Does K&N filter really makes any difference (except for price) ? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***fenixus*** · 08-11-2009, 02:20 PM

Hello happy people,

Since recently I got borged with Toyota stuff and fixing it here and there myself... i was thinking about air filters, i bet mostly you used some modded ones, but when speaking about normal rectangular ones ... which filters are above average (except obviously price wise) ?

So far I kept using cheap FRAM air filters, either cheapest one or a Toughguard. I replace it once a year (~12-15k miles). Last April I put cheapest FRAM air filter again. now wondering, what would change if I have used K&N (4x more expensive) ?

thanks for sharing your experience.

Stillrunning · 08-11-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

now wondering, what would change if I have used K&N (4x more expensive) ?

Your bank account.

***fenixus*** · 08-11-2009, 02:49 PM

LOL

, that's what i thought, but really? K&N makes oil & air filters 2x-4x more expensive than others. so what is it with them? i sense some BS in their marketing ... they look almost same to me as other brands (with minor changes) ...

Manny1337 · 08-11-2009, 04:50 PM

they are cleanable i guess. and have a lifetime guarantee thing i think i dont run them myself i go buy the cheapy.

carsrus · 08-11-2009, 04:52 PM

Dont use an oiled filter. K&N OR Toughgaurds, stay away from that. The oil on the filter will contaminate the air sensors and just cause a buncha problems. When I used a toughgaurd I had to clean the air sensor 3 times....

The plain fram is fine, there cottony now so theres really no point in paying more for a toyota one.

Oh yeah the K&N has to use the oil since better flow = less filtration, so the oil has to catch whatever the filter element can.

eddie926 · 08-11-2009, 05:03 PM

My Toyota mechanic friend recommended staying away from oiled filters as well. And, if you read very much on this forum, you'll quickly determine that you'll get no performance benefits from running a K&N, so you might as well stick with a traditional filter.

***fenixus*** · 08-11-2009, 05:31 PM

glad i used oiled air filter (FRAM Toughguard) only once, no problem with O2 sensor fortunately. I usually use plain paper FRAM filters. will continue.

I suspected K&N is over-advertised. found one thread elsewhere stating similar opinion about K&N.

thanks for confirmation and info!

whip_cracker · 08-11-2009, 07:40 PM

Hah weird.

I run a K&N Panel filter in my 3VZ, works fine, yes... no enhancement by any means, but no issue with it and simple enough to clean. Half the time I can just get a compressor and blow the dirt out of the unit before I need to get the oil to clean the filter itself.

Panel filters, you won't see much performance change at all... you'd have to go for a decent Pod setup with proper CAI before anything even THINKS of changing in my experience.

PortugalFocus · 08-11-2009, 08:31 PM

I have had my K&N in my 1mz for 4+ months now with no issues. I take mine out every other oil change and blow it out. I switched to k&n mainly because I COULD clean it. I never expected performance out of it but I'm glad I got mine. I spent about $40 on it new. So I'm pretty close to starting to recover that money.