K & N Filters

[RollingsFarms]

does anyone know or have a guess as to how much it would cost to switch back to the factory air box if you have a k&n?

[dmccarty]

I won't put a K&N on my equipment.

Go search the websites that support your truck. On mine there are discussions about trucks using K&N being entered into the Ford computer systems. Ford will deny warranty coverage if there is damage caused by air filtration. Ford is noting that the truck had a K&N. If the engine is dusted and you show up with a Ford filter, Ford will know you had a K&N.

I don't really know if this is happening but it has been discussed on the Ford related sites.

Just not worth it to me. The Ford filter works.

Later,
Dan

[Dargo]

After working on and around extremely expensive and large diesel machinery I noticed one common factor in the air filters. That was Baldwin or Donaldson air filters. If they trust them to half a million dollar V12 diesel engines that put out over a thousand hp and work in extremely dirty and dusty conditions, I figure they are good enough for me. I don't know what models this holds true for, but I did discover that my "factory" John Deere, Kubota and CNH air filters were all made by either Baldwin or Donaldson.

I too had tried a K&N filter on a vehicle many years ago. I took it out and pitched it after I had several engine builders tell me that, in their opinion, K&N air filters allow more air flow at the expense of good filtration and that poor filtration had been the direct cause for expensive damage. I don't want to reinvent the wheel nor be on the cutting edge of anything. I just want good performance, good reliability and good economy without taking any undue risks in achieving those objectives. Based on what I've been told, I view using a K&N filter system as taking more of a risk than I'm personally willing to take. I guess you could say that I don't view the potential reward to be near enough to offset the potential risk with air filters.

[Builder]

Totally agree. My IH4800 and my CASE take Baldwin filters about the size of a 5 gallon drywall spackel bucket and it moves some air.

The problem with the small trucks is they have little space under the hood for a bigger free flowing intake. The one on my DMAX is pretty decent sized.

[cperky]

wow! thanks for all the responses. I am glad I asked before I purchased the K&N products. I had really bought into their recent advertising. I guess I was really expecting good reviews from everyone here. I will just keep replacing my air filters as normal and do the other common sense things that all of yall have mentioned.

Thanks again
Chris

[Builder]

Originally Posted by cperky

wow! thanks for all the responses. I am glad I asked before I purchased the K&N products. I had really bought into their recent advertising. I guess I was really expecting good reviews from everyone here. I will just keep replacing my air filters as normal and do the other common sense things that all of yall have mentioned.

Thanks again
Chris

Lots of snakeoil out there, ever with truck parts. I have no doubt the K&N might move more air, but the price to pay is probably more particles getting past your intake. I could be wrong, but I don't trust them.

[crashz]

I had a K&N filter on an F150 and could see a slight perfomance gain (seat of the pants) and thought the world of K&N products. Reading the studies about the fine particles passings untouched through them kinda of bothered me. But what really made me cringe (and vow never to use an oiled filter again) is the amount of dust accumulated in the pleats of the air intake. I was able to shake it out over a plain piece of paper and it was very fine dark sand. VERY gritty. No doubt that this was road dust because it was covering the filter too. I never experienced engine damage to the extent that I had mechanicl problems, however my oil analysis always came back with high silicone.

[Builder]

Originally Posted by RollingsFarms

does anyone know or have a guess as to how much it would cost to switch back to the factory air box if you have a k&n?

You could probably find a stock air filtration system cheap if you go to a truck website and look in their classifieds. Lots of guys try to sell them after they install an aftermarket intake on their truck.

[WilliamBos]

I agree. They let more air through, but also let everything else through. And you will not see a return on investment for a long long time.

[RollingsFarms]

Originally Posted by Builder

You could probably find a stock air filtration system cheap if you go to a truck website and look in their classifieds. Lots of guys try to sell them after they install an aftermarket intake on their truck.

thanks! yeah, that's what i've been doing. that and looking on ebay. my friend also has been debating about getting an aftermarket air kit. he has the same truck as mine, so i told him i wanted his stock air box if he decided to go through with it. if anyone hears of anything just send me a PM. need one for a 2004 silverado Z71 with the 5.3