K & N, do they help?

[Kross Kountry]

I'm considering K&N air filters for my 2008 RSV. Will they help the performance or is it a waste of money. My bike still has the factory exaust.

[pegscraper]

Waste of money, in this case. The rest of the air intake path is too restrictive to allow better air filters to do any good. The air filters are not where the greatest restriction is. If they actually did do any good, the carbs would require rejetting. And in this case, they don't.

[N3FOL]

I stay away from those filters. They are overpriced and does no help with all of my motoring applications.

[Sunman]

I would have to disagree on the worth of K&N filters. I use them in all my vehicles, high performance or not. The value of K&N's is apparent when you are not spending money over and over on disposable paper element filters. The paper filters are about $35 EACH. The K&N is about $100 for BOTH. They last much longer, they are washable and re-usable. So aside from the "green" advantages, they will save you money. My personal experience, was a sustained fuel economy gain of about 8%, around the time that I switched. This I am told, is not possible. So some other way, my fuel economy went up, but they say it is not possible that it was the air filters, so be it. Oh, if you do decide to get them, please make sure you install the foam rubber gaskets that come in the box, I did not do that the first time I took apart my intake assembly, as I never looked in the box after I removed the filters. Just a bit of advice.

[Tom]

I really like them...They make my chrome covers on the air box fit correctly!...However as far as breathing I cant tell any difference,I just bought them so my chrome covers would fit. Tom

[stroker ace]

I'll agree with SunMan on this. I use them on everything I own, you buy them once and never have to replace them unless something stupid happens. I even have one on my lawn mower. I've never noticed any performance gain but didn't buy them for that to start with. My 2 cents worth. http://venturerider.org/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Redneck]

When I installed mine only because I wanted the chrome covers the fuel mileage didn't change and there was no noticeable change in performance. If you do some research you will find that they don't filter near as good as the paper filter. the k&n filters will reduce the life of your engine it may not be a significant amount but they do allow more dirt into the engine.

[dynodon]

I have used K&N filters for decades on my cars/trucks, and I have sold them for some time.

 

I also used to have a Dynojet dyno shop, and can tell you that a K&N on a car or truck WILL give you a little HP, from 1-5 or more but usually not much more. That is peak power at full throttle. At part throttle, the air flow us much less and the benefit of the K&N for power or MPG is almost nonexistent. STill, they are worth using if you keep your vehicles a long time and drive/ride them a lot. Clean maybe once a year and you are done.

 

As for dirt, the K&N is just as good as a paper filter, and as good if not better than foam filters.

 

I also sell Amsoil, and get oil analysis on my vehicles. If the K&N were passing ANY dirt beyond normal for any filter, oil analysis would pick it up. Only once did I start seeing silicon (basically sand or the most common element in most "dirt" in the air) and it turned out to be a hole in my K&N filter made by MY error, not any fault of the filter. I filled the hole with Silicone sealant and the numbers for silicon dropped back to near zero.

 

Also, if the K&N passed anywhere near the dirt some bogus articles claim, you would find dirt in the air path between the filter and the throttle body. NEVER in all the years I have had K&N filters would my air path fail a white glove test. Dry, clean and perfect always.

 

So, you can get some peak HP with a K&N, they will clean as well as other filters, and they can save you some money on maintenance. They won't give you any more MPG because the low throttle positions dont' pass enough air to make any difference between a K&N and a CLEAN paper filter.

 

Finally, As an Amsoil dealer, I did test their previous generation oiled foam filter VS paper and K&N and the oiled foam filter LOST HP vs paper and the K&N. I have not had a chance to test the new generation of K&N filter, I hope it does better. But I did not sell or recommend any oiled foam filter to my friends and customers.

[dragerman]

I drive a 1995 Chev Suburban with a 6.5 turbo Diesel. I installed a K&N air filter on it and now 13 years and 341,000 kilometers later it is still going strong. Not sure how much I’ve saved in paper filters but one thing for sure is that it’s paid for itself many times over. That truck has hauled ass big time and lord knows I don’t spare none (and I’ve been on some dusty roads!). Never once have I ever had any concerns for the filter aside from knowing it’s time for a cleaning. The other thing is that when I decide to clean it I don’t have to run around looking for one to buy. It’s more about economic sense then performance but if a little comes my way ‘more power to me’ ... Hey! I just made a funny!

 

My K&N’s will be going in the bike next week.

[KiteSquid]

In the reports from some independent labs I have seen, the K&N filters don't clean as good as the paper ones do, but of course they did not test the paper filter from the 2nd Gen RSV, so it is subjective....

 

I had one on my 1986 Corvette. The problem with that generation of Corvette is the air intake is low. Real low. I was driving in a heavy rain and the car would not run.

 

I removed the paper air filter that was soaking wet and drove on with no problem.

 

I purchased the K&N for that car as the paper elements would swell when driving in heavy rain.

 

I don't know if I would put them on my bike. I guess I would have to research the lowest price I could get the paper or the K&N for, and then think about the extra dirt that my bike will be inhaling.

[Guest Texcowboy]

I have BUB exhaust on my 04 Venture. If I install K&N air filters will I have to rejet?

[Jerry W]

I have BUB exhaust on my 04 Venture. If I install K&N air filters will I have to rejet?

 

Nope

[Guest Texcowboy]

Thanks Jerry that is all the encourgement I needed!

[frogmaster]

When I installed mine only because I wanted the chrome covers the fuel mileage didn't change and there was no noticeable change in performance. If you do some research you will find that they don't filter near as good as the paper filter. the k&n filters will reduce the life of your engine it may not be a significant amount but they do allow more dirt into the engine.

 

 

For the most part I do not agree with "Rednecks" LOL, but this time I Agree!