Do Performance Air Filters Actually Work?

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Performance air filters claim to increase horsepower and improve acceleration, but do they actually work? I took four air filters, included dirty & clean OE filters, a low cost aftermarket filter, and an expensive performance filter and put them to the test. To measure differences in horsepower and torque, each filter was put on a Mustang dynamometer, with multiple runs. A VBOX was used to measure real world acceleration differences.
The idea behind performance air filters is that a less restrictive air filter means the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to bring in air. That means it’s more efficient, and makes more power. It could also mean the engine pulls in more air, and with more air, the engine can inject more fuel to make more power.
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[@fosty.]

12:55 for the answer

[@epiccomedy227]

Thank you sir🙏🏻

[@OfficialXtraload]

Thank you bro!

[@xBean7.]

Fosty not the hero we deserved , but the hero we need

[@tonylyons1274]

Nice one bro

[@jhboob]

Thank you kind sir. I just can't finish any of his videos.

[@generalzod7959]

The reason why the dirty filter made a slight improvement over the clean filter is because the souls of the dead bugs have become trapped in the old filter and those trapped souls translate into greater power!

[@harry356]

Isn't that because with the dirty filter power test was with a warm engine?

[@lionsinofprideescanor8709]

Yeah don't forget the souls of unknown hard labor slaves that work hardest with lowest salary just to make those cheap yet claimed premium replacement oem filter.. their souls also contribute for the extra slight performance gain vs the stock oem filter lol

[@saranath9726]

Amen

[@JM23007]

@@lionsinofprideescanor8709 Sacrifice the youngest worker and use the blood as a fuel additive, hahaha.

[@designertjp-utube]

Snap! That vehicle came to a complete stop after it encountered *The* *RoadGhostBusters!*

[@scottkolaya2110]

I always run K&N not so much for performance, but the fact you can wash them and reuse them over and over.

[@jacobjames1171]

I stopped using them because I got sick of waiting from them to dry.

[@TwistahsWorld]

@@jacobjames1171 damn talk about inpatient

[@tychosound7020]

@@TwistahsWorld it's not like it's a $200+ per purchase issue, though. I'd prefer not having to worry about too much or too little oiling after

[@texasbtc]

@@jacobjames1171 Same, also if you accidentally oil them too much it can hurt a sensor. If I could replace them every time and it be cost effective, I would use them without a doubt.

[@Jncta]

@@texasbtc not really or depending the driver how u take care ur car…i run K&N for 7 year and still ruuning good for me even i lost 2miles per gallon but its not a big deal and im happy for a few ho😅

[@oliknow]

After years with a reusable, washable Filter I noticed how actually bad my Engine ran over time. At the beginning it was nice and had good performance, I changed back to a paper filter from a good brand. My observation was that no matter how good the filter was oild, cleaned, washed, whatever, it let through bigger particles and introduced more wear to my engine. I ditched it, the benefits did in no way outweigh the disadvantages. Wouldn't buy again, just keep your stock filter in good condition and change it once in a while.

[@robertm1692]

I had something similar happen. I added a cold air intake to my Cummins diesel engine and it came with a K&N performance filter. I kept it clean and oiled and in good condition. Lately I noticed my fuel mileage while towing was getting worse. I opted to change back to a paper filter and my fuel mileage increased by almost 3 mpg. Since I tow 600+ miles at a time this was a significant improvement.

[@chimps4gimps]

@@robertm1692 I presume you got the engine professionally remapped too? The most worthwhile thing you can do.

[@franchisefred4066]

It’s called engine air restrictions. 😂😂😂

[@stephenh1616]

Photos of the wear ??

[@michaelmaloney6112]

Too much oil on the filter probably. Doesn’t need anything but a light spray. Nothing against you or anything but I bet a brand new filter properly oiled would give you back that mpg.

[@MIMC16]

Did you try slapping on the k&n sticker on the car? +15 hp i heard.

[@moptop85]

There is no way that's true, you are thinking of supercharged decal

[@ZBasic64]

No, each sticker is only +5

[@cobaltpica]

i tried on mine, gotten only 1.5 hp more on crank. How many of these you used?

[@ripdiptatterchip3851]

i put 32 sunoco stickers on my bumber n swear my accord hits 10’s now

[@RustyX2010]

stickers can make any car go faster!

[@jdub4511]

Finally! Scientific proof that my Hyundai Accent with a parts store air filter is a sleeper! Thanks for the confirmation Jason!

[@RoaringPistons]

you killed me lol 🤣😂

[@thumperwd]

You got a legit rally car right there bro!

[@jdub4511]

I mean, Hyundai did have Accents in WRC once. So... there were Accent rally cars = Accents are rally cars = I drive a rally car!

[@johndc2998]

I have one too with a k&n lmao read my mind😂😂😂

[@Allensanity]

XD dead haha

[@rolfwittwer5871]

It would be good to see the difference in filtration effectiveness. Living in the driest state on the driest continent, dust ingress has damaged 5 engines in my 48 years of driving. Filtration performance is therefore more important than a tiny performance benefit. A dry paper filter is best because Brownian Motion results in capture of tiny particles by entrapment in the dry fibres. Wet filters do not capture the smallest particles in the same way, resulting in less effective filtration. How about a comparison?

[@anders2821]

K&N should be best for that. You can wash them and have to spray them with a oil mist which will capture all dust

[@curiositykilledthecat1557]

Good point Rolf. The air filters prime job is to filter dust out of the air to protect the engine. K&N exhaustively market their performance improvement and say little about dust capturing ability. This is for good reason. Other tests consistently find K&N to be substandard in their ability to catch dust.

[@curiositykilledthecat1557]

@@anders2821 Not the case at all. Check out actual dust stopping tests on air filters. Dry pleated paper and other woven fibres consistently outperform K&N in the air filters primary function of removing dirt particles.

[@midnight347]

@@curiositykilledthecat1557 k&n isn't gonna filter as good as dry or stock like paper filters but depending where you live it may be just fine. Dry dusty place it may not be a good idea. Where I live in VA it's not really dry and my engine stays clean I don't get much dust under the hood.

[@xynstav]

The oil on this filter can be very bad for the sensor

[@Longbowgun]

Something people don't think about when comparing power numbers: better horses can translate as better MPG as well.

[@Thejackedshredder]

Not really depends on your mods

[@greyvenom2874]

@@Thejackedshredder no he’s right the engine running smoother and breathing easier makes your mpg go up but I couldn’t tell you how much it really does improve mpg

[@Martindyna]

Not that significantly since the MAF sensor will input to the ECU the reduced airflow due to a dirty airfilter and the ECU will cut the fuel back accordingly and vice-versa. In the old days, yes certainly with a carburettor.

[@psions555]

Sometimes a smaller engine model may do less MPG than the larger engine model simply because the small engine has to be pushed hard all the time. Typical example first gen Mercedes B class with the 1.5 litre engine (way to small for that car) does less MPG than the 1.7 litre the next model up. I think this is one of the reasons people in the UK assume that American cars must get the most appalling fuel economy imaginable but actually they are not having to work very hard to do daily driving

[@Martindyna]

@@psions555 Manufacturers often over compensate for the smaller engine with a lower final drive ratio which results in poorer fuel consumption.

