After my experiment with K&N air filter for the past 6 months 8,000KM, I will never use it again. I found evidence of dust & sand inside the airbox along with dirt entering the intake. Honda OEM seems much more robust and will use it from now on. When I changed out the OEM filter, the airbox and the intake looked clean, can't say the same for K&N. Korea can get extremely dusty during the early part of spring, from sand storms being blown in from Chinese desert. I also found evidence of oil inside the airbox, maybe from the dealer overfilling the oil, which I drained a little out after riding it home. I should have known that K&N wasn't filtering as well as the stock one, due to oil turning darker quicker. Another giveaway to K&N inferior filtration is when you hold it up to a light source you can practically see the small holes, where fine dust particles can penetrate. I know oiling the filter will lessen the dust entering the air box, but in no way is it superior in protection compared to the oem air filter. The pictures I took didn't come out so well, due to low lighting condition and poor quality camera.
[image: Attached Image: air filter dusty 100_0009.jpg]
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After 8,0000 KM
When the K&N was helf up to a light source, I could see how small particles will get thru
Total miles to date
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[image: Attached Image: Milage.JPG]
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[image: Attached Image: K&N see thru.JPG]
Dust and SAND? They're going to be a lot bigger than the gaps in the filter material. Was the K&N filter pre-oiled?
Never heard of a K&N filter letting in sand before. I've had one fitted to my bike for well over 100,000 kilometres and never seen any evidence of dust, sand, or anything else. Mind you, that dust you have there looks a lot like Australian desert bulldust, which is extremely fine. I could see it clogging a filter up rapidly, but not getting past it.
I purchased the filter in December 2010 and it came pre-oiled, and followed direction on the installation so there was no gap in the filter housing. Like I said when I held the filter in a light source, I could see that it won't trap fine particles. I should have said dust and not sand, either way other than air is penetrating thru the K&N filter
after 8000KM
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[image: Attached Image: dusty air filter.JPG]
sand from China ha!!!
must be your air pollution...... :laughing6-hehe:
[image: View Post]Dae, on 09 June 2011 - 03:54 AM, said:
I purchased the filter in December 2010 and it came pre-oiled, and followed direction on the installation so there was no gap in the filter housing. Like I said when I held the filter in a light source, I could see that it won't trap fine particles. I should have said dust and not sand, either way other than air is penetrating thru the K&N filter
Fair enough then. You must have some super fine dust - finer than flour!
[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 09 June 2011 - 06:55 AM, said:
sand from China ha!!!
must be your air pollution...... :laughing6-hehe:
It may sound ridicules to you, but it's true. Before you laugh too hard, do some research.
Here is a link to BBC news
http://news.bbc.co.u...fic/7274718.stm
A Google search brings up a lot of comments about the filtering efficiency, (Or lack therof), of a K&N replacement filter.
It's almost like arguing politics with lots of statistics and test results thrown around.
I happen to use a K&N that my bike was equipped with when I bought it used, but I don't think I would have replaced the stock filter with the K&N myself.
Several instances of dirt getting past the K&N filter media have been mentioned, but.......
Could improper installation have been a factor? Maybe extreme conditions such as those experienced by Dae be the cause?
Since I rarely ever encounter a lot of dusty air, I'm not too concerned with damaging my motor by using the K&N. Time will tell.
Hmmm... This sounds very unusual to me. I have been using K&N air and oil filters since 1976. I have used them in every single car, truck, bike, dirtbike, sand rail, snowmobile etc... I have owned. I have them now in all 5 bikes, and the 1984 VF750F has had the same K&N in it since 1984. With over 400,000 miles of use on my own vehicles with K&N filters in them, I have never experienced any damage whatsoever due to poor filtering of air or oil.
I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with your K&N filter, but my experience has been the polar opposite, for over 25 years. I think they are without doubt, one of the best filter brands available. You should contact the company and see if they have an explanation, or at the very least, give you a refund.
Garry
I will never put that garbage in my motorcycle. After the diesel engine test a bunch of years ago which showed that when compared to stock, the K&N flowed less air and allowed more particulates through, I just don't see the point. I worked in a GM service shop a long time ago where Duramax engines would come in ruined from sucking in a bunch of dust, and if there was a K&N in there the warranty was voided. There is an argument that the K&N saves you money because it can be washed, but I'll spend 40 bucks once a year on a new filter rather than dust my engine.
