I was at the parts store the other day.

They had a display set up with a OEM filter (unknown brand) and a like
replacement K&N Filter.

Basically a box with two muffin fans and some balls in tubes on the exhaust.

With the OEM filter in place, the balls barely went up the tubes.

With the K&N Filter in place, the balls went all the way up the tubes,
graphically showing that the air flow through the K&N was less restrictive
than the OEM Filter.

That out of the way, would it be a good idea the next time I change the air
filter in my 95 Maxima, to move to a K&N Filter, for better/increased air
flow?

FWIW, the K&N Filter looked to be of better mechanical manufacture than the
OEM Filter on display.




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When you say OEM, do you mean genuine Nissan?
K&N filters have been discussed at length on this and alt.autos.nissan
groups...do a search and you find out that there are varying opinions
on this like just about everything else

PS: I use Nissan air filters.

Nirav
96 Max GLE, 123k

"Richard Tomkins" <tomkinsr (AT) istop (DOT) com> wrote

There are a lot of ways to make that work by applying different
conditions on the OEM filter - I would have looked carefully for any little
text stating "dramatization" or something. Maybe it's real, in which case
I'd want to know how much filtration quality I'm trading off to get it.

Dave

The OEM filter was not known as to manufacturer.

The K&N filter had fewer filter pleats thna the OEM unit, so should it have
had better air flow?

Consider this.

If you laid out the filter media from both filters, flat on a flat surface,
the OEM filter would cover a greater area than the K&N.

Given that the muffin fans each move 150CFM of air, a larger area for the
air to flow through, such as that of the OEM filter should produce less
restriction to the air flow and thus provide greater air flow, if we were to
assume thta the media the two filters were made from was comparable.

Kind of like the bigger pipe lets more water through.

So, if the K&N air filter with a smaller filter area lets more air through,
then the actual media of the filter is a more porous material and thus lets
more air and other stuff through.

I guess I have answered my question, the K&N air filter will let dust and
stuff into your engine that the OEM filter will not.

Thanks for holding me back.

rtt

"njmodi" <njmodi2 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote




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Richard Tomkins wrote:

Then it wasn't an OEM was it or you'd see the makers name?

Probably because it was some POS "micro filtration" fram or equal junk.


Yes if you are going to buy the CHEAPEST junk filter autozone has, a K&N
that's 10 times what a dealer filter costs will flow better..
--

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

Richard Tomkins wrote:

Why?

OEM from whom and what micron size was the paper? I can promise you K&N
found the most restrictive aftermarket filter they could find for this
display.

And guess what, window screen will flow more air than the K&N..

And 'other stuff' is the key word. Buy dealer filters and forget about all
the hype and displays the people pushing these thing have.
--

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

Richard Tomkins wrote:
OK.. I read all the messages posted on this subject up to this point.
Here's my take on the K&N display, the filter itself vs. paper-style
filters, and some comments left here...

I have a '95 Max as well. Mine sports a K&N sticker under the hood that
warns anyone venturing into the filter box to NOT throw away my air
filter. Why?

1) Cost savings. Yes, you heard me.. savings. A paper filter is
supposed to be replaced every 10,000 miles. K&N filters are guaranteed
for 1,000,000 miles. I haven't priced a Nissan filter, but I'm sure
they are more than the filters sold at parts stores. So let's say $10 a
filter. At 10,000 miles a year (c'mon we all probably driver way more
than that in a year) I'd have to replace the filter at LEAST once a
year. In 4 years time (40,000 miles) I would have spent what my K&N
filter costed and still be good for several years to come. When a K&N
filter gets dirty, you take it out, wash it and put it back. can't do
that with a paper filter.

2) Cars love air. Yeah, maybe they did use a really restricive filter
for their demo. Maybe not.. but forget about the paper filter for a
minute and look at something else. The same demo box with NO FILTER in
place does the same thing with the balls as the K&N filter does. The
K&N filter provides much better air flow. My car immediately shows
improvement. I haven't crunched the numbers as far as MPG goes, but
acceleration is cleaner and smoother, the engine SOUNDS stronger and I'm
filling up less often.

3) As to the comment about less restriction = more gunk in engine...
take a closer look at how it's made. The demo filter doesn't show it
really well, but the K&N filter is coated with a special oil. Ever use
Armor All on your dash and notice how it seemed to attract dust?? It's
basicaly the same thing. The junk flowing into your airbox is caught in
this oil. K&N recommends recoating your filter every 50-100,000 miles.
(Remember you will have thrown anywhere from 5-10 paper filters during
this time... A few squirts with a spray bottle seems like a fair trade-off).

4) If K&N filters are "junk" why are they used by so many race-teams and
millions of regular drivers?? Read the testimonials on K&N's website.
Seems to me that most people who are against them just don't like the
idea of spending $40-50 on an air filter. I thought the price pretty
steep myself until I did the math and research. Now, after seeing my
car respond to it, I feel bad I denied it for so long. Max likes air,
makes Max happy, when Max is happy, I'm happy. I'll keep my K&N, thank
you.

Richard Tomkins wrote:

FYI, your reasoning is flawed.

if we were to
The OEM and K&N are not quite comparable in every way. If they were,
then lets soak the OEM filter in oil, too.

My point is that the K&N's filter charateristics depend on the oil in
the medium. It just works differently from a straight paper element.

The most fair comparison would be to see just how much filtration the
K&N does compared to OEM. I have seen a few comparisons and observed
that K&N is not that bad.

Here's one;

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest3.htm

You can that K&N backs up its claim that is filters 99% as well as OEM.
You can also see that paper does not filter so so much better than K&N.

I've had a K&N on my 98 Maxima for over 80K miles. No problems with MAF
or whatever. When cleaning your K&N, it's best to have a temporary
filter in place so that you can take your time with the re-oiling
process. I beleive most problems with K&N are with users simply
over-oiling them and just not being patient with the replenishing process.



CD

"Richard Tomkins" <tomkinsr (AT) istop (DOT) com> wrote

Numerous tests have proven that the K&N and other filters do not make
*ANY* improvement in air flow/gas mileage/Horsepower. Same is true of those
"tornado" devices that cause the air to rotate in a vortex before entering
the carburetor...also a bunch of hooey. If you like throwing your money
away on junk that is all show and no go...then go ahead and get one.

Bobby

THis is only a benefit if you are too lazy to change the filter regularly.
No one in their right mind would leave *ANY* filter of any kind in for a
million miles...well except maybe you...
Great; the engine "sounds" stronger. No gas mileage figures, no Horsepower
increase figures, no figures on filtration levels...but it sure sounds
stronger! I'll spend all my money on something that makes my engine "sound"
stronger...yeah right!
"Special Oil" that will not degrade after a million miles on the road? And
now you say to change the K&N at 50-100,000 miles? What happened to the
million mile model? You certainly are a good little consumer...pony on up
and spend all your hard earned cash on snake oil...wasn't it P. T. Barnum
that said "There's a sucker born every minute"?


Good! Keep your K&N, with the special oil, and I'll gladly keep using
standard filter that take the gunk with them when I throw them away. I want
something that cleans the air entering my engine, not something that can
levitate ping pong balls higher. I bet you have one of those "tornado"
devices in the carb, right?

Coincidentally, I have this bridge that I am selling....


Bobby