[@urbannpa]

K&N is how I caught a mechanic lying about changing my air filter and charging me $17.00 for it. Got a vehicle inspection, and it clearly says on the air box "DO NOT REMOVE K&N FILTER". He wrote on the bill "changed air filter". When I opened the air box the K&N was still there. I trust mechanics about as far as I can throw them.

[@ve3xtr]

Was this a independent mechanic or a car dealership mechanic? Stealerships are notorious for lying and up selling because service advisors get a commission. Who do you think pays for the fancy showroom.

[@urbannpa]

@@ve3xtr Gas station Mechanic(just as bad). I used to drive a telephone truck which needed regular service, you should see a mechanics eyes light up when I'd drive in(Jiffy Lube,Good Year even a Dealerships) for service.

[@CubNole]

@@urbannpa Oh man, there's the problem right there. The reputable technicians out there don't have to screw anyone over and they certainly don't work at gas stations.

[@UnhingedSystems]

Maybe they changed the cabin air filter?

[@FreeSwimmer]

Can a person really trust any oil coming out of a tube, that hangs down from ceiling ? Always do my own oil changes !

[@chrisfix]

I cannot wait to see the results! I have been planning to do something similar but my problem was the sample size. Maybe now since you did it, n=2 so it's more results and we can get even better data! Nice work on the video!

[@mustafaYkhan]

Good to see u here chris Love your channel too

[@PafoChannel]

We need new videos Chris.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Agreed, the more vehicles the better, I love this kind of stuff!

[@NothingXemnas]

For some reason, i read that comment with Chris' voice lol And yeah, larger sample sizes is always welcome and makes it more scientific too.

[@mwendia]

Either one of you Chris or EE should now test marvel mystery oil. Been waiting for it long.

[@alexcollins2251]

Using K/N performance filters will increase the OUA levels in your engine (silicon levels AKA dirt) It will cause your engine to not last as long especially if you have a high pressure engine with forced induction It also increases the pressure in your crank case, this is a problem for direct injection engines as you’ll be spraying more dirty oil onto your intake valves which don’t get cleaned by gasoline being a GDI, make sure if you use this to run a oil catch can Always run OEM filters the engineers spent weeks designing it to be optimal between performance and reliability.

[@ragnaroksangel]

I try to tell people this stuff and it doesn't sink into their skulls. Smh

[@LemonySnicket-EUC]

I Wish he would have tested the K&N filter dirty as well like he did the others. I have found that they get dirty fairly quickly. There goes the performance gains.

[@cliftonsargent1572]

Dude I love the actual real life and dyno testing, way better then the other videos. You got your self a sub today sir

[@manbeefcake]

This is how KZbin videos should be. Thorough and thoughtful an complete and I don't know how to express my admiration for quality. Thank you.

[@clayz1]

Which ones clean the air best?

[@mjz2mjz92]

I watched a video and immediately subscribed

[@RIPPERTON]

@@clayz1 Standard air cleaner will protect your engine better than K&N. Thats something you dont learn in university.

[@Ppareja1976]

I was just saying to myself what a great video

[@Blassie.P]

This guy Is always on point.

[@MrPhoto17]

But don't you get a sticker with the K&N? If you didn't put the sticker on you are missing out on an extra 5hp gain

[@EngineeringExplained]

Hahaha, I did get a sticker. I did not put it on. I did not gain all the horsepressures.

[@Stratotank3r]

and don´t forget to paint the brakes red! +10HP

[@TheDrAkira]

Lol!!! xDDD

[@oarias5158]

Rookie mistake 🤦‍♂️

[@michaele.7003]

This is true. No sticker no gains

[@freescape08]

That ain't dirty, that's gently used.

[@DJBillionator]

Right... i just changed my air filter at 25k.... lol

[@jasonsharpbucks]

Some people live in desert areas or even gravel roads then should change morr bit otherwise yea it can breath

[@AiDOS__]

You sir need to go out and change your air filter right now.

[@bcjammer]

as a tech anytime a clogged up mass airflow came in and obviously failed it had a k&n. they’re like having no filter. I believe engine masters did a great filter dyno test…I wouldn’t use k&n even on a yrack car but thats just me

[@TofuInc]

Yup. They are almost always over oiled and that oil end up coating the MAF sensor. GM has a section in their owners manuals that warns not to use "oiled air filters"

[@richardelliott8352]

@@TofuInc even if they are oiled correctly, they don't filter as well, and the filter is there to clean the air, not to be a speed part. I can see why GM warns against them. If the performance advantage didn't have the trade off of not cleaning as well, every manufacturer would use them.

[@MarkSmith-js2pu]

Best comment here by you

[@smc1377]

I would have liked to see a NO FILTER test (at least on the dyno) to see how much restriction there is with an air filter.

[@jtblatt1988]

Merlin D. Wizzard how can you say it’s the same performance when the entire video proves there is a performed upgrade with the k and n? Would I spend the money for this tiny upgrade? No I would not. But the video makes its pretty clear performance does improve with the better filters.

[@AndrewBrowner]

@@merlind.wizzard3558 It just showed on this specific car a K&N is 3.5% more powerful vs a BRAND NEW oem filter as in perfectly clean, no "maintenance" is gonna get it cleaner then brand new, and the tests also showed the un-maintained filter didnt hamper performance at all, im not a K&N fan and i dont think putting the filter on is gonna net and noticeable difference by itself , the stickers are just worn to death its like an ugly mole to have a K&N sticker these days... but even though i wouldnt buy one since im not into HP gains the video clearly shows it is superior atleast for the car shown so why say its not and a clean "maintained" filter is the best...watch the video again clean filter vs dirty filter no difference, KnN 3.5% difference in pretty accurate testing both dyno and practical runs

[@Thechildishmandingo]

I also would’ve liked to see an MPG test. I changed my old 93 civic beater to a k&n cone filter with an autozone shortram back in my ricer days and my mpg went from 30 average to 40. At first I thought it was a fluke but it was consistently 5-10 mpg better per tank with the same daily driving. To this day I’m still not really sure why it jumped up that much but my guess is they come from the factory with a really restrictive filter.

[@johnhiggs325]

Dad. I’ve recorded huge mpg gains in every vehicle that I’ve used a K&N filter. The power gains have been almost undetectable in most vehicles except my 2014 1500.

[@jeffjackson9679]

@@Joshg1984 Don't confuse him anymore.

[@BigKleib34]

Ordered a high-performance filter and a turbo kit showed up... weird.

[@manfredschmalbach9023]

So what? Put it in already! 😂

[@fj717]

Whoa 😱

[@fj717]

@@vanz7099 heha 😍

[@nickb9731]

I'd chalk that up as a win, good buddy.

[@ripdiptatterchip3851]

that’s not even a problem lmao

[@timmueller1314]

I used K&N years with no problems. Oiled it every 50k miles or so. Read comments about dirt in the intake after the K&N. Wiped mine with my finger and it was perfectly clean. I bought a few paper filters but am thinking about going back to the K&N when those are used up.

