Now before anybody gets up set with me, Im not planning on running without an air filter, I just want to make that clear.

I bought a 1997 Z28 with a K&N intake. I have had the car a couple weeks and when I was checking out the intake I noticed that it doesnt have an air filter. What damage could the engine have and what do you guys think I should do?

The carfax said that owner before me had the car 5 years, so the guy could have ran with no air filter for up to 5 years. The car however only has 64K miles. The sad part here is that this is a 30th anniversary Z28 6spd.

 

If it seems to run fine, just put a filter on it and drive.

 

That's scary!

 

Just for the heck of it, why don't you ask the former owner how long he ran it without a filter. Might just be that it just recently fell off or somebody snagged it. One never knows. If the MAF still has a screen, apparently nothing too big was injested---probably good to go. JMHO

 

Just made sure ther are no codes for the MAF.... You might have to clean it and the throttle body.....

 

My buddy Joe ripped his airfilter out just to see if it made a differacne, there was a DEFFINATE sotp differance with a home made 1le elbow, removed stock air filter, and stock air intake... He doesnt do that all the time, but he wanted to see if he felt a differance.

 

Could you explain to me what a home made 1LE elbow looks like?

 

Probably had the donkey shlong plugged - just like the 1LE elbow

 

I would do a few short interval oil changes to try to flush out any dirt that might be in there and get a filter on it ASAP. Other than that keep enjoying the car.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I reason I knew it didnt have an air filter is because I took it to the dealer to have some work done and they told me.

When I go home I looked around and found the filter, it had just fell off.
I had a lot of trouble putting it back on, I dont know about that K&N intake.

I also took apart the intake system and it looked pretty clean, so I think im ok.

 

that makes sense. I can't believe someone putting a K&N on and then not using the expensive filter they just bought.

 

No air filter eats up the rings and valves if it was driven long like that and in dusty environment.

 

Not to mention getting dirt in the bearings on the throttle body shaft, and any parts that rely on filtered air, like the Opti vent and the PCV system.

 

D:
All of the above.