K&N Filter

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by r carl

I've heard the dirtier a K&N gets, the better it filters.

I'm praying that you're being sarcastic when stating that.......yes a filter will not let dirt go through once plugged....but it's not going to let any bloody air go through either.

I do run the stock K&N but I cleaned it in soap and water, inspected the filter material for holes and oiled it for good measure. I have seen a dry K&N with no filter material in front of a turbo Isuzu, and the picture was scary, with the turbo vanes practically worn down to nothing by sand and grit, requiring a new turbo.

Cheers
Tony

[BoldAdventure]

K&N, they're like Nike and other name brands living on their name alone, but their products, aren't what they used to be.

[Kota]

Here's the oil analysis.

[drboyd]

The K&N works on a different theory of operation than a paper filter.

A paper filter is essentially a screen - its purpose is to keep chunks larger than X size out of your engine. Those chunks pile up on the surface of the filter, requiring it to be changed or at least cleaned.

The K&N filter is a viscous impingement filter. The air flowing through makes several sharp turns. The dirt specs, being heavier than air, don't navigate the turn and swing wide into a sticky oily wall. They remain stuck in the oil until washed off at the next service interval.

If you run a K&N un-oiled then, you're loosing the benefit - hence the croaked Isuzu turbo.

[Boxite]

K&N allows engines to breather easier because their media is more open and less restrictive than media which filters better.

Some K&N users understand that and OIL their K&Ns to increase the collection-rate of dirt. Understandably, this reduces the air-flow of the K&N thereby partially defeating the original intent of a less-restrictive media.

I subscribe to the theory that the OEM spent a lot of time and money developing a filter which
1) Keeps as much dirt as possible out of the engine in order to assure it gets to the 100K warranty period.
2) Is large enough to accommodate and exceed the natural restrictions a filter must incur to be effective, and also allow the engine to breathe easy so the owner will be pleased with performance and become a repeat-customer.

Aftermarket Products are not responsible for OEM warranty work and can disregard any obligations related to that matter.

Asking bubba what he thinks about his Aftermarket Product, which he's already spent his hard-earned money on, is akin to asking him if he was a Fool for the expenditure. You might as well ask him about his wife/girlfriend when she's standing right next to him.

I use OEM recommended products on my vehicles.

[dadstoy]

Oh well.


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[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by dadstoy

Oh well.


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

A very deep thought Dean, coming from a man who worries about when it's going to rain next, and by how much. Hopefully you get enough rain to help out with fire season.

How's the new coach and when do we see a new thread/blog from you about her.

Cheers
Tony

[dadstoy]

As Confucius once said; "Oh well".

..."new coach" ? I'm waiting for you to sell me your 31'.

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

A very deep thought Dean, coming from a man who worries about when it's going to rain next, and by how much. Hopefully you get enough rain to help out with fire season.

How's the new coach and when do we see a new thread/blog from you about her.

Cheers
Tony

[mayco]

Went to the parts store this morning to get a recharge kit for my K n N. While there I found out that K n N does make a pre-filter sock for the cone filter we have on the 310. It does increase the efficiency of the filter alone, I cant remember the amount.

Any opinions from you fellas as to if this would be a good idea to start using on the Isuzu? They are only about $15 and are washable.

Mike

[Kota]

Originally Posted by mayco

Went to the parts store this morning to get a recharge kit for my K n N. While there I found out that K n N does make a pre-filter sock for the cone filter we have on the 310. It does increase the efficiency of the filter alone, I cant remember the amount.

Any opinions from you fellas as to if this would be a good idea to start using on the Isuzu? They are only about $15 and are washable.

Mike

Makes about as much sense as washable toilet paper! Just kidding!

Don't know if you have room but there are some PowerCore products that might fit.

[dadstoy]

Mike, of course I don't have any experience with your application, but I do run the sock on my K&N that I use on my Polaris RZR. I run the filter oiled and the sock dry. The RZR is run in extremely dusty conditions. The sock really helps to keep the filter clean. Of course I check and clean often, usually after each ride. The sock is a very thin nylon type of material. A thin foam sock came with my K&N kit I run on my F150, but I don't use it...this filter rarely gets dirty.

Originally Posted by mayco

Went to the parts store this morning to get a recharge kit for my K n N. While there I found out that K n N does make a pre-filter sock for the cone filter we have on the 310. It does increase the efficiency of the filter alone, I cant remember the amount.

Any opinions from you fellas as to if this would be a good idea to start using on the Isuzu? They are only about $15 and are washable.

