K & N Performance Filter

Price Paid:  $40.00 from autozone

Year / Model Reviewed:
1995 subaru/impreza

Summary:
I did not apply oil to my K N filter before I put it in my subaru. I have driven for about 10000 miles this way with now problems. I recently realized I had forgotten to oil it so I bought the kit and cleaned and oiled it. I read that too much oil has been (theoretically) causing problems with the MAF sensors of some vehicles. I was carefull in applying only the smallest amount I could, by my judgement. I installed the filter and after driving a few miles, my cars started hesitating and dying. My light came on so I read the code saying it was the MAF sensor. I can only relate the problem to the oil in the air filter because of the time correlation. Guess it could be a huge coincidence, but I doubt it. Goin to use MAF sensor cleaner and see if that fixes the problem.

Weaknesses:
Oil seems to mess with some MAF sensors

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $9.00 from Advanced Auto Parts

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 Pontiac GrandAm

Summary:
It was almost immediate, when I noticed that my car decreased in gas mileage (23 to 16 miles per gallon). About 6 months after installing the air filter, my car began to hesitate when shifting gears. I had 3 transmission specialists look at it and their response was that the transmission was going out. I had gone to Auto Zone about a year after installing the air filter and had a diagnostic test performed and it came back as a P0101. Come to find out, the oil from the K&N air filter had came off and covered my Mass Air Flow Sensor which had caused all the problems in which my car was experiencing. I find this out, however, after I paid to have a new Mass Air Flow Sensor installed and wiring. The technician explained to me that the signal circuit wire that runs from the computer to the MAF sensor was fluctuating and not keeping the 5 volts. This is what prompted them into replacing the MAF sensor and wiring. I paid over $300 bucks for this and come to find out, all I needed to do was clean off the MAF sensor because the oil had covered it up and was causing the computer to think that the car wasn't receiving the efficient amount of air flow. I purchased a Fram air filter and cleaned off the MAF sensor and now my car runs fine! I have nothing good to say about this K&N air filter and I wouldn't advice anybody else to waste their money!

Strengths:
NONE!

Weaknesses:
Causes oil to seep in and onto the MAF sensor and causes a decrease in gas mileage and shifting problems.

Similar Products Used:
Fram air filter

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $46.00 from Auto Zone

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Mercury Grand Marquis

Summary:
Terrible product! My car ran bad for a week, and I had to take the filter out. Not only did the car feel like it was going to stall but the exhaust stunk like rotten eggs. The filter obviously let too much air in and ruined the air fuel mixture to the point where my car was running rich. I wish I never bought it. I hope my car is not damaged.

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
See above

Similar Products Used:
Paper Filter

Price Paid:  $36.00 from Autoanything

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Hyundai Accent

Summary:
Noticed a little more HP but gas mileage decreased. Two weeks after installing the K&N filter, my "check engine" light came on. I brought the car to a Hyundai dealership and was told that the rings on my fuel injectors went bad as a result of the filter. The mechanic said that the filter allows more air but the fuel intake remains the same and the engine can not balance the increase in air with the fuel intake. He said his truck did the same thing after installing this filter. I also noticed that my RPMs rev higher when accelerating and then bounce back down after a short time. Will put a stock filter back in.

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
See above

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $55.00 from Lordco

Year / Model Reviewed:
2006 Acura TSX

Summary:
Great on acceleration! Your can feel the rev run faster to the redline than before. I can't say there is a huge difference on fuel consumption, but I can see there is a little better mileage with this filter, especially I go onto the highway everyday. (I was averaging 9.3-9.8L/100KM with stock, now I'm averaging 9.0-9.7L/100KM) Loss some torque at very low RPM (around 1000-2000). But for every Honda engine (Especially it's only 2.4L, for a 1500+kg vehicle!), you have to rev higher to get the car going, so this is not a big issue to me.

Strengths:
rev faster, easier & smoother to the redline; little better on fuel consumption!

Weaknesses:
Loss some low-end torque (around 1000-2000)

Similar Products Used:
Stock