I don't know why people buy air filters thinking it is a performance part. I use K&N because they filter better than paper and after 4 or 5 paper filters they'll pay for themself. An oiled gauze will catch particles better than non oiled paper particles. Dirt is attracted to oil. If you don't oil, clean and seal the filter right then you'll have problems.

I used the same K&N on my 70 SS for over 10 years. Not a bad $40 investment. It kept the air clean and that car kept the engine bay filthy. It sat really low (3" of clearance) and the fan was always kicking up dirt. I never found any grit etc on the filtered side. My wife's GAGT w/ram air and 115000k+ miles has one. There is grit in the bottom of the airbox from the RA, but it gets no further. If it did, I'm sure it would be smoking by now. I'm not saying K&N is the best anymore, but it isn't bad either.

If you want something that flows well and don't care about filtration they do make stainless mesh filters. The ricers like them for the sound and flow, but they don't filter well at all. IIRC from a website that tested filters, the synthetic fibered filters filter best and do produce maybe 1 hp more.

Its funny how people will be all over a product when its new, but after a few years they're saying its crap. 10 years ago I never heard anyone complaining about K&N. Then you have people that blame something new for problems. Like some GA people blame Dexcool for intake gasket failure.

 

I had great luck with K&Ns on my 5.0s (conical type), but the flat-panels suck. I am not here to be biased or bash products, but I can tell you that the K&N showed zero increase in horsepower on the dyno. That, coupled with poor fitment and questionable filtration put me back to paper. I may try the Holley, but why blow another $50?

 

K&N is worth the $ IMO, simply b/c it is able to be cleaned. i have had no trouble out of mine, dont know what the big deal is

 

basically we were discussing whether or not it was a power adder.

We are not disputing its ability to filter. It does so well. But my stance, based on my multiple dyno pulls on this, lead me to think that it hinders power production and as such, I will not be using one.

Sure it can be cleaned and thats all fine. But for me, personally, its a hassel. I would rather replace it and be done with it. 1 air filter a year isnt going to kill me when you figure I have spent hundreds on oil alone! 1 oil change costs me about $35-$40 using amsoil products. Just for consistancy and ease of purchase. I am a man of leisure. Would rather have it sent to my door than go out hunting for what I want.

 

Deffinately K&N or Holley Powershot over a paper filter.

 

umm i have a question. lets say hypothetically speaking the paper got you an extra 2-3 hp but it doesnt filter as well. Is 2 hp enough of a difference that youd be willing to give up that bit of filtration and but your engine at a while smaller but still slightly larger risk of damage. Id rather say no thanx to 2 hp and not have something ruin my engine.

 

granted.. but if the tolerance is enough to get past the engineers behind the car.. its good enough for me.. I dont see myself with the car 5 years down the road..

 

Who really cares if there's a slight difference in the filtration capablities of one filter vs another?!.............

.............IMO, if the motor wears out over time (because of a poor filter problem or whatever) it's just a good excuse to build a new hi-po engine!!!!!!!!

That's my $.02 .