K&N Filters

[11Budlite]

To anyone using K&N filters that stick out of the side of the hood, are you having to re-oil the elements on a regular basis? It seems like after I go for a ride of maybe 50 miles, I'll check the elements and the front filter area that's exposed to the airstream is to the point where you can barely see the red oil in the white cotton material. Is this typical? I'm probably going to get an ITG or similar filter to use on a regular basis, but I do like the classic look of the K&N's. And yes, I've heard all the negative reports on the K&N's. If you shine a light through them it is a little puzzling to see how the heck they could filter... :ack:

 

Any advice or personal experiences would be appreciated.

 

Thanks, Bruce :7drive:

[BobDrye]

Just read the reviews about airflow.

 

 

[11Budlite]

Bump

 

:7frog:

 

Bruce

[blami]

Hi Bruce,

 

My 1993 Caterham optioned with the Vauxhall engine was supplied with K&N filters, filtering Weber 45 DCOE carbs.

 

It is normal for the filters to get 'dirty' looking quickly, though this is not a problem nor has is been harmful to my car. In fact I remember reading that the K&N's filter better with some miles and dust on them, and that you shouldn't clean them to often in an attempt to keep them clean looking. And yes, that does sound counter intuitive.

 

Bart Lami

[11Budlite]

Thanks Bart,

 

I've used K&N's on my MGB for many years, and I had read that it was not good to over-oil the elements and that they would filter better with a light coating of dust/dirt on them. But I had never seen them where the red oil was being blown through the white filter material. When I took off the hood after my first long drive, there was a distinct line on the filter where the hood was covering it the red oil was there, and where it was exposed to the airstream, it was completely white. Over the next couple hundred miles with a few re-oilings, it seems to be retaining the oil better.

 

Bruce :7drive:

[11Budlite]

Thanks Bart,

 

I've used K&N's on my MGB for many years, and I had read that it was not good to over-oil the elements and that they would filter better with a light coating of dust/dirt on them. But I had never seen them where the red oil was being blown through the white filter material. When I took off the hood after my first long drive, there was a distinct line on the filter where the hood was covering it the red oil was there, and where it was exposed to the airstream, it was completely white. Over the next couple hundred miles with a few re-oilings, it seems to be retaining the oil better.

 

Bruce :7drive:

[Ian7]

I have a pair of K&N's on my x-flow. I put a small piece of metal foil tape on the 2 or 3 sq inches of filter element that faces directly into the airstream on the forward filter. Only blocks about 10% of the inlet surface area, and fixes the "blow-through" problem, as well as protecting the element from rock damage.

[11Budlite]

Thanks Ian. I had thought of forming a piece of aluminum to mount in the front part of the hood opening to block the direct flow of air to the filter. You're idea seems a lot easier!

 

Bruce :7drive: