air filters??

[Nuke]

...Sure enough the owner of the vehicle over-oiled the filter and killed his MAF. A used MAF for the vehicle was $300 (new was almost double that). With the CEL the owner would not pass the state emissions inspection. This owner learned the hard way. So much for "saving" money with a K&N over paper filters. Sadly, this happens all to often where the savings vaporize because the owner does not follow the directions for using an oiled filter....

When I'd get the CEL for the MAF, I'd simply spray it down and clear the code and I was usually good for another few thousand miles before I'd get it again. But the MAF eventually bit the dust around 125,000 miles. The dealer wanted $400. I went to the local auto parts store and $69 plus change, the old MAF and about 10 minutes to install it and I was back on the road.

The oiled filters do well as far as filtering is concerned PROVIDING you don't over-oil. But the advantage dissappears once you contaminate the MAF, even just in the PITA it is to clean it and reset the code. Additionally, when I had to clean and reoil the filter, it needed to dry for a good 24 hours or more before reoiling so your car was Out-Of-Service unless you still had another drop-in available.

 

[G.I.G.]

OEM filters in my '07 V8 SE. I have removed the hydrocarbon filter. I highly recommend doing that.

For those of you using K&N and TRD drop in filters, be sure you are cleaning your MAF sensor regularly. The oil from those after market filters can cause problems with MAF sensors, and it it very easy to over oil them. Just food for thought.

 

[davem]

ive had my k&n in runner for 63000 miles now and not a problem. take it out once a year clean, reoil and reinstall. wash it one day let it dry over night, oil let sit over night touch up any light spots and install no brainer. have one in the wifes rubicon since day one,25053 miles later not a problem.key is save the factory element and use while the k&n is serviced.

 

[G.I.G.]

key is save the factory element and use while the k&n is serviced.

That's a good tip. I forgot how long it takes for those things to dry before you can re oil them then reinstall them.

 

[Merle]

FRAM filter from Wal-Mart. I've had K&N filters on other cars (e.g. Supra Turbo's) and if you over oil - you're out a very expensive part.

And yeah, remove the charcoal filter further downstream.

 

[supertrooper]

Just bought a stock K&N filter...love it!

 

[Ilovesnow]

Reminds me of the time I visited my local independent repair shop.
They had a vehicle in for a CEL. The owner of the shop was hooking up his scanner to the car when I saw the K&N filter. I laughed and said I'll bet you that the CEL shows a MAF problem". Sure enough the owner of the vehicle over-oiled the filter and killed his MAF. A used MAF for the vehicle was $300 (new was almost double that). With the CEL the owner would not pass the state emissions inspection. This owner learned the hard way. So much for "saving" money with a K&N over paper filters. Sadly, this happens all to often where the savings vaporize because the owner does not follow the directions for using an oiled filter.



I use the Fram paper filters in my 4Runner. I do not put a lot of miles on my 4Runner in a year (~5K). For me, $12 for a Fram every year or two is not too much to pay especially since the sound my V8 makes is not all that important to me.

Personally, I take the oiled filter manufacturer's horsepower claims with more than a few grains of salt. In all the discussions regarding oiled filters I have seen so far, NOT ONE vehicle owner has EVER posted actual dyno slips before and after an oiled filter was installed.

I think the biggest problem that people have with K&N air filters is not reading the directions for the re-charge kit.

The directions say to re-oil only ONE side of the filter - the side that the air is entering from the outside. I could see having problems with the MAF if both sides of the filter are oiled and oil comes off the filter and sticks to/burns on the MAF. However, when used properly, the K&N filter works great, IMO.

I have always used K&N filters in my vehicles (drop-in to the OEM air box), and have never had a problem with them.

 

[chaz]

its not k&n filters only, its wet filters in general. they require periodic cleaning of the maf , tube & throttle body. it has happened to me in other vec.s as well as my t4r, with brand new , untouched wet filters after just a few thousand miles. i will say, the last two times were with volant, even before you get to cleaning, mpg goes down & the engine starts runings rougher , it can even stall out if not cleaned soon enough. to me the xtra maintenance isnt worth it, so ill only use dry filters from now on. but to each his own.

 

[4Runner8]

yea im going to stay away from the oiled filters

 

[MikesToy]

I never oiled mine. I just wash with detergent soap and water, air dry, and use the TRD cleaner solution and air dry again.