[@maximusmax4557]

"Do not use K&N filters in anything you care about! My brother's friend's uncle's neighbor knows a guy, who used a K&N filter in his truck, and suddenly his refrigerator stopped working!" 😅

[@pandabear631]

I hear them fancy filters can turn you gay from all them high end chemicals n such they use when makin em. 😮

[@byronlemay2166]

The beauty of the K&N is that it'll pay for itself. I've been running one in my F-150 for 17 years and it works just fine. The trick is to oil it LIGHTLY on the intake side only. The mass inflow sensor never gets dirty. If I'm going to be driving on a dusty road for awhile I'll swap it with an OEM paper filter. I take great care of my truck and I think the K&N is a great value.

[@jacobrobles688]

How do you oil it?

[@byronlemay2166]

@@jacobrobles688 It appears you've never owned one? You buy the filter and a can of the K&N spray oil. They sell it in a kit. Look up "How to oil K&N filter" on Google or your preferred search engine.

[@jacobrobles688]

@@byronlemay2166 thank you very much. I’m going to buy an oil filter and change it myself for the first time today. I know it’s not very hard, just never done it. I appreciate it

[@dw4940]

That’s a good idea!

[@dw4940]

@@byronlemay2166 kn come pre oiled so when it’s time to change filter is when you clean and reoil

[@andrefreitas3932]

"it does says PREMIUM!" lol

[@Blox117]

its a fact: PREMIUM car engines are much better than normal ones

[@nc3826]

its a fact: PREMIUM putz's are much better than normal ones

[@jettpwr7373]

Wow that's alot effort to prove that point. You definitely deserve a sub

[@bluntp.n.i.c7701]

Yeah but he talked to you much say the same thing over and over have you waiting

[@TRUMP_WAS_RIGHT_ABOUT_EVRYTHNG]

Excellent video, good data and you explained it quickly and clearly. I see so many people on KZbin downplaying k&n saying that they don't do anything except make your truck sound differently. I noticed a huge difference in towing capabilities when I put one in my 2012 Jeep Sahara It went from chickenshit slow difficulty pulling a heavy trailer to being able to pull a trailer and it was a 2 to 3 mi per gallon increase with the fuel that was my main reason for installing the k&n system to get more miles per gallon and it worked.

[@Chuckles..]

I put a K&N filter in my 4 cyl truck about 12 years ago and noticed quite a difference in performance, but the filter I replaced was really dirty. Great product imhop.

[@motorenbastler9289]

yeah but they filter air pretty badly. Thats why they get much air trough it and improve the performance

[@Chuckles..]

@@motorenbastler9289 do you know of an off the shelf filter that filters better and still allows better performance?.

[@motorenbastler9289]

@@Chuckles.. no this is not possible. Either you want performance or clean air and a long life engine.

[@MrSlash00r]

Useful, unbiased information .. what a concept. Thanks EE!

[@EngineeringExplained]

Haha, the world could use a little more of that kind of thing! :)

[@mrsmith8436]

Engineering Explained - now find a way to give us the most useful information and that would be filtration efficiency vs airflow. Then we can pick the one that flows the best but still protects the engine. That is the whole purpose of an engine air filter after all.

[@kwittnebel]

@@mrsmith8436 agreed. The highest performance filter hits the particulate removal criteria (and total filter load criteria) at the lowest pressure drop. If you dont care about filtration, why run a filter at all?

[@agnai191]

Unfortunately, it looks like this test could have performance bias. The driver of the car needs to be blinded to which air filter they are testing in each run, or they can consciously (or unconsciously) alter the results. This is particularly important in a test like this where the numbers are so close that even a slight lift-off on the throttle will make a significant difference.

[@millechemins8436]

The best youtuber out there, i remember 2 years ago, in my automobile mechanic school, on of my teacher showed one of your videos as a demo...from montreal canada

[@EngineeringExplained]

Well if you ever see that teacher again, tell him/her I said thank you!! :)

[@alextreme093]

Also from mtl canada 👍

[@oddixgames6704]

salut :)

[@millechemins8436]

@@oddixgames6704 salut les quebecois

[@jeanlafrance8746]

Ville de Québec here

[@PCPAyLOAD]

Yes, they work. I have had a full K&N intake and filter system in my Jeep Grand Cherokee for well over a year now. I document my gas milage and usage for work daily. I not only get better gas MPG, I get a noticable increase in passing accel and HP.

[@DJtheDad]

What you are not "feeling" in your daily commute is the additional engine wear accumulation from your K&N air filters lower initial efficiency. The K&N layered cotton gauze media is WIDE OPEN (low efficiency) until it accumulates a dust cake. Once the filter has caught some stuff after a couple thousand miles, it's efficiency finally rises close to the OEM requirements. However during that cake build, the K&N filter is allowing large & fine micron-size contaminants into your engine intake. K&N typically markets it's air flow performance (low restriction), but that's because the media is very open. The oiled K&N filters also throw your mass air flow sensor off and will let your engine run at peak air/fuel optimization.

[@PCPAyLOAD]

@@DJtheDad I've run K&N filters alone all the way to fill intake systems for decades in many cars. Never seen engine degradation.

[@Lazirus951]

Great informative video! There's a big missing piece though when it comes to long term effects of less filtration on the engine. The internet is full of people with opinions on this, but finding hard data is frustratingly difficult.

[@mitchiegxxr350]

Its simple,k&n short term gain is a few HP. Long term is HP loss because of less filtration. I race cars for over 20 years, and we do use k&n filters but clean/oil or chance them every race. Nobody i know uses Them in their daily cars. Hope this helps.

[@JasonTankard]

Exactly. Want best performance, remove your filter completely and have some sort of forced intake for the air. Numbers will go up, but so will the likelihood of damage.

[@niveklor1456]

Doesn't matter when the engine starts go bad that's when you off yourself

[@richardelliott8352]

Hard data is what the manufacturers generate and use , and why the select paper filters. They don't just make stuff up or play spin the wheel when designing the car's systems .

[@houseking9211]

@@richardelliott8352 they use paper because it's cheap and disposable, can force the buyer to spend more money AND spend less on manufacturing the cars

[@mikeh6876]

I have used K&N for years. Twice a year I pull it, clean it and re-oil it. Acceleration and MPG has always been better with the K&N. Many nay sayers will disagree but I am satisfied that the initial investment was worth it.

[@zanstefanic6252]

what kind of oil do you use to make it greasy again

[@chrisoconnor3119]

@@zanstefanic6252 i think k&n sells that oil....idk

[@MrHarbinged]

Oil the filter?

[@BaBaBooeyWRLD]

It’s a spray that K&N offers

[@fidelcatsro6948]

ive been using one on my bike for 8yrs...its filter element were never re- oiled other than dry cleaning with vaccuum cleaner...i notice lately its resin rubber perimeter lining had begun to crack, but the element itself is intact

[@lyfandeth]

You'll notice K&N says "designed to" and they carefully avoid the actual claim of increasing anything. They confirmed that with me on the phone, they wouldn't guarantee any gain. A performance filter may also pass larger grit particles, wearing pistons and rings and contaminating oil. Remember the auto maker spends lots of money trying to make the highest power (EPA MPG) without causing that unacceptable engine wear.

