Does a K&N filter add 2 mpg to your car? Does it affect the performance? What does a Typhoon Kit do to your car?

Thank You for any answers

 

the typhoon is a cold air intake

the k&n drop in filter i've heard good reviews about, but that is about my knowledge on k&n

 

I heard K&N filters were bad, b/c thier oil filters let alot of dirt in. But they are better for performance, but since this is not a racing engine u always rebuild, thier is no need to use their filters. And if your looking at a K&N Cold Air Intake, or other K&N parts for the TL here is teh link---> http://www.knfilters.com/search/appsearch.aspx !But if you were to get an intake system i would go with a AEM V2 CAI.

 

explain to me please-
how an material/fabric sprayed with special oil.... lets more dirt thru?????

It stops massive quantities MORE airborne dust- dirt- water- bugs etc,,, that a paper filter would not handle well.

K&N works well, and the payoff is you clean it once a year and reoil-put it back in!
its good for 1 million miles use!
Paper filter, use one year and toss into the landfill- paper $25, K&N $50

It will get some mileage increase if you learn to keep your foot out of the throttle
2mpg,,,maybe...downhill~ but .5 to 1mpg is realistic, and seafoam the engine,change plugs if over 60-70k miles on them, set tire pressure 38 front 35 rear...

 

Personally, I have no experience running a K&N in my TL ... however, I did run one in my 7.3L diesel for one summer and when I pulled it out to clean and re-oil it after 10K miles, the "clean" side of the airbox was friggin' FILTHY! I thought it might be a sealing issue, so after cleaning and re-oiling, I applied a thin layer of filter grease around the flange of the filter and reinstalled it. I ran the filter another 10K miles and opened it up to recheck it and the interior airbox was filthy again? Out of curiusity, I replaced the K&N with a Motorcraft severe duty filter as a test ... just checked it this weekend and after 12K miles, the inside of the airbox is still damn near spotless. I'm not impressed with K&N at all and won't be buying another for any of my vehicles! And before anyone asks, YES I KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY CLEAN, OIL AND INSTALL A K&N AIR FILTER It ain't rocket science. I'll continue to add to the landfills as long as the dirt is kept out of my engines.

 

K&N filters are some of the worst out there.

In stock form, the TL can't outflow the stock paper filter so you will see absolutely no hp increase from the K&N.

Increased mpg is a myth. It is impossible in a modern fuel injected car to get a mileage gain from an airfilter. This was only true with carbureted cars with dirty air filters.

What you will get is inferior air filtration. If you plan on keeping the TL for many miles, stay away from these style filters and the foam filters. Air filtration is more important than oil filtration and nothing will kill an engine quicker than dirty air.

There are some such as the Amsoil Eaa filters that filter well and flow better than paper. There's another company out there but I forget the name that flows better AND filters better than stock. There's a thread about it somewhere.

On my turbo car that has to have a filter that flows 1,000 CFM for 700hp, I was stuck with a K&N and it has bothered me. At this level, a paper filter is not an option as one that flows enough air probably wouldn't fit under the hood lol. There's noticable abrasion on the compressor wheel of the turbo and always has been in the 14 years I've owned it with a K&N. Luckily there are a couple newer filters that should meet the airflow requirements and filter very well.

 

I think K&N is bad on cars with Mass Air Flow sensors...people would soak the filter w/ oil, not let it dry before putting it on the car and tearing away. This would suck oil vapor into the engine...saturating the MAF, in turn giving miss-readings. TL's don't have MAF sensors.

Plus, I think the stock air box is too restrictive. This guy made a nice short ram-air.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/blues-custom-type-s-intake-688562/

 

The problem with that setup is you're taking the factory semi-cold air intake away and putting a filter in the hot engine bay.

What makes you think the stock airbox is restrictive?

 

on my gen2, there is a large box called the intake resonator that the air goes into from the front of the car, thru the channels in the box and finally reaches the air filter box ,,,where it attaches and transfers the air.
When you install a CAI you remove that box.
I did the easy mod and removed the box- allowing full airflow to the 2 openings on the bottem of the air filter box

I dont know about diesels and K&N, but it works well on my truck, TL and bike engines

Its not perfect, but it does work and DOES flow significantly more air that a stock paper filter. There are now other brands getting on the guaze and/or foam,-like Fram Airhog filters, so there must be something to it!!

Note- you dont oil the k&n then let it dry- you oil it the correct amount and use!
thats their biggest prob- operator error

Tornado/typhon type devices dont work on the TL because we already have that built in~ When vtec engages it staggers the valve opening- causing a swirling tornado!

Modern engines with computers can take the extra air and lean the mixture more, giving a slight increase in mileage
thats my experience and opine~

 

The problem I have with the K&N is what good is a better flowing filter when the stock paper filter flows more air without restriction than the stock engine can use. You could take the filter out altogether and see no increase in power.

