K&N filters

[Nate Stuart]

I once recall seeing in an old car rag where a couple of the editors were
driving cross-country in a rented car and drove through a dust storm. They
came out on the other end with little to no paint on the front of the car
and all of the trim/metal/glass was substantially pitted. Seems like a
rather large scale effect for such small scale particles to me. It may take
much much longer in the case that we are talking about, but each grain of
sand/dust is going to inflict it's damage to whatever component in the
engine it strikes, and in some cases at a rather high velocity. My 90q had a
K&N filter on it when I bought it, and the amount of crud that made it all
the way into the intake manifold itself was rather disturbing, it was oily
and clinging to all the surfaces, like you say, trapping some of it. But if
that many particles are passing that far down into the intake system then
some are surely getting into the combustion chambers as well. I cleaned up
everything I could and replaced the K&N with a new OE paper filter and the
system was much cleaner when I pulled the engine out for the swap, though
admittedly it didn't have nearly as long of a life in there as the K&N, so
who am I to say ;)

BTW I still have the K&N if anybody wants it, free for the taking, no I'm
not gonna ship it :-)

Later!
-Nate
'89 90tq
www.newtsplace.com


> 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