[@inaamaltaf9471]

not really. its cost(mainly),looks,packaging,sound and only on sports/sporty cars,performance

[@inaamaltaf9471]

not really. its cost(mainly),looks,packaging,sound and only on sports/sporty cars,performance

[@acynder1]

You can always put another OEM filter in parallel (if you have the space, of course) so the filters will see only half of air at peak performance, thus, passing trought the filter easier, or at least I think that that would work...

[@PCMenten]

@acynder1 is right on the mark, if you think your air filter is costing you power get a larger air filter. K&N says that filtering efficiency is 99.7%. Very nice. Except ALL other filter makers are above 99.9%. Flip the numbers over - K&N allow 300% MORE dirt. This is verified by user reports of dirt on the INSIDE of their air ducting downstream (after the air is filtered) of the filter. As far as I’m concerned, this video is an embarrassing fail. Look away, it’s shameful.

[@HalfdeadRider]

If it's designed to do it and it does not, that is illegal to sell as it's false advertising. Do you not think these companies test their filters, to see if they filter adequately and whether the oil becomes tacky enough to catch dirt and not blow into the air system? Did you see oil and dirt all over the charcoal filter too?

[@alincurut]

Good stuff! Another variation of this test that I would be curious to see, is to measure the actual filtration capabilities of the filters. Some thing that could measure particle sizes that pass through, so that we can see the trade-off of power/ dirt that gets into the engine.

[@Ratkill]

Good point. Because generally, permeability is permeability. You'd think that regardless of make, a 2um hole will let through the same amount of air no matter whose filter its located in. Obviously with warranty implications, OEM filters are going to be more aggressive in capturing suspended particles than a gofast drop-in. Its hard to find data about the flow characteristics of different filter medias though.

[@CRneu]

Projectfarm has done this. k&n performed extremely bad. They're really pretty bad filters.

[@jdlamb1690]

Thank you for sharing your testing methods and results. Purchased a K&N filter today and after a few minutes of driving, I could tell a marked difference in the responsiveness of my 2021 Forester, a CUV not known for sprightly driving characteristics. Hopefully this is not all in my head.

[@CRneu]

checkout projectfarm's testing on air filters. The jist is that k&n is a pretty terrible filter for actually filtering the air. It lets more air through but at the cost of actually filtering. This will lead to a shorter engine lifespan in a lot of circumstances.

[@mendez022]

Would you recommend it?

[@alialrashidi1764]

I added a turbo in my Tesla, now I have to figure out the fuel part

[@breakingdecks1899]

Lmao!

[@goodguy...badrep.]

Just put a fuel pressure regulator. Duh.

[@chrisbaker2903]

Put an engine in the Tesla and use the motor to drive the turbocharger.

[@Mazy01152004]

Adjust your differentialator valve to 11 pounds of boost on the low side and 4 pounds of boost on the high side 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@bm3turbo10]

I thought you can only supercharged tesla. Wow

[@SWTrailsAndWheels]

Wow, I did not expect such clear and logical results. I thought any gains would be too small to see above the noise in the data.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Me neither, honestly I was impressed how well the data came out.

[@nc3826]

so it was logical that the car with a dirty filter would accelerate faster than when it had a new OEM filter?

[@ronh9384]

Very good video. Did you ever do the follow up video removing the charcoal filter? I think I would have bought one from a junk yard just to avoid any warranty issues. My guess is that your numbers would get better, both on the dyno and on the road. One thing I noticed when I installed my K&N air filter that after driving it for a week I saw another slight improvement once the computer adjusted to the increased air flow. Ron

[@DrYosh2]

I like your usage and understanding of the idea of percentage of change, vs raw numbers. I have used that thought process when tuning various engines. I've used a virtually identical process to street tune vehicles as you did to compare filters.

[@richardelliott8352]

I think the wrong question is asked here. An air filter is not a speed part. If you want to pretend it needs to be one, there are always trade offs in any change from OEM design..

[@codyhutchison7330]

I would love to see this same comparison on a K&N replacement filter vs a whole K&N cold air intake system.

[@Hidden02]

maybe another 1 - 3 HP if that only because it removes the charcoal restriction. Too many people have debunked cold air vs current air filters do very little if anything.

[@extremedrivr]

@@Hidden02 Wrong! They actually do work. Plenty of videos to prove you wrong.

[@extremedrivr]

@WeAreWatching Yu No. Lol They have 2 proving you do make horsepower. One of the 2 videos featured his Honda S2000.

[@TheRandomizedMedia]

@WeAreWatching Yu I just watched their video on CAI with the Honda S2000, they first tested the car on a dyno with the CAI then with the factory airbox. With the factory airbox they lost "5 kilowatts of power" which converts to 6.7 horsepower. In other words they gained about 6.7 horsepower with the CAI. not much at all but it is a gain.

[@yeezy7905]

WeAreWatching Yu Yes, you’re confused because the first test was with the CAI on, they then changed it for stock airbox and thus lost power

[@52alkom]

The effort and quality you put into your videos is amazing. Subscribed. Hope you get to 2M very soon

[@EngineeringExplained]

Very kind, thank you for watching and thanks for subscribing!! :)

[@jeremiahbullfrog1844]

THANK YOU for being thorough!! I really REALLY like the comparisons, you know, the numbers.

[@joaquinpinon2872]

Always enjoy your well put together informative and clean videos. Thanks a bunch and God bless you.

[@chrisl1398]

Jason. I used to design and build clean rooms. If you want actual filtration data very willing to work with you on this! It’s quite easy to use validated equipment I have on a test rig to help you answer that question.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Awesome, could you send me an e-mail? (About section of my KZbin channel). Would love to get some ideas from ya!

[@jimdevilbiss9125]

Christopher Laman please do the validation air filtering. I am much more interested in how clean the air going to my engine is than a miserable 2% increase in horsepower or a 2% decrease in time to speed.

[@chrisl1398]

Engineering Explained you have mail @howcars

[@sheetstr88]

Christopher Laman this would be very interesting to see and better answer if the aftermarket filters are actually worthwhile

[@TerribleMachinations]

This would be an absolutely awesome follow up to this video, I hope to see it!

[@wwb7091]

Having tested air filters, according to SAE standards, during my career, I can issue the following statement: K&N air filters belong on the dragstrip... NOT on the street. Unless your right foot is on the floor, the throttle is the airflow restriction - not the filter element. K&N filters get their low restriction by doing a lousy job of filtering. If you want to feed dirt through your engine for thousands of miles, get a K&N - otherwise, get a good filter. Consider also that the advantage of a K&N is only apparent at WOT, whereas 99.999% of your driving is NOT at wide open throttle.

[@Ty44444]

Speak for yourself sir

[@darinr9424]

10000 percent agree bud. Your a perfectly correct.

[@OGFallen-]

@@Ty44444 LOOL

[@spentshells1924]

@@Ty44444 send it everywhere! 😂

[@thpxs0554]

Dead right. There’s no point fitting a performance filter if the factory one can flow more air than the engine can consume at full power. There are other restrictions to look at such the catalytic converter as well. The original filter is always well up to the job. They’re not gonna limit their cars performance for the sake of a few more pleats in a paper filter. And these horsepower increases show up right at the top of the power band and 1-2% increase can’t be discerned by the driver. The best performance increases come from chucking out all the unnecessary weight.