Tornados are a joke. They may swirl the air in the intake tract, then it has to go through the TB, upper plenum, lower plenum, heads, and intake valves. Any effect it may have is long lost. Besides, swirling/tumbing air is done by head design, not intake tract. In reality, you want the air flowing as smoothly as possible before it hits the intake valve.

And for gas mileage, the thottle body determines airflow, not the filter. It is absolutely impossible for the filter to make a difference. If steady state cruise at 60mph takes 30hp to maintain speed (made up) and lets assume the stock filter is a restriction here (it's not), you install a K&N which takes the restriction away. You're now flowing more air for the same throttle opening. The car now uses more air and the corresponding more fuel and accelerates. The driver backs off the gas to compensate, closing the TB a little to bring the engine back to the 30hp to maintain a steady speed. You're right back where you started, using the exact same amount of air to make the same amount of hp. Gas mileage is unaffected.

 

At the same throttle body opening, you are pulling through the air filter with the same amount of pressure. An air filter with a lower 'k' value (less flow restriction), would result in more flow at a given pressure. Thus, equal pressure does not result in equal flow if the k-values at the filter are different.

 

^^^ +1....i had an 02 MAX 6spd w/ a MAF sensor and K&N would get that shit all oiled up to the oint one time the car went into limp mode....yea...i dunno about K&N yo....

 

I ran a K&N in my Passat without issue ... and the clean air side of the air box was just that .. clean .. no indication in swipe tests of any dirt getting by in 25,000 miles.

Swipe was done with desicated filter media weighed before and after.

 

Anyone use a K&N filter and actually notice a difference like they advertise? Increases in HP and MPG? I was considering this but there are soooo many mixed opinions on this, it's like 50/50.

 

I have a k&n drop-in right now but I have a AEM CAI on its way. It's been in for about 8000 miles and I really haven't seen/felt much difference compared to stock. I originally bought it simply because you can reuse it since I wasn't planning on doing much to my car mod-wise. Plans have changed so the k&n is coming out, and being sold.

I have used the k&n drop-in and the full CAI in past vehicles and never had a problem. My last vehicle was a Chevy Blazer ZR2. Had the CAI on for ~80k miles in all kinds of conditions, and never once had a problem with it. Every time I cleaned the filter I made sure to check all of the intake components for excess oil/dirt and never found any.

I can't answer why some people have problems and some don't. People that have always claim they are cleaning and re-oiling the filter correctly but who knows. I just know that I've never had an issue.

In the end though, you won't see much of a difference in performance from the drop-in. The only "value" is monetary and that won't be realized unless you keep it for a long time. Hope this helps.

Jim

 

MPG increases are impossible.

 

I mean it not rly impossible when u think about it.

 

It's completely 100% impossible. Not a chance of it increasing mpg.

 

So your also saying that a dirty resticted air filter "won't" reduce gas milage?

 

On a modern fuel injected engine with feedback, a restricted air filter will only reduce power but mileage will be unaffected.

A MAF equipped car will read less airflow and add the appropriate amount of fuel.

A Speed Density car will see more vacuum and reduce fuel delivery.

The whole gas mileage myth was from the carburated days when a restriction made it run rich, reducing gas mileage.

 

I'm with ya "I Hate Cars", but get this...

Also, don't take me for a K&N user as of yet but I was shocked with the below..

-When I saw this thread it just reminded me of his phone call :-)
My dad actually informed me he installed a K&N filter (OEM replacement) in his GMC Yukon Denali (6.0Ltr). He has been driving it for the last 3 yrs and said his trip gas mileage went up near 3 mpg immediately following the K&N install.....I was like: "Hmmmmmmmmmm", you sure...?"

Normally I would say he is just getting old and senile yet he computes gas mileage to the tenth on all of his/moms vehicles - which is funny because he has plenty of $$$ as a retired guy yet is obsessed with it.. :-)

Anyway, I tend to believe he is really seeing the bump as it's not something he would remotely embellish on.. He was as shocked as I, and I know that all the other possible variables have remained the same...

Who knows,,,,
Cheers

 

Just something to think about....

While it can make a small difference at WOT in hp, the airflow demands are very low in normal driving, especially cruising down the freeway. A Yukon would take ~60hp to keep it moving at a steady state speed going down the freeway. This would be <100CFM of air going through the filter. At WOT for the full 300+hp it would be roughly 300CFM. The filter just isn't a restriction at part throttle on any vehicle.

FWIW, my father says the same thing to me and I just let it go since he could probably still beat me up.

 

I'll offer an opposing view since I have over 350k miles of experience with K&N filters including 142k on my CL-S. I experienced a 1-1.5mpg average gain after switching (at 10k miles) and the flat spot in acceleration just before vtec kicks in is gone. I also have my oil lab tested to make sure dirt or wear isnt a problem. At 100k miles the results came back that I "must have the cleanest engine in the state". The oil filter is cleaned every 30k miles. So much for all this talk about letting more dirt in. If there is more dirt getting in there is a fitment issue.

Dont expect much gain either in hp or mpg. Even my "gains" are marginal, but I still like the small improvement and what seems to objective proof that the engine is running cleaner than on paper filters. The money savings are just another small benefit.

