[AggieChris]

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?

 

[kg4kpg]

I put the conical version on my last TJ, couldn't really tell a difference. In my opinion if you keep them clean the drop-in version is the better deal as it only cost as much as 2 or 3 Fram replacement filters.

 

[JeepGuyLJ]

I use airraid intakes and i see a difference in my 05 wrangler.

 

[Tiburon]

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.

 

[amerijeep]

I don't buy it. I think they are snake oil. Consumer Reports said the same thing. It was on their site at one time. I'll check to see if it is still there later.

 

[1BLKJP]

I use an AEM intake/filter and TB spacer. I wouldn't say that it provide me anymore power at all. I didn't pay for it and they put it on for free for me which is the only reason I have it in the first place.

 

[tjsooley]

I don't buy it. I think they are snake oil. Consumer Reports said the same thing. It was on their site at one time. I'll check to see if it is still there later.

consumer reports isn't always truthful

 

[amerijeep]

consumer reports isn't always truthful

Please provide examples.

 

[Triple88a]

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.

 

[Buster]

I don't buy it. I think they are snake oil. Consumer Reports said the same thing. It was on their site at one time. I'll check to see if it is still there later.

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.

Air Filter Report

 

[Triple88a]

wow that is really scarry how many people including me (until now) believed in K&N filters... I gotta take this trash out of my box then lol I'm wondering what do they mean by no name brand.. auto zone filters maybe?

 

[mrbigjeep]

i haven't even read that link yet and i think its a complete waste of money

 

[amerijeep]

I wouldn't toss it if I had it in already. I wouldn't go out and buy one though.

 

[Triple88a]

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

 

[amerijeep]

Yeah, I don't blame you after reading that. Looks like K&N IS snake oil, for sure. I think it has a placebo effect of people that don't really have the feel for their Jeep.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

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.

 

[H.G]

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.

 

[activelydying]

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.

 

[1BLKJP]

HG, Pop your tube off of the throttle body and look down in there. I would bet money that there is a good deal of dust/dirt particles in there.

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.

 

[mud707]

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.