[@LTVoyager]

It is pretty well-known that while K&N filters flow more air, they also flow more dirt. So, it comes down to how you weigh longevity vs. performance.

[@kylebutler7142]

When I had a K&N I had to start using premium fuel because the K&N obviously let so much more air in and cylinder pressure went up causing detonation.

[@KingOfShenanigan]

​@@kylebutler7142can you explain what you mean by detonation? Thanks

[@kylebutler7142]

@@KingOfShenanigan Preignition is auto-ignition of the air/fuel mixture before the spark plug fires. The auto-ignition occurs at a location in the cylinder outside of the controlled flame front from spark ignition. Similarly, detonation is auto-ignition of fuel, usually after the spark plug fires. Like preignition, detonation occurs outside of a controlled flame front from the spark plug. The term detonation is often used by racers as both preignition (before the spark), as well as uncontrolled burning after the spark.

[@KingOfShenanigan]

@@kylebutler7142 okay that's interesting. I really appreciate the explanation. One more follow up question if you don't mind. How do you know if detonation is happening? Do you just feel it or hear it, or do you have to do a specific test?

[@spicysnowman8886]

​@kingofshenanigans722 it will feel weird and may even make a slight pinging sound

[@robertcochran5419]

The carquest filter, though less expensive, has many more pleats affectively increasing the filter surface area which allows for the increased air flow. Stick with the cheap dry filter. K&Ns are easy to over saturate with oil which can cause mass air flow sensor damage.

[@gunningopher]

I think most K&N's do get oiled these days. I haven't had a wet one in decades.

[@Misiekgren]

PLEASE Also do a comparison of the particles each filter catches/allows through. I think it would be an important part to review as well.

[@robertmatetich2898]

Yes, you could weigh each before and after.

[@tosheshdaulta8899]

an air particulate matter meter could be used for this.

[@MrBlazzin101]

Yeah cause I've heard the k&n doesnt catch particles very well

[@Misiekgren]

@@MrBlazzin101 all I can tell you is that after 180-200k km with a K&N mass airflow air filter, my 2008 matrix began turning over while being left in gear on a slight slope... yes I did inspect/clean/oil it every 2-4k km when needed

[@MrBlazzin101]

@@Misiekgren yeah see, that's why I don't even want to try and mess around with the k&n. I think I'm just gonna leave the regular filter. Better for me in the long run.

[@ArtisticSep]

Shoulve done no filter

[@steveblahut4027]

Second that

[@4scoresn7yrsago]

Yep. Was just gonna say that.

[@mrdudelove1]

Sep596 Wouldnt work right

[@philwragg9529]

yup see how long your engine lasts!!!

[@southernexploitslive5694]

@@philwragg9529 You're a moron if you think that an engine in a controlled environment can't run without a air filter lmao.

[@JanakiRamR]

Great work and thank you. I keep watching your videos. Does cold engine make less power? Wondering if the order of testing can affect the results.

[@archipelago93]

Obviously it’s only a marginal change, but considering how ridiculously easy swapping out an air filter is, that’s actually pretty impressive. Whether or not it’s worth paying 2x (or more) for the slight bump in performance is up to you. Perhaps the Carquest filter (or similar one) is a nice sweet spot between small increase in performance for little to no more cost. Anyway, great video!

[@Beskar181]

Well IIRC the K&N filters say you don't have to swap them out as often and you can even clean and reuse them.

[@donkeykong1234]

k&n is a lifetime filter, whether you get any performance or not - the investment cost to no longer replace filters gets there eventually.

[@daveinwla6360]

@@donkeykong1234 - You also have to spend money for the cleaning fluid (basically kerosene) and oil to re-oil the filter. Then, what do you do with the dirty kerosene without adding to environmental pollution? K&N is the "gift" that keeps on "giving".

[@tobythenewguy6188]

@@daveinwla6360 even with that the cost is still offset over the long term since those products are cheap and I guarantee that little bit of kerosene is the least of our pollution problems

[@DrewJ79]

@@tobythenewguy6188 I bought the drop in K&N filter for my 5.0 F150 and its a dry filter. It say's do not use the K&N cleaning kits, its just a rinse with the hose filter.

[@Eli_skips]

Oh yeah time to get a K&N filter for my Chevy Spark😂

[@BradAcquilin]

Or you could just throw the filter in the trash and get the biggest increase!

[@CynHicks]

@@BradAcquilin Hahaha. May as well right.

[@maximusmax4557]

Eat your Wheaties and pedal faster!

[@BaronRosenhein]

It would have been nice to see dyno numbers for no filter scenario (open pipe) to see how much of a restriction the filters introduce. Maybe something for a future video.

[@PhxitTV]

Ivan Iminov bad idea to have no filter

[@BaronRosenhein]

@@PhxitTV i totaly agree with you. but i meant on the dyno in a controlled environment where the chance of something getting sucked into the engine is none existent.

[@shelmadinegalloway2480]

Worth a Try🤔

[@handyman3320]

@@PhxitTV it was JUST TO TEST, not drive around for months

[@rampage3337]

@@handyman3320 yeah there is no harm in running without a filter if you are standing still. the filter is there for when you get dust in the air while driving and stuff.

[@roywhitman7109]

This was a very informative video! Great work! Like some of your other viewers, I'd used K&N because they are reusable. Clean them up & re oil them & they last forever! Glad to know that they ACTUALLY do give you a little more bang for your buck! Thanks!👍

[@mo-215]

Really interesting and well done. Interesting how many comments and forums on other videos say that swapping filters makes no difference. Good job.

[@crossphaded]

K&N FTW! Even on my wife's non-performance cars, I always drop a K&N air filter and a tuner sticker for that extra 5hp, yo!

[@volkte37]

*Suddenly car quest sales go through the roof.

[@EngineeringExplained]

🤣

[@Josh2024Garcia]

Couldn’t ask for a better real world comparison video . Good job

[@Eagle_Beak]

Very cool video. 2.5% isn't much, but cool to see that performance filters do have some improvement on performance. It is still a larger factor of improvement than some very expensive modifications.

[@DarrellTurnerJr]

2.5% is actually quite a bit. If you think about it like 40 yard times. Someone running 4.7 sec 40 yard dash vs 4.5 sec is a good bit of difference. That difference only gets exaggerated as speeds increase. Losing a 1/4 mile by 1/2 a second looks pretty bad

[@AGR96]

Please look up reviews where the filtering effectiveness is tested as well. The minor performance increase comes at a huge price!

[@Totone56]

Got a K&N on my SV 650. No power increase, maybe a small change on sound. But best part is : You don't have to replace it, you clean it.

[@Totone56]

@ISSA VIBEZ From what i've read/seen/experienced, that's not the case ! Everything is usually as clean as with the stock filter. I'm not saying it's not happening, just it's not noticeable while cleaning the airbox with a rag, it's still perfectly clean.

