K&n Filter Driving Maf Nuts

JohnGalt · January 21, 2011

Has anyone experienced MAF going nuts due to use of K&N filters? My MAF is getting dusty like nothing and have cleaned it using the contact cleaner a couple of times. Have anyone else experienced the same? Comparing a K&N to a normal paper filter, I see large holes and it's no wonder dust going through it. Wondering whether you guys follow any preventive measures for protecting the MAF besides having to clean it at every service.

Ripper · January 21, 2011

Has anyone experienced MAF going nuts due to use of K&N filters? My MAF is getting dusty like nothing and have cleaned it using the contact cleaner a couple of times. Have anyone else experienced the same? Comparing a K&N to a normal paper filter, I see large holes and it's no wonder dust going through it. Wondering whether you guys follow any preventive measures for protecting the MAF besides having to clean it at every service.

extra performance comes at a price.

If you want engine longevity and least hassle...Paper filters are the best.

MAF is getting dusty means that some of those dust particles are entering your combustion chamber continuously... not a good thing!

VVTi · January 21, 2011

I had a 57i kit fitted in my P11. After a few months I noticed a few misses. I cleaned the MAf a few times. Also I stopped using the K&N as I noticed a fine layer of dust behind the filter and on the throttle body.

I have a strong feeling that K&Ns are not good for the long run in the dusty conditions of SL.

Also, by the time I have decided to sell the P11, blue smoke started coming and I realised that the valve seats are busted.

kelum_wj · January 21, 2011

I had a 57i kit fitted in my P11. After a few months I noticed a few misses. I cleaned the MAf a few times. Also I stopped using the K&N as I noticed a fine layer of dust behind the filter and on the throttle body.

I have a strong feeling that K&Ns are not good for the long run in the dusty conditions of SL.

Also, by the time I have decided to sell the P11, blue smoke started coming and I realised that the valve seats are busted.

I too feel that K&Ns are not suitable for S.L. Specially the cone ones.One of my friends had a cone filter and there was a lot of Dust inside the Throttle body and the MAF.Finally he fixed the Stock air filter

Edited January 21, 2011 by kelum_wj

JohnGalt · January 21, 2011

I too feel that K&Ns are not suitable for S.L. Specially the cone ones.One of my friends had a cone filter and there was a lot of Dust inside the Throttle body and the MAF.Finally he fixed the Stock air filter

Not only that machang, I've seen folks fitting cone filters without a filter wrap. Couple of friends complained during the last couple of rainy months that their cars stopped abruptly. Only to find out that water has been sucked up through the cone.

JohnGalt · January 21, 2011

Thanks for sharing your views guys. Appreciate it!

jdnet · January 21, 2011

Are you using the K&N recharge kit? you gotta make sure the filter is decently cleaned and oiled. For our conditions you should atleast cut the service interval on the filter by half. Eitherway the best and safest thing for the engine is the paper filter.

JohnGalt · January 21, 2011

Are you using the K&N recharge kit? you gotta make sure the filter is decently cleaned and oiled. For our conditions you should atleast cut the service interval on the filter by half. Eitherway the best and safest thing for the engine is the paper filter.

No machang, filter is relatively new and can run couple of thousand kms before it needs cleaning. Problem is not with the filter itself but the air that's coming through it is more dusty compared to air filtered through a paper filter. And this extra dust is messing with the MAF. Also I got to know that certain car manufacturers will void warranty for the MAF if you install a K&N air filter. Notably Mazda.

shanX · January 21, 2011

There are also fake K&N filters

JohnGalt · January 21, 2011

There are also fake K&N filters

This one is from US.

jdnet · January 21, 2011

No machang, filter is relatively new and can run couple of thousand kms before it needs cleaning. Problem is not with the filter itself but the air that's coming through it is more dusty compared to air filtered through a paper filter. And this extra dust is messing with the MAF. Also I got to know that certain car manufacturers will void warranty for the MAF if you install a K&N air filter. Notably Mazda.

Yeahb I was just checking since those filters tend to clog up well before the recommended interval. I used the drop-in filter on my old intrepid and but didn't have any issues in the 50,000 miles I used it for. Then again I was in an area with minimal air pollution and dust. Never really checked for dust either. If you do notice dust in there you best change back to paper filters. Longetivity of the engine is worth far more than the little performance you get out of the filter.

shanX · January 21, 2011

This one is from US.

