K and N experience

[Old 'n Rusty]

I have been running a K&N for about 100,000 km. When I first got the filter, I serviced it about every 20,000k. My results were good. Despite driving in some very dusty conditions, there was never any dust inside the intake. Lately I left it closer to 50,000 km. Upon the advice of other users I applied the oil liberally, after letting the filter dry for several days in a hot, dry place. When I pulled it yesterday, I noticed -for the first time- a thin dusting of some very fine dust on the intake tube just near the filter. It was completely sealed. I held the filter up to the sun and saw that there were tiny pinhole gaps in the part of the filter that had been on top. The bottom was a tarry mess of ooze, goop and dirt.

Lesson: Oil the filter well (I did this)
Either re-oil or at least rotate the filter 180 degrees to stop the top from drying out and only partially filtering the air. I guess the k&n is not a filter you can ignore or go the BHAF route.

If you are hauling in hot weather, you must have some kind of fresh air induction or your temps will climb and your power and economy will go way down. I tape up the holes I drilled in the stock air box when it is hot.

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91 (08-90) D250

5sp 2wd 497k VE 'adjusted', 3200 spring, Pyro, boost, 3.54 ,:thumbsup KN, 1\8" timing bump, 25mpg city 30mpg hiway 20mpg towing 6k 5'er

R60/7, Volvo 245 GL, f150 4x4 5 spd, Ram 318, MPG's are in Imp gal's

[Dr. Evil]

bsarbbbbbbbbbbbbb

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Last edited by Dr. Evil : 02-02-2008 at 09:20 PM.

[carcrz]

I'd try to get it replaced under K&N's warranty & then sell the new one on eBay for a better replacement.

__________________
2005 DODGE RAM 2500 - Quad Cab - 4x4 - Lonestar Package - Chrome Handle Covers - Carbon Fiber Interior - Katzkin black/taupe Leather Seats - n-fab side steps - PML Tranny pan & Diff. Covers - FS2500 Bypass Filter - Quad Commander - Quad Race Module - Nanofiber Air Filter - Air Horns & Strobes on the shelf - & now a carseat! VOTE FOR THIS MONTH'S ROTM!

[Old 'n Rusty]

They are not big holes and after I washed the filter this time they returned to that new filter look. Sunlight penetrates easily but no pinholes anymore. The holes I suspect are due to the oil drying out or seeping to the bottom of the filter. This does not happen when I rotate the well-oiled filter. It does happen when I do nothing for 50 thousand km's.

I would throw the filter into the garbage if it were not performing well with a little care. By the way, I notice a real increase in temps when running a little hard with the OEM filter.

Thanks for the heads-up on the warranty AND the fleabay thing. If it gets nasty I will try to return it.

And DR. EVIL the holes were never there until I let the mileage pile up to something like what K and N claim is appropriate. They are not there now. My point is (other than the one on the top of my head) in trusting the claims of a company, I risked some extra wear to my baby. Sadly she is just breaking in now and I would hate to lose any of her life expectancy.

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91 (08-90) D250

5sp 2wd 497k VE 'adjusted', 3200 spring, Pyro, boost, 3.54 ,:thumbsup KN, 1\8" timing bump, 25mpg city 30mpg hiway 20mpg towing 6k 5'er

R60/7, Volvo 245 GL, f150 4x4 5 spd, Ram 318, MPG's are in Imp gal's

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Last edited by Old 'n Rusty : 08-21-2006 at 03:59 PM.

[Dr. Evil]

J fgggggggggggggggggg

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Last edited by Dr. Evil : 02-02-2008 at 09:20 PM.

[Old 'n Rusty]

Thanks Dr. Evil. I appreciate the Info. No fact is unwanted when you are trying to make machinery work well. :thumbsup

Maybe we need to start a thread on how wonderful the drivers are in our hometown.

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91 (08-90) D250

5sp 2wd 497k VE 'adjusted', 3200 spring, Pyro, boost, 3.54 ,:thumbsup KN, 1\8" timing bump, 25mpg city 30mpg hiway 20mpg towing 6k 5'er

R60/7, Volvo 245 GL, f150 4x4 5 spd, Ram 318, MPG's are in Imp gal's

[Dr. Evil]

tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

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Last edited by Dr. Evil : 02-02-2008 at 09:20 PM.

[Alt-Tab]

My "twin" told me the other day that K&N filters were hard on the turbos. Something about the oils they use being hard on it. I didn't have time to get any more explanation from him because the cops ran us off and I had to get some food and head to bed. Anybody else know anything about this?

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-- Taylor -- 2004 3/4 ton, 6 speed, 4x4, 209k miles Silencer ring missing, straight pipe, AMSOIL 4510, Clearance lights, Mickey Thompson 325/60/18 Baja MTZ's, 2" leveling kit, Predator Stage III

[Old 'n Rusty]

Hey Alt-Tab, I wouldn't doubt that a little oil would mess up one of your new-fangled turbos... heck they probably seize if a bunny farts. Just kidding. I don't see how the lube could possibly cause a problem and I have never heard of that one. My Bosche injection guy has no problem with the k&n, runs one himself on a stately old '92. He agrees that you have to watch for signs of the top drying out. Don't trust the filter manufacturer's story. caveat emptor and all that.:thumbsup

He also says that I should be a little more consistent with the fuel additive since we have the new low sulphur fuel. Sulphur does not lubricate but the extraction process used in Western Canada does, according to him, rob the fuel of lubricity. He was promoting Standyne additive over the others. Does anyone agree with him? The brochure looks convincing but you know they all look convincing.

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91 (08-90) D250

5sp 2wd 497k VE 'adjusted', 3200 spring, Pyro, boost, 3.54 ,:thumbsup KN, 1\8" timing bump, 25mpg city 30mpg hiway 20mpg towing 6k 5'er

R60/7, Volvo 245 GL, f150 4x4 5 spd, Ram 318, MPG's are in Imp gal's

[CTD610]

Oiled filters such as K&N are hard on MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensors. These diesels pull so much air at high boost, it'll start to "suck" the oil right out of the filter. The oil then gums up your MAF, giving you anything from rough idle to really crappy milage. It pays to clean the MAF with some electronics cleaner to ensure your gettin max performance from it, if your using an oiled filter. I myself will never use an oiled filter again. Their just not worth the money or the damage they can cause,IMHO. That's why you see more and more companies advertising "non-oiled" after market high flow air filters.:thumbsup

I don't know when MAFs were added to the Cummins, but just letting people know what's going on with the oiled type filters in newer vehicles.

__________________
2006 RAM 2500 QC SLT 4X4 - THUNDER ROAD PKG - CTD - 6spd - AEM Brute Force CAI-HURST T Handle
Old Truck: 2001 Silverado 2500 HD 4X4 Duramax/Allison
IBEW 1600
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Last edited by CTD610 : 08-21-2006 at 09:29 PM.

[Alt-Tab]

Now THAT makes more sense. I couldn't see how oil could hurt the turbo.....

Yet another reason to buy a BHAF.

__________________
-- Taylor -- 2004 3/4 ton, 6 speed, 4x4, 209k miles Silencer ring missing, straight pipe, AMSOIL 4510, Clearance lights, Mickey Thompson 325/60/18 Baja MTZ's, 2" leveling kit, Predator Stage III

[Greenleaf]

My truck's Mass Air Flow sensor constitutes my ears...............


When the turbo begins to spool, I can HEAR the MASS AIR FLOW





:thumbsup

Sorry....a little First Gen (Mechanical) humor there.

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1990 D250/1992 D250 Modified by **Smokehouse Diesel** Ashland, OH

....therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38