded different and performed much better. ..Personally would suggest a k & n filter....The price of the paper filters add up..I purchased a k & n filter for my 84 vette..I noticed a difference in gas mileage..I looked at it as a good investement..A paper filter for an 84 vette is expensive as far as paper filters go..If you go with kool blue it think it would work just as well...same concept as k&N, just cheaper. Look at it as a good long term investment, those paper filters ad up after a while, plus none of them flow as well as a k & n. People that dont like K& n filters are usually the ones who want notciable results for the money that they paid for them...Computer controled cars do respond better to them....But i think that non computer respond just as well..(you just dont see gauges that tell you that)

This might be an apples to oranges comparision but watched a dyno run on a big block chevy (540 cid) drag motor this week. Dyno operator asked the engine owner if he ran a filter at the track...no doesn't fit in my hood scoop. Dyno guy says watch this and pulls a round K&N out of the closet and sticks it on and proceeds to pickup 14hp at 7000rpm. From 826hp to 840hp in one easy step. Priced a fram air hog today at checker auto...$10.00 more than K&N 8O ...wasn't what I expected.
George

Yes I have heard of similar results. Supposedly the air stream is "straightened out" and this results in more airflow. Don't know about that but I do know that K&Ns are very efficient at filtering out the dust and dirt, lasts a long time and is almost infinitely reusable--and you can't beat that.

I also use k&n air filters youll never have to replace them again and there real easy to clean with the kit. they pay for them selves in the long run.if they were no good companys like accel or fram with there new air hogs wouldn't all be copying k&ns.

Even if K&N filters were completely worthless their would be copies because K&N is immensely successful, sells a whole bunch of filters and is making tons of money. The K&N filter is an excellent product and I'm glad that they have competition now; maybe prices will come down.

I agree about the competetion aspect but with fram selling theirs for more money I don't think the price will come down.
George

That's a sales ploy that they're trying. K&N is so well established that it is hard to compete with them. If a company introduces a new product up against a well established product that is so dominant, they have to try to convince people that the new product is superior. More costly=better. Most people are already convinced that the cotton gauze filter is superior to the paper filter and they are already inclined to purchase one and since many people have to have the best they will go with the higher priced product. Fram doesn't think it can capture the market away from K&N so they want to make as much profit on each filter they sell. I think that you will see prices equalize and maybe even decrease.

I think K&N filters are a P.O.S. filter setup!! How do you get more airflow - take away media element. Hell, just leave it out or run cotton underware in it's place to keep the BIG chunks out. I think the trade-off of engine wear for airflow is a no-brainer. I work in a diesel shop and see all these cowboys with this stuff in and nobody takes care of the filter. Those things are made for the drag strip, as far as I'm concerned. The big city guy's might get away with some stuff for awhile but if you run around in any dirt, watch out!

I don't quite understand your argument. If you mean no filter element means more airflow that has been proven wrong. A well designed filter can actually increase horsepower. If you mean that you can install a K&N (or any other cotton gauze filter) and forget it--forget it; even though K&N filters work longer eventually you have to service them. If you mean that driving in the city means a filter isn't required--that's wrong, city air is usually more polluted than country air--it's the small stuff that you can't see that does the most damage.

You just stated the obvious..Of coarse its gonna be a piece of crap if you dont take care of it and let it get clogged...k&N filters do show better results..Its been proven time and time again.

I've never had a K&N filter, but I have a question about them. I know they also made what they called a "filter topper" that replaced the upper lid on open element filters at one time. However, I have not seen these lately, and heard stories of backfire FIRES through these tops. Any truth to these, and do they still make the toppers? Logically this seems like a huge increase in total filter area, which should mean it could run longer between cleanings.

I've seen a lot of these "toppers" and I think in a situation where the primary filter might not provide for enough airflow they could be beneficial. A backfire could blow thru them and I guess there could be a fire--so if you're engine backfires on a regular basis don't use them. You do realize that backfires are not normal and a sign that there is a mechanical problem.

I've run K&N filters for years and I highly recommend them.Ditto, but I'm curious about the new Fram Air Hogs...

They are also cotton gauze and I doubt they have any measurable difference otherwise they would have some claim that an independent laboratory tested Air Hogs and K&Ns and found their product superior.

i ran a K&N filter in an 88 chevy pickup with a stock 305 and a 3 speed auto. i didnt notice any instant results but after installing the filter i drove it on a 4 hour trip one way from Battle Creek, MI to Ashland, OH and only used a half tank each way. i know that may not seem like a big difference, but i can tell you that there was some milage improvement. i will go with K&N on my elky and will recommend it to anyone.