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Anybody out there use K&N Air filters? I was just reading about them and was wanting to see if anybody had any personal experience using one and if it made a difference in your Wrangler's performance?
K&N Air Filters?
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K & N puts out a pretty good product. I've used them before and I noticed a bit of a differance. The way they work is based on the old theroy of the more air and gas u pump into an engine the more HP u get out of them. Obviously the filter allows more air into the system and they way they do that is either by having more surface area to allow the air through i.e more folds and ripples in the filter, or making the filter so that it doesn't perform as well and lets more stuff thru. With a cheap filter there are bigger 'gaps' to allow greater airflow but at the same time it allows more dirt thru as well, great for temporary power gains for the first few months or years. But with all that extra crap going into the engine it begins to wear down parts especially in dusty regions. The K & N has more folds, allowing more air thru but at the same time trapping more dirt. The other plus is they last a life time you only need to clean them once or twice a year.
I have a drop in on my 00.. if you live in the chicago area I wouldnt mind swapping it to your wrangler and taking it for a spin.. if the filters are the same size that is.. I do not know the before since thats how i bought the wrangler so i cannot tell you if its any different. I rather get an big round open air filter though if i was searching for one since they make nice different "mean" sound and also for sure inmprove throttle response. ("cold air intake") I had cone filters on my 2 previews cars and my mothers Montero sport and they are feelable difference from the stock boxes.
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Here is a report that backs up what CR said about the K&N filter. And I agree that it is snake oil..after all...I have that snake oil under my hood, and it really was a waste of money.amerijeep said:
Air Filter Report
Amerijeep i'm thinkin of swappin to dry material cone air filter that allows more air to pass because of more surface area.. unlike the panel "high performance K&N" airfilters that just allow more dirt to enter.
Thats what i have in mind http://www.stu-offroad.com/engine/air1/air-2.htm
Thats what i have in mind http://www.stu-offroad.com/engine/air1/air-2.htm
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Yep, avoid K&N air filters. They let in more fine dust/silica while only providing a placebo-effect (read not real) improvement in performance. They can help the performance in SOME vehicles that have very restrictive air intakes, just not our TJs that were specifically designed to have relatively free-flowing factory air intake systems. 
I got a K&N pod style set up..in my 03 tj
you definately do notice the difference in the rev range..
it revs a;lot harder.it also sounds alot more vicious thanks to the sucking sound.
Ive caked it in mud and debris..taken it off to see if anything got through.. not even a slight dust skin lay on the inside of the tube.
Ive read that the K&N filters arent all that flash.. but I havent had any hassles as yet.. and its been in for well over a year now.its a daily driver.. and a weekend warrior.. the filter does get cleaned frequently though.
you definately do notice the difference in the rev range..
it revs a;lot harder.it also sounds alot more vicious thanks to the sucking sound.
Ive caked it in mud and debris..taken it off to see if anything got through.. not even a slight dust skin lay on the inside of the tube.
Ive read that the K&N filters arent all that flash.. but I havent had any hassles as yet.. and its been in for well over a year now.its a daily driver.. and a weekend warrior.. the filter does get cleaned frequently though.
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i have to agree with h.g. i have used k&n filters for quite a few years now. in my past vehicles and also my jeep. i feel that it's a lot less restrictive then the stock filter. my tj came with a piece of foam on the underside of the air filter. i have never seen this before, but once i replaced it, the jeep seemed to run much smoother.
I'vehad my k&n for two years now. I've been through many different conditions from dusty to mud(that's mean 2 inches of mud left in the airbox when i got home) and have never had a problem with it. I even checked inside the throttle body and didn't see any dust or mud. I do a thorough inspection and cleaning of everything after I play . Now in the future I'm putting on a snorkel(if Mrs. Claus buys it for me .) Since where I live there are alot of deep holes.
.) Since where I live there are alot of deep holes.1 - 20 of 21 Posts
