K&N filters

[Ryan Hoitink]

Along these lines, has this though come to anyone else on the list:  The K&N
and paper filters may, in fact, allow equivalent amounts of tiny dust
particles to pass, however, the oil that the K&N is impregnated with allows
these particles to be caught along the walls of the intake system.  The
paper filter doesn't coat the intake with this oil, thereby allowing these
particles to pass and be ingested by the engine.  In this respect, the K&N
may actually catch more debris than a typical paper filter.  I still believe
in regular maintenance of the filter, and change/clean them regularly, but I
believe that the K&N is actually a superior product.  Just my opinion.  By
the way, of my cars I have 1 running a K&N, 1 running paper, 1 running foam.
I think that all are completely adequate.  The only reason I like the K&N is
because it truly IS reusable.

That said, the size of the particles allowed to pass in either situation is
ridiculously small.  In my opinion, any air filter will be sufficient if
properly replaced/cleaned.  The goal of the filter is to keep out objects
that would damage the engine, and I can't see ANY particle that would pass
through these filters causing any damage.  Please let me know what
intake/engine component could be damaged by something that small.  It's not
like the air has to pass through a tiny opening like the fuel injectors.

-Ryan

Ryan Alan Hoitink
Wisconsin Chapter President, Alpha Delta Phi
640 N. Henry Street
Madison WI 53703
rahoitink at students.wisc.edu
608-284-6298 (home)
920-627-9495 (mobile)


-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-admin at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-admin at audifans.com]On
Behalf Of John Larson
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 2:55 PM
To: BSWANN at arinc.com; quattro at audifans.com
Subject: Re: I learned something today (type 44 air filter change)


Finally a voice of reason in a sea of advertizing urban legend victims.  It
is refreshing to hear the truth about K&Ns.  More frequent service with time
consuming cleaning and re oiling using their expensive concoctions,
resulting in less efficient cleaning of the intake air.  Sure they pass more
air per square inch, but have only a small percentage of the filter area of
the OE paper filter, and allow larger particles to pass.  John