Mike

Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[mayco]

Ill take a look at the PowerCore products. The K & N on the Isuzu is right in front of the drivers front wheel. It does slide up into a plastic cover but theres room around it to install something a little bigger if needed....a little room. Seems like the intake was and afterthought when they went with the Isuzu option. Its a pretty clumbsy design and the location is less than desirable. Theres just not much room to move it anywhere. The oem fiber type hose connecting the metal tube from the filter and the turbo is a complete pain in the rear to change out. Horrible in fact. It also has so much crap in the way its nearly impossible to do a good visual inspection. I replaced mine with a scilicone hose and hopefully will never have to deal with that again unless Im replacing the turbo. I wonder though just how many folks that have the turbo diesel have even looked at that hose hidden away. Mine had a pretty good split in it, have no idea of course how long or how many miles were put on it with the split hose. I do register good on my turbo gauge so thats a good sign.

Im gonna wash and recharge the K&N and go ahead and order that prefilter, slip it on and see if it affects performance at all. No more than it costs I think its worth it. But I wiil take a look at the PowerCore and see if they have something that might fit.

Until reading this thread I had no idea that there were such opposing schools of thought on the K&N. I had always thought it was an "upgrade" to the cold air intake. Industry standard for quality after market filters. Sure doesnt sound like that assumption is necessarily true. Thanks for all the good insight and info! I learn a little more every day it seems, boy I love that, keeps me out of the taverns .

Mike

[Smartstream]

Install one of these. Part Details It tells you the vacuum or restriction downstream of your filter. It will show a big drop in vacuum if the hose to the turbo fails. Also when you clean your K&N you can see the vacuum drop and also go up as the filter gets dirty.

An interesting test, wash your K&N and put it in dry. Drive it a bit and then oil the filter and check it again. You will be surprised at the difference.




PS. These hold the max vacuum reading so you will see the max vacuum under the highest turbo boost while you were driving.

[mayco]

This would be installed in the metal tube between the filter and the turbo correct?the higher the vacuum reading the higher the restriction in the air flow therefore the dirtier the filter. I could then establish some type of baseline for a clean filter vs a dirty filter and time to clean. Very interesting.

[Smartstream]

Yeah Mike it goes anywhere between the filter and the turbo. Mine pick up is in the elbow just below the filter and the unit is on the firewall to the right of the radiator.

On my coach it reaches a constant very shortly after cleaning and oiling the filter. It stays the same for what feels like forever and then it climbs a little, that's when I service the filter.

By the way I also changed the tubing to the turbo to silicone. Next take a short piece of the silicone and install it just after the elbow below the filter and before the stabilizing hanger. Now just loosen the clamp next to the elbow and getting the filter out is easy.

[shepherd57]

Mike

I run the foam cover on my K n N but I moved my filter from the wheel well. Up inside the grill on the left side there is just enough room. The inlet for the turbo has to be moved and brought straight out from the turbo to the grill. Then add a couple of elbows and make a new cover as the old one won't work with the new sock.

I can't understand why Airstream put it in the wheel well to start with it is the worst place to put an air filter. It gets hammered with road debris and water in the rain even with the cover they put on it.

[mayco]

So Dan, did you use a barbed coupling in the grommet and then some type of tubing to run that device up there on the fire wall? I really like the idea, at least you have some type of tangible indication of when its time to recharge the filter.

John, I remember now reading your thread on moving the filter. Great idea. It takes at least one 90 degree bend out of the intake along with getting it out of the wheel well. Awful tight space on the 310 up next to the grill.

[shepherd57]

Mike

You can come straight out from the turbo beside the rad then a 90 left and a short pipe and a 90 to go back vertical. You should have the same amount of room as I do in your coach. You won't be able to use the foam filter cover with your setup the filter with the foam cover is to large.

John

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by mayco

So Dan, did you use a barbed coupling in the grommet and then some type of tubing to run that device up there on the fire wall? I really like the idea, at least you have some type of tangible indication of when its time to recharge the filter.

John, I remember now reading your thread on moving the filter. Great idea. It takes at least one 90 degree bend out of the intake along with getting it out of the wheel well. Awful tight space on the 310 up next to the grill.

Actually it was already on the coach when I got it but to answer your question it's connected with 1/16 th" vacuum hose. It's vacuum rather then pressure so it doesn't take much to keep the hose on the fitting.
Actually it's a common indicator on just about all the trucks on the highway. It's such a simple thing and when you are looking at filters that cost hundreds of dollars it just makes sense.