You could have got an AEM or Apexi. Anyway most of these are not suitable for SL conditions

JohnGalt · January 21, 2011

You could have got an AEM or Apexi. Anyway most of these are not suitable for SL conditions

Yeah. Thanks for the suggestions mate! AEM Dryflow filter seems to be really interesting.

BLu3HaZe · January 21, 2011

Have a read through, there is no big difference with a stock N/A engine

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest2.htm

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest3.htm

JohnGalt · January 22, 2011

Have a read through, there is no big difference with a stock N/A engine

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest2.htm

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest3.htm

A fantastic read bro! Thanks!

I'm sure that 1% for K&Ns here in Colombo would mean an awful lot. Was quite evident with the dust layer in my MAF which was about one millimeter in thickness.

kelum_wj · January 22, 2011

A fantastic read bro! Thanks!

I'm sure that 1% for K&Ns here in Colombo would mean an awful lot. Was quite evident with the dust layer in my MAF which was about one millimeter in thickness.

You get very little gain in a NA engine.Therefore not worth compromising engine life for than 1% gain

JohnGalt · January 22, 2011

You get very little gain in a NA engine.Therefore not worth compromising engine life for than 1% gain

True :-) Actually that was K&N filtering 99% of dust and 1% getting through. That was in the above articles BLu3HaZe mentioned. And yeah, I get your point.

heavyD · January 22, 2011

I had a 57i kit fitted in my P11. After a few months I noticed a few misses. I cleaned the MAf a few times. Also I stopped using the K&N as I noticed a fine layer of dust behind the filter and on the throttle body.

I have a strong feeling that K&Ns are not good for the long run in the dusty conditions of SL.

Also, by the time I have decided to sell the P11, blue smoke started coming and I realised that the valve seats are busted.

Because of the filter? :blink:

VVTi · January 22, 2011

Because of the filter?

Yep. the engine was fine till I replaced to K&Ns. The first indication was the film of duct inside the throttle body an intake manifold.

virensti · January 22, 2011

Because of the filter?

Possible mate, dust getting into the engine is a big no no.. however I think the best filter (if you want a tiny bit more performance) is the K&N box filter... the one that fits into the normal intake manifold.. that doesn't let in as much dust as the cones and its yet way cheaper than constantly replacing your air filter every 10 thousand km's or so...

Ripper · January 22, 2011

Possible mate, dust getting into the engine is a big no no.. however I think the best filter (if you want a tiny bit more performance) is the K&N box filter... the one that fits into the normal intake manifold.. that doesn't let in as much dust as the cones and its yet way cheaper than constantly replacing your air filter every 10 thousand km's or so...

if i'm not wrong...VVTi had the box filter and not the cone one.

I think when you have the filter area more or less the same...it's very tough to let in more air without compromising somewhere.

IMHO....to gain a tad bit more power, letting more dust in to your motor doesn't make much sense.

especially if you're a regular road driver. On racing applications it's different when every little bit helps.

I'd rather use paper filters and change them a more frequently.

Never believed in using pressurized air to properly clean paper filters so i change mine every other service.

Not for performance...but just to make things work as they are designed to

jdnet · January 22, 2011

I'd rather use paper filters and change them a more frequently.

Never believed in using pressurized air to properly clean paper filters so i change mine every other service.

Not for performance...but just to make things work as they are designed to

OT but wouldn't using pressurized air damage the filter?I mean if you are using air to clean it, you may push blocked particles right through the membrane, thus expanding the holes in it.

Elvis_Pil · January 22, 2011

Had a cone K&N filter on my Civic and never had an issue- but then again, I would clean the the TB setup at least one a month Currently using a K&N drop in filter, that replaces the OEM one, again car's running fine. I get the TB and intake system cleaned every service. However I was thankful that it was not a cone setup during the recent rains..

Bugatti · January 22, 2011

Had a cone K&N filter on my Civic and never had an issue- but then again, I would clean the the TB setup at least one a month Currently using a K&N drop in filter, that replaces the OEM one, again car's running fine. I get the TB and intake system cleaned every service. However I was thankful that it was not a cone setup during the recent rains..

I use a K&N drop in box filter, and oil it every week, just to prevent the dust going pass the filter. But like most everyone here said, K&N is not that great for driving in Colombo. It'll do a better job on an open road outta Colombo..

just my opinion.