K&N or AirHog Air Filter

[FREAK_SHO]

ok second time... .isnt this suposed to be k&n vs airhog?

Yes it is.

K&N = 4 to 6 layers of cotton gauze with oil.
Air Hog = 4-layer cotton gauze with oil.
Both descriptions from each company's web site...

Both the same filter in design.

Paper is being suggest by several people because it filters better, no need to pay more for less, so to speak.
Plus the OIL from these filter will collect on MAF sensor wires causing the car to not run right. Now, the sensor gets dirty over time using the paper filers as well, but it is sped up using filters that need oiled.

 

[stangeater]

Don't know much about airhog, but I'm sure they would work fine for a better price.

Also, taking pictures of a K&N filter with no oil on it is like taking pictures of your rod bearings with no oil on them.............neither pictures would be how the items are meant to opperate, and would be a bad thing for the engine. Oil the filter, (like K&N recommends), and then take your pictures.

 

[MONSOUN MOTORS]

Is there really a difference? I know one is purple and one is orange. The K&N is million mile guaranteed and the AirHog is 250,000 mile guaranteed but i dont plan owning my car for either of those milestones. The AirHog is about half the price. I have seen the demostrations at Advanced Autos with the K&N and ping pong ball versus a regular air filter but AirHog doesnt set those demos up. I imagine they are made the same way but have different names and thats the only difference. I have a 95 SHO ATX with 106k on it right now. Anyone got any good things to say about the AirHog or a comparison? Thanks

IMHO I believe that the Fram Airhog is better than the K&N filter. I have personally used both for about a year each and I have to say that initially both filters start out great and sound awesome. After 8-9 months the K&N losses its growl and doesn't have as much punch as it did initially. The Airhog after 8-9 months still sounded good and felt pretty new. They are probably a lot factors that could have given me these results but this was all done when my MTX SHO was stock, oil was changed as scheduled, premium gas was always used(Sunoco) and driving styles remained the same for both filters. After a year of use for both I would just sell them on eBay. I'd just buy a new filter rather than bother with the cleaning and oiling. I also forgot to add that I achieved slightly better MPG with the Fram Airhog. Using either filter indefinitely boggles my mind but I guess that it is all up to your personal preference.
As far as these filters vs a paper filter goes I have nothing to add because that would be a different topic and the debate can go on forever. Personally I really would care what brand, style or color filter anyone uses just as long as you change your air filter regularly because no SHO motors deserves a dirty filter .

 

[sho_ted]

unless you over oil it the oil isnt going to go any where including on sensors.

 

[Mad Celt]

Don't know much about airhog, but I'm sure they would work fine for a better price.

Also, taking pictures of a K&N filter with no oil on it is like taking pictures of your rod bearings with no oil on them.............neither pictures would be how the items are meant to opperate, and would be a bad thing for the engine. Oil the filter, (like K&N recommends), and then take your pictures.

So, you're implying that the oil will fill those holes and then air, but no dirt, will pass through?

 

[dantheman68]

Don't know much about airhog, but I'm sure they would work fine for a better price.

Also, taking pictures of a K&N filter with no oil on it is like taking pictures of your rod bearings with no oil on them.............neither pictures would be how the items are meant to opperate, and would be a bad thing for the engine. Oil the filter, (like K&N recommends), and then take your pictures.

Soo the air goes through the oil?... or does the oil move out of the way during WOT acceleration?... doesn't this slow air intake speed? :laugh_ti:

 

[SHOtime2511]

all my SHO's have had K&N's in them when i bought them,never had any problems.