 

drop in K&N made my car sound alittle louder, not crazy loud, just barely noticeable.

 

That's complete BS. There's sceintific evidence everywhere that shows the K&N filters horribly. It's not in the same league as a paper filter in filtration. There's UOA after UOA showing high silicone in the oil with K&Ns. You really shouldn't spread this kind of mis-information.

And again, your testing can't show a 1mpg increase. Your fuel logs would have to be incredibly detailed with the exact same trip at the exact same speeds every time. 1mpg is just at the noise level.

You wanted to see a gain so you saw it. Nothing more than the placebo effect. If you knew anything about how a car works you would see how outrageous these claims are.

 

Anyone else has experience with K&N filters??? I was interested in buying a filter for my TL until I saw "I hate cars"s comments.
This guy must also "hate K&N filters" to the heart. LOL. I would be interested in seeing other AZ members' opinions

 

I ran one on my Passat B5.5 for 3 years ... and no issues .. only real gain I saw was a little noise ..

As far as tests go .. I have seen them both ways. And non-conclusive.

Maybe he should post the links to all the negative tests.

 

Take a trip over to bobistheoilguy.com. Plenty of tests to show high silicone in the oil when using a K&N filter. Enough engineering background over there to put to rest the higher mpg theory.

A restrictive air filter on a fuel injected car is no different than a partially closed throttle. You lose some power at wide open throttle but no mpg change.

I can explain it for days but no one ever gets it.

 

I have the K&N air filter, I have had it in for about a year now. TBH I did not notice any difference whatsoever. I have had one in my 97 accord forever and have never had any problems with that car so i dunno

 

I dropped on in 1500 miles ago, haven't noticed any mpg gains.
It's going into the garbage when it get's dirty, going to try an Amsoil filter next.

 

Call K&N and ask them what the FILTERING (NOT flow) efficiency rating of their filter is. This should be a measurement of the size of the smallest particle of dirt that the filtering media will trap, it will be measured in microns. Some may measure FILTERING efficiency as a percentage (higher percentage = better filtering). Either way, good luck. You will get all kinds of sales hype about improving FLOW efficiency and some associated BS about more HP and better MPG and no answer on the FILTERING efficiency. If, by chance you do get an answer, then ask them what the rating is after 20 cleanings. Post the results.

Now contact the manufacturer of any brand paper element filter and get the filtering efficiency rating info. on their filter.

Then decide on what you want in your car. As a reminder, dirt that comes in through the intake goes directly into your engine, down through valves into the cylinders and oil.

Suffice it to say I don't run K&N type air filters. What you do with your car is your business.

 

Interesting website. Thanks for this info!

 

Which only means reduced power and nothing to do with mileage.

 

what about the fact that it doesnt suck as much but RAMS it it(talking about ram air). this DOES work.

btw you are telling me that my solid roller 347 small black which is mass air will not gain power by putting a aftermarket filter on from the base stock filter.

also please kee in mind most cai kits have much more smoother bends and not that flexible crap like most stock intakes have. which means smoother airflow aka BETTER!!

please get off your high horse

 

WTF? You're comparing a solid cam stroker 347's airflow requirements to a stock TL's airflow requirements and then you throw CAI in there for good measure. Where do you get these horrible conclusions from?

No one has debated that a K&N will make more power in a car that NEEDs the extra airflow. I ran one out of necessity but kept the filter in the engine bay due to it's poor filtering. A stock TL's paper filter is not a restriction to the engine's airflow requirements therfore a K&N filter will not provide gains.

As for the K&N fitler "ramming" the air in, I feel sorry for you if you believe that.

My 256" V6 at 29psi most likely has a larger CFM requirement than your stroker motor and I've been trying to find a filter that will flow enough and filter better. Currently trying Amsoil's EAA line and so far, so good. I got tired of sandblasting the compressor wheel on my turbos with the K&N. You can see the dullness on the blades from the abrasion by dirt getting past the filter.

The info is out there but you choose not to find it. It has already been proven time and time again that much more dirt makes it past the K&N than a paper filter. This is not even an argument, it's fact.

 

I've been using K&Ns for years on multiple cars, turbo too, not a single problem.

 

OK I am a little confused now. I guess I should have read this thread before going out and buy a K&N air filter for my 05 TL. I haven't installed it yet so I can still return it. Anyone have a bad experiences who who absolutely not recommend the K&N filter?

 

Depends on if you plan on keeping it for a lot of years and in good health. You won't pick up any hp from it so why would you sacrifice filtration for something that won't add power?

 

Yeah I plan on keeping the TL for years. I have owned it since it was brand new in 05. Only have 35k miles to date. Purchased the K&N air filter cause I heard it was better. I thought it was cool that I would get the 5 extra hp but I didn't purchase it because of the supposive extra hp that I would get.

 

You will not have any problems with it....and I do think it is better. But, for the small gain compared to price....that's up to you.