[@ZoDDyXXX]

@@Totone56 Same here, have cleaned my air box carefully with a white cloth after a long service, it was very very clean The K&N gets even more efficient when it become a bit more dirty. The filtering surface increases with the help of all the particles that stucked in the filter oil.

[@lordmalice8368]

Thing is tho, if u don't have another filter, you have to wait for the one to dry! I'm bout to buy a 2nd filter so i don't have to worry about that!

[@ronbishop1739]

@@lordmalice8368 - I saved my original air filter so I could go somewhere while the K & N was drying.

[@lordmalice8368]

@@ronbishop1739 smart thinking but when i replaced mine, it was for a used car just bought and I needed it! Then I thought about when I had to clean it, even tho it would be a long time! I seen a guy on youtube who stranded himself by doing that! Lol

[@generalzod7959]

The souls of the dead bugs were giving the car extra boost!

[@chrisoconnor3119]

Their souls were consumed by the engine for power. All energy just changes form, it never "leaves or goes away"....right? Rules of science of energy.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

eureka! thats gives me a great idea!! if we make a transparent airbox exposed to sunlight and we put some plants inside, it gives off oxygen in the daytime and enrichens the engine intake box...more oxygen means more power!!

[@aloofgalaxy2781]

General Zod 😂😂😂😂

[@erikk77]

KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!

[@JuanMartinez-hy6yf]

fidel catsro yea moron the plants would go into the engine and ruin the injectors

[@theodoreabrahammandel1049]

Just watched. Very informative. Thank you for this. Very nice explanations from the shop to the road.

[@Tomcatntbird]

I have ran K&N filters for over 10 years. They are reusable, have a million mile warranty, and obvious a great buy. Having a reusable air filter saves alot of money over time for sure.

[@NICKELGHANDI]

Now Jason, this isn't a fair comparison. The K&N filter is red. Everyone knows that a red filter makes more power than a white filter. It's just basic ricing logic. They teach it to you in Slammed Civic 101. Try some red plasti dip on the rims and grilles and you'll see some real gains. Obviously I'm kidding. Great comparison. It'd be interesting to see the test done on different cars - turbo vehicles vs. naturally aspirated.

[@syke512]

The K&N isn't made of paper but instead a kind of fabric. It's tough, washable and reusable. It really is different if you were to ever handle it. No. I don't work for K&N but have had one (the same one) in my Mustang for 14 years and love it.

[@richieroro]

I second this for a future video. Do intake filters make a difference on turbo engines?

[@Dyusik]

Nice catch! I was looking for the +10 HP sticker myself.

[@codenamecordon]

Rich Ro maybe on turbo cars the peak power won’t change, but your spool times from midrange might improve since your turbo won’t have to work as hard for the same boost.

[@beefen7921]

This is probably by far the best comparison video with OEM vs performance drop in filter. Great review man thank you!!!

[@concernedcitizen780]

But… how well does the filter actually filter the air that goes into the engine? Isn’t that it’s actual job? I don’t care about a filter that increases power but will suck in anything smaller than a bird…..

[@austinmaness8339]

OEM filters are designed with the longevity of your engine in mind. Yes, they're restrictive but that's because they're doing what they're designed to do, filter.

[@ronh9384]

I’m only 1:40 into the video and had to comment. My last truck with a V8 and 12 years old had a K&N air filter in as soon as I broke the engine in. I had a friend who had a speed shop with a dyno and we ran it with the stock filter and the K&N. I don’t remember the exact numbers but I got a 19 horsepower increase and a 24 ft pound increase in torque. Not a lot on the dyno but on the road you noticed the difference. Especially when towing. In twelve years I only cleaned it once and it didn’t really need it then, but it was extremely low mileage when I sold it. Ron

[@vaioskaliakoudas6388]

The best and most affordable modification for your car is maintainence

[@shaynedowey7716]

Sorry dude modifications and maintenance are two different things

[@skylarparks6485]

Can you try this on the Nissan Leaf just for good measure?

[@EngineeringExplained]

On it!

[@kurtismonasterski9644]

A Nissan Leaf lmfao gtfoh

[@gabrielenitti3243]

The filter will always be dirty, cause the leaves

[@JG-bx2xg]

Filter the bs about these batteries on wheels

[@everydaychris5597]

Only if a Model 3 is used to compare the two!

[@kevinpedersen5290]

the K&N also is washable. I gained about 10bhp from swapping to K&N in my audi A5 3.0 tdi, could probably gain more if I modded it by doing the case removal. I have washed it 2 times since I bought it and honestly, it already paid itself compared to having it changed. (albeit audi service actually does it for a flat rate included in their oil filter/oil service)

[@terel86]

Installed my KN filter today. Haven't tried it out yet but as long as I get better mpg I'll be satisfied

[@stevemcilroy9518]

Great video, very interesting. I've been rallying for years. I've had all the K &N stuff, it blocks quickly, and will soon starve the engine of its breathing. Stock filters work best, easy to clean, easy to replace, and cheap. Unless you want a good look under the hood ( Bonnet) stick with stock stuff. If you want an extra 5 to 10 HP free, wiring your Alternator with a switch so you can turn it off ( World rally cross cars run with no alternator just a newly charged battery) will give you that. We have it on the rally car, and turn it off in the stage, turn it on for road sections.

[@thelizardus]

If you could do a run without a filter that would be great!

[@EngineeringExplained]

I thought about it, but the consequences outweigh the benefits haha. Even the brand new filters had a few bugs and debris on them after the pulls, and I'd rather that stuff not end up in my engine haha.

[@thelizardus]

@@EngineeringExplained Well, yeah. Fair enough. Great video by the way!

[@royk6320]

I can not qait to see that

[@crilauriola]

@@EngineeringExplained even on the dyno?

[@marcomignosa9480]

@@EngineeringExplained just on the dyno would be interesting. Nice video although

[@Thomas-sv6jr]

It would be interesting to see filters for increasing engine life compared, as air intake contributes dirt to engine and oil. Especially for us rural folk that drive on dirt a lot. I've been interested in the Donaldson blue .

[@richardwolski5899]

Just watched yr vid,really good,.I have a 4x4 ,it's said it's ok to put a performance filter in ,while normal city driving...BUT not on dirt track,off road..as they do let more air in for performance,but do not filter as well...as more air is allowed through...cheers.😊

[@ronprudhomme9748]

Being in air quality most of my life it is my experience that with a given size of a filter and I’m talking square inches a filter area.... of these 4 tested filters. The one with the best airflow will be the worst in particle filtering

[@dk.650]

Exactly Ron. K&N useless out in the dust off road.

[@kpcassell419]

Food for thought. Great comment and definitely one worth thinking about. Thanks for the info Ron. This should be the top comment as it's the most useful.

[@Dialysisforever]

If you look at 1:06 you can see the aftermarket filter has 25 folds compared to the 15 of the OEM. This means it has more surface area. This way the engine is not working so hard to pull air to the engine plus it has the same filtering capabilities. They were able to put more square inches as you say into a smaller area. As for the K&N, I have one but I would not bet it was better at filtering.

[@Kold2012]

@@Dialysisforever no, just no.