 

[bubba]

IMHO I believe that the Fram Airhog is better than the K&N filter. I have personally used both for about a year each and I have to say that initially both filters start out great and sound awesome. After 8-9 months the K&N losses its growl and doesn't have as much punch as it did initially. The Airhog after 8-9 months still sounded good and felt pretty new. They are probably a lot factors that could have given me these results but this was all done when my MTX SHO was stock, oil was changed as scheduled, premium gas was always used(Sunoco) and driving styles remained the same for both filters. After a year of use for both I would just sell them on eBay. I'd just buy a new filter rather than bother with the cleaning and oiling. I also forgot to add that I achieved slightly better MPG with the Fram Airhog. Using either filter indefinitely boggles my mind but I guess that it is all up to your personal preference.
As far as these filters vs a paper filter goes I have nothing to add because that would be a different topic and the debate can go on forever. Personally I really would care what brand, style or color filter anyone uses just as long as you change your air filter regularly because no SHO motors deserves a dirty filter .

I have had mine in for over a year and it still sound's great!!!!!! I haven't felt anything of what you have?

 

[ViPER1313]

Just an FYI, I have dyno'ed my close to stock 92 (no silencer cone) on 2 separate occasions, 1st time running a K&N and the second running a paper filter. No direct comparison between paper and K&N, but open airbox used as the control.

K&N vs Open Airbox - Open gained 1.5-2hp
Paper vs Open Airpox - Open gained about 4-5hp

Paper filter was a Puralator ~6k miles old.

 

[Shoaz]

Also, taking pictures of a K&N filter with no oil on it is like taking pictures of your rod bearings with no oil on them.............neither pictures would be how the items are meant to opperate, and would be a bad thing for the engine. Oil the filter, (like K&N recommends), and then take your pictures.

FWIW, the pics I posted are of an oiled filter. It wasn't freshly oiled, but it had been in service before the pictures were taken. I took it out because it kept fouling the MAF, so, if some are to be believed, this was an over oiled filter.

unless you over oil it the oil isnt going to go any where including on sensors.

I keep hearing that, but I stopped using K&Ns after having issues with MAF fouling despite being careful about cleaning and re-oiling. It was after that that I started seeing the issues about filtering/performance, so I've just kept with paper since then. No regrets about going back to paper at all, from my point of view.

 

[Brett]

Just an FYI, I have dyno'ed my close to stock 92 (no silencer cone) on 2 separate occasions, 1st time running a K&N and the second running a paper filter. No direct comparison between paper and K&N, but open airbox used as the control.

K&N vs Open Airbox - Open gained 1.5-2hp
Paper vs Open Airpox - Open gained about 4-5hp

Paper filter was a Puralator ~6k miles old.

Are these gains to the wheels or did you do the math for crank hp? I know you said at a dyno, and im not calling BS, its just surprising. I would never thought a K&N would gain any HP over a paper filter, much less horsepower to the wheels.

You tested paper and K&N in comparison to an open airbox but did you test the K&N in comparison to the paper filter? Since open box gained 4-5hp over paper filter and only 2 from K&N would it be safe to say there was a gain of about 3whp with the K&N?

I keep hearing that, but I stopped using K&Ns after having issues with MAF fouling despite being careful about cleaning and re-oiling. It was after that that I started seeing the issues about filtering/performance, so I've just kept with paper since then. No regrets about going back to paper at all, from my point of view.

I've run the same K&N filter through both my ATX and MTX, after i sold the ATX i switched it out for a paper filter. It was in the ATX when i bought it and god knows how old it is! (the ATX had 218K when i bought it). I've oiled it 3 or 4 times now and have never had a problem with it fouling the MAF, when i was trying to diagnose my lack of power i unplugged the maf and it ran worse, so i i know the MAF was working half ass properly to begin with.

The only reason i stick with the K&N (which is most definitely overpriced if you ask me) is because i think it sounds a bit better, but that could just be in my head.

It's all about personal preference, i'm almost inclined to switch to a paper filter, but if theres power to be gained to the wheels with a K&N i'll stick with it.

