After having 2 vehicles that had problems with K&N filters i decided to write a thread about my stories and a warning of potential buyers.

Story 1 1999 4runner V6:

My Dad put in a K&n drop-in filter about a year ago. Starting around Febuary of this year he started getting a CEL. Sometimes the truck was having trouble starting and it would take a romp on the gas pedal to get it going after a few cranks. I tried seafoam and this cleared up the problem for a week or so. My dad often lets his truck idle for 20-60 minutes with the A\C on for his dogs (bad idea i know). The O2 sensor was replaced and the problem was still there. Eventually I decided to pull the MAF and clean it..no dice problem was still there so we replaced the whole unit. There was only ONE reason there was so much CRAP sucked into this engine..the filter. MAF was replaced and a OEM filter was installed..problem is 100% fixed.


Story 2. 2000 Tacoma V6

I was having the same starting problem with my truck. No CEL but the truck was having difficulty starting at times. It started around the same week I bought it. Putting my anger aside i took my dads experience into consideration and looked at the airfilter..yep it was a K&N.. I ordred myself a Airaid JR kit and when installing it i gave the MAF a good cleaning..problem solved.. havent had a HINT of trouble since the day i installed the Airaid JR.



Please post up your experiences\stories about why you dislike K&N filters.

 

I just dislike it. =)

 

I havent had any problems yet but thanx for the warning!

 

Have had no problems at all. I have used the recharge kit to clean the filter twice and each time it feels like a brand new airfilter and I can feel the engine breathing better. I like it alot

 

Generally, when people experience problems with a k&n filter it's because the oil used on them doesn't go well with MAFs. If your engine has an AFM instead of a MAF, you probably won't have any problems with a k&n. I've been running one for years with no problems.

 

i had one on my 22re came with the truck i oiled it once at let it dry over night had that truck for a couple of years no issues

 

There is one installed in my 3.0 runner that is working fine.so I agree with you..

 

i've been running them since 91' never had a problem on the older trucks

 

I've been doing a back and forth swap with a paper OEM and just doing some MPGs tests since I'm curious but I've yet to have a problem running the K&N for extended periods. Over oiling is an issue with the 3rd gen MAF but it seems to be hit and miss with problems in the 3rd gens.

 

You won't see any milage increases running a K&N and you won't see any power increases running a K&N.
What you will see, running a K&N is an increased amount or crap injected into and digested by the engine and I'm not just talking about the oil.
They simply don't filter as good as an OEM style filter.






Fred

 

watever u guys think about it ,i think its helping the breathing ,and i put a ☺☺☺☺ load of oil on it and it still dont do anything wrong.

 

I took mine out. They suck, total waste of money... They don't filter as well, and that's the most important thing.

 

I ran a K&N on my turboed Eclipse for 5 years and never had any issues and my turbo vanes were in fine shape and if a filter isn't filtering a turbo will show it.

Has anybody known any filter to be the cause of engine damage?

 

I've run one for two year in Tacoma, and never had a problem. Usually, the only way the MAF is affected, and the CEL appears, is due to the owner of the filter overoiling prior to reinstallation. It's better to use several light coats of oil, than one saturating mess. Also, after oiling, wait at least 20 minutes prior to reinstalling the filter.