[@chrisl6263]

@@Kold2012 the more surface area means less static pressure behind it... hvac knows this. That's why they prefer 4inch filters

[@87gsarah]

You should do one on the K&N filter vs the K&N cold air intek

[@gunnerneikoify]

Cold air intakes are little more than a gimic at best with manufactures advertising false and doctored numbers about their performance. It's been independently lab proven that the extremely minimal gains (1-4 hp at best and not even noticeable) aren't worth their cost even though cold air intake systems are relatively cheap.

[@drrightwing4435]

And what are your sources? Or is it just anecdotal?

[@23tails15]

Drop In filter is your best bet. 60 dollars 4hps.....or 300 dollars 4.5hps.......Hmmm not a hard decision

[@peteratassiborges]

Hello - I keep watching your videos, and appreciate the way you "simplify" the tech details! Thanks! But I have a VW Diesel Pickup (I'm in Mexico) a 2 liters single turbo diesel - So, my question is: Can I assume that all your conclusions on this video, apply also to a diesel engine?

[@jordanpage8946]

Been looking for one of these videos recently, none that explained it well and this one popped up in my sub box! Love it!

[@JuxtaposedStars]

I would say the reason for the Carquest "premium" filter's performance is the higher number of pleats and greater surface area of the filter material compared to OEM.(Can't say anything else without knowing the types and thickness of the materials)

[@yipper503]

Exactly! Wish the video would have mentioned that. :-(

[@edgarpryor3233]

More pleats= more better. I think the cheap filter is the best bang for the buck, unless you enjoy cleaning filters.

[@stephenpeacock8592]

Quite possible, the flow at each fold in the paper should be higher, so more folds, more flow. This does depend on whether the flow profile is laminar or turbulent in the intake though - you'd expect it to be be laminar given the increase of csa compared to intake pipe. The other thing to consider in safety and reliability terms is the possibility of the filter collapsing at higher flow rates, that's why you more for OEM, because you have that guarantee.

[@SirDankNewton]

Was just about to post this. Subaru filters seem to have very few pleats in comparison to other brands from what I've seen.

[@OMGWUNSIU]

Super interesting and well done video. Thank you for presenting this valuable video. I just bought a new K&N Air filter for my 2019 Suburban and was wondering if I wasted my money. Thumbs up!

[@ericj6559]

I bought a K&N filter not because I cared about more power, but mainly because I thought it would save in the long run since it's washable and reusable. Now I have some second thoughts if it doesn't filter out contaminants as well as regular filters as I tend to keep my cars a long time. But no problems to report so far after 190,000km.

[@PeterGregg]

Such cool work you did in this video - thumbs up and a big THANK YOU !!! :)

[@EngineeringExplained]

Thanks Peter!

[@melaniew77msn]

@@EngineeringExplained Will you please give me the link to the follow up video?

[@geoprez8740]

Not to mention that the K&N is also washable and reusable 👍

[@indi13lli]

That's the best part imo.

[@mnrodriguez]

Excellent comparison...very well presented! I will subscribe. Thank you!

[@firstjohn3123]

I have used K&N for over 15 years. Never had an "engine wear issue". I do notice better throttle response & and, as indicated, a slightly better running engine. Whether it's worth the $$$ is up to you. Anyone who's leasing, save your money.... (Note, do not expect an MPG increase, you may, or you may not- that's a crap shoot, but less air restriction & good plugs do generally help)

[@droolguy]

...for everyone screaming that you'll take the higher filtration. It's a car, not an asthmatic person. A filter only needs to clear relatively large particulate matter, anything small enough to be freely suspended in air isn't going to be big enough to harm any engine or appreciably increase wear. If these filters can be used in desert race trucks with a very coarse prescreen to catch mud and sand particles, then they can be used in your car/truck that never leaves the pavement.

[@ChannelAsh100]

Yeah its a higher quality air filter thats why it costs more.

[@michaellinner7772]

Agreed 👍!

[@devinwilliams3489]

Very fine particles still abrade cylinder walls. Racing trucks dont live that long

[@droolguy]

@@devinwilliams3489 I think you are missing the point. The cylinder liners/sleeves and the rotating assembly last several seasons. Which is more "fine particles" than your street car will ever see in it's designed lifespan.

[@johnterpack3940]

The other thing people ignore is that just because a filter flows more doesn't mean it filters less. You can clearly see that CarQuest filter has more pleats than the stock filter. That means it has more surface area, so it can flow more total air even though it is just as restrictive a material.

[@videomaniac108]

I've seen filtration efficacy tests of K&N vs paper air filters and what I would say is that Jason's guess as to why the K&N filter might be flowing more air is true. If filtration efficacy and engine protection are of paramount importance to you you would do well to research the topic carefully and not just look at airflow restriction tests. Another point to consider if you do chose to use the K&N air filter is to be careful not to over oil the filter medium, as excess oil might get sucked out of the filter and end up coating the MAF sensor downstream of the filter and cause erroneous airflow calculations in the ECU.

[@markgasdaglis5109]

And further...to reduce air flow restriction while still maintaining filtration efficacy you would have to increase filter size. So you would use the same filter material and same material thickness but increase the dimensions of the filters "face."

[@herrerajoey2]

Literally am cleaning my MAF right now and throwing my K&N in the trash from it fouling my MAF and throwing a lean fuel code. Never had this issue on any of my other vehicles I have ran K&Ns on but my Tacoma's MAF no likey.

[@Lucille69caddy]

@@herrerajoey2 Throw that Tacoma in the trash, lol. My ‘02 GTP with 215k miles has no problem with it’s K&N drop in filter. One time I apparently over-oiled it and a few days later set a code. User error; myself. That was over 200K ago. I learned my lesson and it’s been fine ever since.

[@tomeisenmenger7048]

@@markgasdaglis5109 ...which is why that CarQuest paper filter probably had better performance than OEM - it had more "folds" in the filter material, i.e. greater surface area.

[@squidusn71]

@@herrerajoey2 had a k&n in my Tacoma without issue. I've been using k&n for over 30yrs but thinking of switching to the no oil ones like aem.

[@jameshill2015]

Why not do a Dyno with NO filter just to show the restriction a filter put on a motor???

[@peep77777]

There have been some tests done on that, it actually sometimes lowers the hp. it causes turbulent air or something like that and its worse than filter.

[@drrightwing4435]

Yeah right. That’s why all 4 sec 1/8th mile cars use air filters, right? Oh that’s right, THEY DON’T

[@bohanhouston3424]

@@drrightwing4435 I don’t know if what peep said is true. But the intake on a road car is designed to run with an air filter in. Where as drag cars are designed to not have an air filter. I’d still assume that less restriction should equal more power though

[@psions555]

Probably will be reduced power due to incorrect fuel trimming from the O2 readings

[@ericgarcia1434]

It reduces hp with no air filter

[@jonwatkins254]

I bought a used jeep with a K&N. I went to service the K&N, removing it to clean and oil it. Once I got it out in the sunlight, I realized I could see right through it. The metal mesh was there and in the shade of the engine compartment it looked just fine.

[@jasonyoung6420]

if carquest air filters are "premium" "fancy feast" is is the best deal in cat food on the market, because it's both fancy and a full on feast crammed into a tiny can. EDIT: where are the "No filter" control runs?