Average pore size in a K&N filter is 64 microns. So potentially a significant amount of dust that has a particle size greater than 64 microns may pass through the filter.
Smallest particle visible to the unaided human eye is about 40 microns.
So, Yes Virginia - you would be able to see debris that passed through the K&N filter in to the airbox..
[image: View Post]k1c, on 09 June 2011 - 09:48 AM, said:
Average pore size in a K&N filter is 64 microns. So potentially a significant amount of dust that has a particle size
greater than 64 microns may pass through the filter.
Smallest particle visible to the unaided human eye is about 40 microns.
So, Yes Virginia - you would be able to see debris that passed through the K&N filter in to the airbox..
Very true. Good call, k1c.
People seem to get highly emotional over things like K&N filters, different brands of oil, airbox mods, etc... facts are facts but people still believe what they wanna believe.
Just call me lazy and wastefull. So much easier to throw one away and stick in a new one, than to clean, dry, and re-oil. But to each his own... Your mileage may vary... Yada, yada, yada...
would never use a k&n because of some of the test results i have seen. racing may be but road no.
i have a track r6 and that has a standard air filter i just dont see the point.
you could even invalidate your warranty if you use an aftermarket filter and you have a problem due to dirty air!
polar
I have an OEM filter, which I shake out or even vacuum from time to time :blush:
No issues to report so far.
Related topic --- A trick I learned years ago racing dirt bikes was to coat the entire interior of the airbox with grease. (not past the air filter of course) This provides a larger surface to catch dust, dirt, leaves, etc. I thought it really helped the air cleaner stay cleaner, longer because most of the dust was getting trapped in the grease.
[image: View Post]MisterBill, on 09 June 2011 - 12:04 PM, said:
Related topic --- A trick I learned years ago racing dirt bikes was to coat the entire interior of the airbox with grease. (
not past the air filter of course) This provides a larger surface to catch dust, dirt, leaves, etc. I thought it really helped the air cleaner stay cleaner, longer because most of the dust was getting trapped in the grease.
Why not?
If I were to do it, that's the first place I'd grease.
JMHO.
[image: View Post]Rice, on 09 June 2011 - 12:20 PM, said:
[image: View Post]MisterBill, on 09 June 2011 - 12:04 PM, said:
Related topic --- A trick I learned years ago racing dirt bikes was to coat the entire interior of the airbox with grease. (
not past the air filter of course) This provides a larger surface to catch dust, dirt, leaves, etc. I thought it really helped the air cleaner stay cleaner, longer because most of the dust was getting trapped in the grease.
Why not?
If I were to do it, that's the first place I'd grease.
JMHO.
That's what the oil from the crankcase breather is for! :goofy:
Whatever air filter you decide to go with, after the install be sure to put some shredded cheese on top of it. This keeps the mice happy when they build a home in your airbox.
Not the first time I've heard this, and everything comes back to not being oiled correctly, as reasons given.
I've been running a K&N for 40,000kms and no issues with dirt where it shouldn't be, used them in my car and everything.
Maybe the one you got, had a defect in it or something and doesn't seal correctly.
[image: View Post]NorthernVFRDave, on 09 June 2011 - 07:05 PM, said:
Not the first time I've heard this, and everything comes back to not being oiled correctly, as reasons given.
I've been running a K&N for 40,000kms and no issues with dirt where it shouldn't be, used them in my car and everything.
Maybe the one you got, had a defect in it or something and doesn't seal correctly.
I don't know if there was a defect, it doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the filter. This was my 1st attempt in using a reusable air filter and it was a negative experience. I remember my first experience drinking vodka (new years eve) and became sick afterwards. I haven't touched vodka for the past 30 years.
[image: View Post]Dae, on 09 June 2011 - 07:30 PM, said:
[image: View Post]NorthernVFRDave, on 09 June 2011 - 07:05 PM, said:
Not the first time I've heard this, and everything comes back to not being oiled correctly, as reasons given.
I've been running a K&N for 40,000kms and no issues with dirt where it shouldn't be, used them in my car and everything.
Maybe the one you got, had a defect in it or something and doesn't seal correctly.
I don't know if there was a defect, it doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the filter. This was my 1st attempt in using a reusable air filter and it was a negative experience. I remember my first experience drinking vodka (new years eve) and became sick afterwards. I haven't touched vodka for the past 30 years.
:offtopic: Do you like Soju?
End of thread · 21 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 17 Jun 2011