i'd like to hear feedback from those who have actually tried them. only thing I noticed for VFR filters is that the filtering element on the K&N filter seem to be smaller than oem or hiflo
is it true that a new/clean air filter or a better flowing airfilter enhances gas mileage as I read somewhere in the maintenance section of this forum? :comp13:
IMO it's a wash. I use the K&N because I don't want to be spending $50/air filter change. You can have an air filter with the area as big as Texas and the engine is still only going to use so much air. I never noticed any power change when I installed the K&N 35,000 miles ago.
I've never heard of HiFlo so can't comment on them. Although I am leery of many things sold on Ebay.
I use the K&N, and like FJ12 I did this because it is cleanable so you don't ever need to replace it again. I also noticed no difference in performance, and if you compare the area of the filter medium to the area of the inlet snorkel and flapper, its easy to see that the filter won't be the limiting factor in airflow. I like that I can clean the filter as often as I like, so effectively the engine is always breathing through a "new" filter.
K&N here. I've had one in my truck for over 200K, and it doesn't burn a drop of oil. They rarely need actual cleaning on a street vehicle. As long as you can see light through it just brush the bugs off, and go.
When I bought my diesel truck used it had a K&N filter on it. When I went to clean it I was appalled at how bad it was. It looked like the PO had never cleaned it, or at least not very well. There was caked gunk down in the pleats, and I ended up throwing it away because it simply couldn't be cleaned well enough. That put me in the "you can't clean them too frequently" camp. But that's just me.
I use the K&N, and like FJ12 I did this because it is cleanable so you don't ever need to replace it again. I also noticed no difference in performance, and if you compare the area of the filter medium to the area of the inlet snorkel and flapper, its easy to see that the filter won't be the limiting factor in airflow. I like that I can clean the filter as often as I like, so effectively the engine is always breathing through a "new" filter.
Are you saying the filter only needs to be as big as the inlet to keep from restricting airflow???
K&N filter media area is smaller than oem to match the airflow to oem. K&N media flows more air per square in/cm (pick your unit) so the filter is smaller. If you want to flow more air you need a Pipercross or BMC. I use a BMC with the Coderighter mod and it works great
I use the K&N, and like FJ12 I did this because it is cleanable so you don't ever need to replace it again. I also noticed no difference in performance, and if you compare the area of the filter medium to the area of the inlet snorkel and flapper, its easy to see that the filter won't be the limiting factor in airflow. I like that I can clean the filter as often as I like, so effectively the engine is always breathing through a "new" filter.
"Are you saying the filter only needs to be as big as the inlet to keep from restricting airflow???"
No (but I feel I am in danger of getting out of my depth here). I'm saying that I think the area of the inlet to the air-box is the major restrictor, not the area of the filter. Putting a less restrictive filter in place won't necessarily equate to more airflow. But this is irrelevant to me anyway, as I rarely open the throttle fully anyway, and I have already concluded that I'd rather have the variable intake system (aka "the flapper") operative, as Honda intended.