[@EngineeringExplained]

I didn't test no filter because I didn't want to risk getting crap in my engine. Even after the pulls with new filters, there were some bugs and such stuck in the filters. Now there's a charcoal filter in the way as well, but I decided not to risk it. Will do a test with and without charcoal, however.

[@jetstream01]

@@EngineeringExplained I thought about this as well but there's really no point to doing no filter runs. Common sense tells us that the less air restriction there is, the more power the engine can make. But running no filter isn't a real world test because only an idiot would take the air filter out of their car to gain 3hp.

[@misterchow]

I eat at Burger King because I support the Monarchy.

[@nc3826]

The test using the new OEM filter is the "control". Since thats how it was originally designed to function. Removing the filter is as significant a design modification if not more, than using a different filter or having the OEM filter restricted by debris.

[@derelicthouse04]

The shop can be a controlled environment to do a couple of pulls without a filter. Or find a volunteer to try it on their car. I think a lot of people are curious.

[@JayPase]

Sadly K&N doesn't make an air filter for my Tesla . . .

[@deansapp4635]

I ll bet you don t get regular oil changes either

[@dirtywhitellama]

Weird! 😂

[@nickys5578]

I know with gas engines the K&N gums up the MAP sensor with the oil and many people don't know that and clean it off frequently they can permanently screw their gas mileage because that sensor controls the air flow and if it gets bad you MPG gets bad

[@machucast]

No, but lots of mining companies mining for incredibly toxic and unhealthy acids\metals for your batteries more than make up for it.

[@JayPase]

@@machucast Not Tesla batteries - contains practically zero cobalt unlike your iPhone battery. Like I said - you got some research to do.

[@DJtheDad]

Almost all of the "performance" differences between brands & designs can ONLY be seen and/or proven on an ISO5011 test stand. There are so soo soooo many other variables that come into play on & off the road that easily squash any and all fuel efficiency, engine life and power gains that may be gifted from your air filter. Air filters are truly a marketing-driven & myth-driven consumer choice. Stick to your owners' manual recommendations. 21yr Filtration Engineer / 25yr BSME / MBA

[@thatoneguy454c]

For poops and hahas I tested out the K&N filters in my SHO and I was honestly shocked. Granted that my car is tuned and we are talking about a car with 146 hp to the crank to a car that makes 360 to the crank (stock) I tuned it with the factory air box. My cars tuner measure 0-60 times and the K&N filter made a fairly significant difference. By that I mean it shaved about .4 seconds on average off of my 0-60 times. That could just mean the OE filter was really restrictive or it could just mean that the K&N filters really are just that superior. Either way it's a cheap mod and will make alot more of a difference than a heart shaped fake tow hook lol

[@barrybebenek8691]

Finally some proof for the K&N “go to filter” we all have spent money on. Lol Great comparison. 👍🏼🇨🇦

[@miffedmax]

One of the few times I haven't been suckered!

[@sacr3]

Bad decision regardless, it allows more dust through and coats your sensors and intake with a thing layer of oil over time. All for a 2-4hp gain? Gotta think smart here folks. Unless you're programming your vehicle for 91 or 93 octane tune, there isnt a real point in shortening your engines life span for that 4hp

[@Billy123bobzzz]

There have been many air filter comparisons done over the years, going back to the great car magazines of the seventies.

[@daveyt4802]

Now have to deal with the filtration issues. Do they let more stuff into the motor? Contamination?

[@barrybebenek8691]

I have used K&N for well over 30 years in almost everything I’ve owned; and have never EVER had a single problem with them. Not one issue.

[@MDF4072]

Again I have to say, Quality content with Logical and measurable Data.

[@tommcmahon14]

Just put a pipercross panel filter in place of an oem paper filter on my 1.9 tdi seat ibiza FR and its actually made a massive difference car feels more free and low down torque has impoved. Used to have an S2000 filter but the panel filter is better than both the 90mm cone filter and oem filter.

[@jason3714]

Great video this is the first time i watched your channel and it blows me away how much your voice sounds like Jack Oshea on youtube

[@spider-man3185]

I gotta say! You’re video was perfect perhaps one of thee most perfect videos on KZbin out there. 11/10 quality!

[@drogon2988]

Probably one of THE most helpful videos EVER. I found out aftermarket cold air intakes quite often actually lose power. Mainly because the engineers who built the car calculated the best amount of air volume needed in an air box. Changing that can hurt performance. So can having an open air intake that sucks in tons of hot air vs cold air. The K&N drop in filter and a larger diameter intake tube connected to a factory air box is absolutely the way to go!

[@ErectileSceptile]

Yeah but turbo go fwoosh

[@thebestever333]

you think the washable KN filter sucks in more air than the paper filters?

[@franchisefred4066]

Yes but that oil from the kn filter affects those mass air flow sensors 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏿‍♀️🤦‍♂️

[@drogon2988]

@@franchisefred4066 I found that out about a year ago as well when doing my research. Just never bothered to come back to KZbin to edit a comment on a video.

[@Lucille69caddy]

@@franchisefred4066 Not if you don’t over-oil it. A thorough cleaning, followed by a thorough drying, then proper oiling and you’ll get over 215k of reliable service.

[@peckshadow]

Awesome video! There is theories that say that the oil from the k & n filters messes up the sensors. That might be a good video testing that.

[@DonziGT230]

Whether the K&N filter will help, and how much it can help, depends on the vehicle. The part that isn't a variable is how well they filter. I've never seen a dirty intake tract with a stock or stock replacement filter and have never seen a clean one with a K&N.

[@marcusevangeliste7426]

they don't filter worth a crap it's just a piece of gauze and oil look at the data on them they're terrible

[@jeremyhess7977]

Excess oil from the filter gets sucked into the intake duct and traps dirt. It's better, cheaper, and easier to just buy OEM or premium non-oiled filters. And let's not forget that you have to clean, dry, and re-oil K&N style filters.... I don't have time for that or the extra expense. I'm sticking to OEM air filteration.

[@TheFozzir]

I've been using K&N for the last 30 years. Never had a problem. Just don't over oil them. You only have to clean them every 4-5 years unless you are driving through dusty conditions all the time. In the long run they are less maintenance and lower cost plus you do get a small performance boost.

[@faizanjoyia]

ProjectFarm did a video on filters as well the less restrictive don’t filter as good and allow in dirt, the K and N was the least restrictive but allowed a lot more dirt

[@mbc1994]

@Kong〉Godzilla you are missing the point, cleaning you air filter does not help your engine taking inn less dirt, only more air. Long story short, if you drive in dirt/dust don't use "performance"/high flow filters...

[@williamlaidlaw6281]

I use nothing but Wix in my truck. Never let me down.

[@jumpercable20]

@@williamlaidlaw6281 I just wonder, how many people have been let down by an air filter?

[@johnterpack3940]

Rubbish. You don't need a restrictive filter to stop dirt. Part of what makes K&N more "open" is the fact they have greater surface area. So it will flow more even with the same pore size as a more restrictive filter. Plus the oil on the K&N traps dirt that might otherwise fit through the media.