Air Filter OEM vs. K&N Question?

[houjames98765]

Air Filter OEM vs. K&N Question? HELP!!!!

Last night I bought the K&N air filter for my 1999 4Runner 4cyl 3rz engine. My question is recommended to replace my OEM to K&N or should I keep the OEM.

Is this filter I ordered online help??
33-2050-1 - K&N Replacement Filters, Replacement Air Filter

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Depends... Only driving your 4Runner on the road? Then a K&N is fine. If you take your 4Runner off-road into dusty environments, I prefer sticking with the factory disposable filters. If you do a lot of driving in the dust, change them early too.

Just my opinion.

 

[jeremyc74]

There are only two ways to increase flow through a filter.

A - Allow larger particles through
B - Increase the filter area

If there's any increase in flow with an aftermarket drop in, it's because it's not filtering as much. I'd stick with OEM personally.

 

[csp]

Chart displaying how well K&N filter dirt/particulates vs. paper filters:

 

[AZ4Running]

I just started running an Airaid Synamax filter, no oil. So far i am happy with it am it seems to filter well. Nothing will trap dust like the oe filter but i like not havi g to replace my filter. I do still have a good oe filter for super dusty off roading.

 

[UnderFire]

Really there's nothing to be gained from putting a drop-in filter into the stock airbox, that said, if I was going to put one in, it definitely would not be a K&N, the only thing they have going for them is the Re-usable design, it's been proven that they do not filter as well as paper filters, and the oil goes into your intake and causes problems.

I have a 3rz as well and I plan on replacing my filter when it is needed with one of these.

Power Intake Panel Filter, 1990-2000 Toyota 4Runner SR5, Limited

 

[AKCD]

Chart displaying how well K&N filter dirt/particulates vs. paper filters:

I'd just like to point out how visually misleading this graph is. The base of the graph is 96%, not 0% like one might subconsciously think. Doesn't discredit it, just look at it closely.

 

[Unner]

The filters that need to oiled and cleaned are just a pain to me personally. I like to be able to open the air box, pull the old one out and put the new one in and be done in 30 seconds. I do a lot of dirt road driving too so I replace mine more often than a rig that stays strictly on pavement.

 

[white_n_slow]

I would not use the K&N. You'll actually notice your oil is dirtier when you change oil just from all the crud the K&N allows into your combustion chamber. If you car is strictly a pavement-punder, maybe... but there are still particles in city air that you don't want to let into the engine.

I have found that the NAPA Gold filters are pretty good. Paper filtration material like OEM, however they seem to have more "pleats" which translates into more overall filtration surface and should theoretically allow in more air without compromising filtration. Will your butt-dyno feel it? Absolutely not, but they're cheap

 

[xspsi6]

I as a professional mechanic will never use a k&n as it only causes problems as stated above but the worst thing is over time the oil can cause a host of problems by getting on the maf sensor, I have seen this play out over and over through the years so the 1st thing we look at is if there is a k&n air filter in it.

Nothing but bad

 

[SpidermanGeek]

This is interesting info and responses in this thread. I've been a "car guy" for a long time now and I've swapped to K&N air filters in pretty much all of my cars. I've been around the internet on various automobile forums and I must say, this is the first place where I've seen a majority saying they wouldn't use a K&N air filter.

I totally see the point and shortfalls of the K&N, all valid.

I was thinking of buysing a drop-in for my T4R, but I guess i'll stick to paper filters, especially if I plan on doing off-roading.

It's just K&N's have never been an issue in my other vehicles, this is the first I hear of this kind of feedback. It's interesting.

 

[slides]

So, does anyone want to by my K&N drop in.:lookout:

 

[Nunyabiz]

For a 4Runner K&N does NOT seem to be the best option.
For my old Baja Bug running dual carbs back in the 70s and 80s the K&N was the best there was by far and it worked great on my VW.
In extremely dusty, desert conditions it let in what looked like zero dust every time I popped them off to look the crabs were clean as a whistle.
and the filters after a weekend in the desert were completely covered in thick dust.
Also in an old VW engine that was no MAF to foul up.

However on the 4Runner, unless they have changed something in the past couple of years the filter they have to "fit" the airbox is a little thin filter with a big frame it fits into so that it sorta fits into the airbox and does not seal well.
That gives you a tiny filter, smaller surface area, with a sad seal. Plus if you over oil it at all you will get tiny droplets of oil on your MAF which will just muck things up.

I replaced the K&N that came with mine with the Airaid Jr kit and the Synthamax filter.
The Synthamax filter is as thick a filter with as much surface area as can fit into the airbox, it is well made with a great sealing surface, very good airflow and so far as I can tell excellent filtering.