 

[randy'sho]

So, you're implying that the oil will fill those holes and then air, but no dirt, will pass through?

yeah and you probably run that walmart oil too don't you, because pennzoil or valvoline are just marketing scams???? k&n is what i run in all of my cars and i absolutley love them! increases my mileage by 1-2 mpg and are nice and easy to clean! some people ahhhh!!! :laugh_ti:

 

[jruss1601]

This sure is a huge debate. It seems like the paper will definitely keep your motor clean but the K&N should give you a few more HP and maybe better gas mileage. Since my SHO averages 19 on the highway i would like a few more MPG, but i havent heard much proof it does increase it. But one guy said the Airhog gave him better MPG than K&N. And is it worth a possible dirty engine and screwed up MAF with the larger air holes and oil?

I also wonder about a smarter decision. Whats a paper filter cost? 5 to 10 bucks? and you change them every 12,000 miles. The K&N costs around 50 plus the oil but its a one time deal. Hmm so many pros and cons. If i get past the possible cons with larger air holes and oil, a cheaper AirHog might be my pick. However, paper being cheapest and still doing a great job doing what an air filter is supossed to do is still a huge advantage.

Do you get the great noise just by adding a K&N? Or does that just apply to cold air intakes?

 

[randy'sho]

the decision is up to you man, but let me tell you that i ran k&n in all of my vehicles and i live in the country with alot of dust and i have never had an issue with "dirty" engine or maf.....that is a big hoax! as long as you do your part and keep them clean, they will pay for themselves! but you have to decide that ultimately! good luck!

 

[SeanMc]

I got my K&N at a junkyard for $1.50 . I used it for quite a while with no issues. I'm now running a 10 year old SHOShop CAI w/a 10 year old K&N on it with no issues.

 

[K-Dawg]

FWIW, I ran a 14.7 through a paper filter and completely stock airbox, including the silencer in the fender. I felt that with some better tires, I could have gotten it down to a 14.5.

 

[Mad Celt]

yeah and you probably run that walmart oil too don't you, because pennzoil or valvoline are just marketing scams???? k&n is what i run in all of my cars and i absolutley love them! increases my mileage by 1-2 mpg and are nice and easy to clean! some people ahhhh!!! :laugh_ti:

LOL, no...Actually I've been building vehicles for years, as a hobby and as a professional (overland expedition vehicles where filtration in dusty areas is critical). Try this. Pull the intake hose/MAF and clean it all with a good cleaner and re-install it with a paper filter. Run it for 6 or 7 k. Pull it out and run your finger in the MAF and up the hose towards the TB. DO the same experiment with the K&N. You WILL (I say WILL, not should) find far mor dust in the intake tube with the K&N. Poke around the diesel forums and see some of the tests they've done for the K&N VS Paper filters.

So, the next time you whip up a sarcastic remark, based on nothing but the TV commercials you watch and what some dude said, ask yourself, "Is it possible that this guy has experience in dealing with this issue....more than me perhaps?" Sure, for all I know you could work at Roush, engineering their filtering systems for the cars, but based on your blind faith in the K&N, I doubt it.



Cheers,

RJ

PS...Actually, my father-in-law, despite my advice, runs wal-mart oil and Fram filters...his last '91 Toyota went over 270k with NO issues. The truck is still running to this day. His current DD is at 200k with the same oil and filter brand...so Shows how much I know LOL

 

[K-Dawg]

FWIW, when I do oil changes in any vehicle other than a SHO, I always use Wal-Mart filters. I'd probably do the same with SHOs, but I've never bothered to find the replacement for the FL-1A and FL-400s.

 

[bubba]

This is how I feel save a tree eat a beaver!!!!

The k&n people have dirty motor's, and paper filter killing tree's!!!

This is a no win debate! Has anybody even like the frame?

 

[jthod]

This sure is a huge debate. It seems like the paper will definitely keep your motor clean but the K&N should give you a few more HP and maybe better gas mileage. Since my SHO averages 19 on the highway i would like a few more MPG, but i havent heard much proof it does increase it. But one guy said the Airhog gave him better MPG than K&N. And is it worth a possible dirty engine and screwed up MAF with the larger air holes and oil?

19?!!? That seems WAY low. Most peolple get at least in the mid-high 20's. I can even get in the low 30's, as can many others.

Are you all stock? What milage, maintenance? Gen 1 or 2 right?