Did you notice any difference with a K&N filter? Need a new filter for the Tahoe...

This has been the subject of MANY flame wars in the Dodge truck group. *Mostly are the arguments of their claims for increased power. *A few of the posters there contacted K&N for refrences to their claims, only to have the company side step around them. *Then their filtration claims have been questioned. *Seems that they do allow a minute amount more impurities vs. a paper element. *Not enough though that most would likely never notice.

If you get one, and I'd say save your money, only get it for the "convenience" of not having to drive to the auto parts store for replacements twice a year - if you think the tradeoff of having to wash and oil the thing, and the resultant loss of vehicle use during the period are worth it.

Ok...I don't know anything about the maintenance. How much time does it take to make it ready for use again?

I've heard guys tell me of more power and even improved gas mileage. But I thought I'd ask the experts http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

More power for sure, more air = more power that you can feel. *I put one on my trans-am and i could feel the difference. *I have the open Element breather on it, and with the K&N you can hear the car sucking air into its lungs when you stomp it. Where as the old cheap a$$ jobs i felt would deprive you car of air if anything.

I installed a K&N factory replacement. *I would have liked to install the open element system but couldn't afford it. *I have noticed a slight difference with the K&N over paper element. *Not alot but I think the open element would cut back on restriction alot. *I think it was worth the 40 dollars though.

I work into an open pit oilsands mine where it gets VERY dusty with 400 ton trucks and other equipment travelling the haul roads. For service vehicles we have GMC pick-ups that run constantly for either heat in the winter or cooling in the summer. They are only shut-off when re-fueling basiclly. Most engines are 6 liters with some old 5.7 in there. A couple of Duramax(save your money until the trannys are fixed) and weapon of all weapons the 8.1.
* These vehicles are serviced in our on site auto shop and are equipped with Amsoil ait filters. Since using these oil bathed filters not a single engine has been lost to dirty air. And there are over 200 pick-ups out there. They work! Another factor to aid engine life was to run 0W30 oil year round, except the diesels. But as for the filters they are far superior to the paper elements for cleaning the air the engine breathes.

I have a 1998 Dodge Ram SS/T with the 360 that I have done a few changes which include chip, headers, underdriven pulley kit and posi rear end. *I tried the K&N filter in it and noticed nothing as far as power or mileage gain so I ended up going back to Fram filters<--free from work. *I think it depends on the vehicle.

On the my truck I have the KN replacement and personally like it. I have also removed the air baffle in the fender so it gets fresh cold air all the time. I like the K+N so much, when I traded my 97 and got my 2000, I swapped fileters at the dealer before I left.

My neighbor has the cold air kit on his 2000GMC 2500 with 6.0 and says he likes it.

We have a 2001 Wrangler also and it made the biggest difference out of them all

I prefer the foam/oiled element filters for the trucks,the k+n do not filter the air as well and this is not good on our turbos.power increase ? any # on the dyno to prove the claims from those whom say they gave more power?the only reason we don&#39;t run stock type filter is they will not hold up to the demands .they come apart literally.but like wolfman stated this is a big debate .

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Rocketman @ May 31, 2002, 11:08pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Ok...I don&#39;t know anything about the maintenance. How much time does it take to make it ready for use again?

I&#39;ve heard guys tell me of more power and even improved gas mileage. But I thought I&#39;d ask the experts http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif[/b][/quote]
Im guessing here on the cleanup time, but I would think that you would be in it for a couple of hours. *You have to thoroughly rinse the filter media off with their soap, allow to dry COMPLETELY, and then re oil the thing with their oil.

The lazy side of me is already at the store, tossing a few bux for another paper element, and snapping it in place in the parking lot, then going home in about 1/4th the time.

I had one in my 96 v-6 Dakota and I got one for my 99 v-8 Dakota,I did notice more power and fuel economy in the v-6,but that was with a total package of flowmaster exhaust w/free flow cat and bosch super plat. plugs.
When I got the truck it got about 15 mpg,after all the add-ons it got up to around 19 or 20 mpg.
With a 50 mile round trip every day it adds up.
Haven&#39;t done as much with the 99 yet,trying to buy a house and the wife says it better not be as loud as the old one,tired of me wakin&#39; up the neighborhood I think.

An engine can only suck in so much air.The size of the stock filtration units on todays vehicles are huge.The one in my Burb is hugemungous,if the K+N can let anymore air in the engine,so let it be done.I will not not buy one of these.Also less filtration with a K+N.The gains may be so minimal,its just not worth it to me.There are companies that manufacture larger throttle bodies,now that I could see making a difference,especially complimented with an easy flow exhaust.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (jwheeler @ May 31, 2002, 11:10pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">More power for sure, more air = more power that you can feel. *I put one on my trans-am and i could feel the difference. *I have the open Element breather on it, and with the K&N you can hear the car sucking air into its lungs when you stomp it. Where as the old cheap a$$ jobs i felt would deprive you car of air if anything.[/b][/quote]
Years ago we flipped the air cleaner cover over on our carbed vehicles.Yes you could hear intake noise,but it did not make the car any faster.I thought it sounded cool tho *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

mxz7 it may depend on the vehicle and all but mine defenatly got a gain in acceleration from a dead stop, and with the 3" duals it really breathes well. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/exclamation.gif

jwheeler, I am a big skeptic when it comes to some aftermarket products. Thats great if the K+N works for you. Some things I believe will make no difference. Maybe I am wrong. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleepy.gif * *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I am like mxz7 on this subject,I am still waiting on facts(dyno results or test times at the drag strip) these are your only proof to the claims of more power.but then again its not only the filter most have said they are running free flowing exhaust also that is were most of the gains are found in my experiance.the amount of air flow(cfm) in most stock filters is more than the engine will flow without porting the heads.if you really want big gains in power bolt on a set of aftermarket heads and check the dyno then ,done a 87 &#39;burb w/a 350 now its running dart heads making 35 more rwhp.on the same 87 octane fuel.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Wolfman @ June 01, 2002, 5:30pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The lazy side of me is already at the store, tossing a few bux for another paper element, and snapping it in place in the parking lot, then going home in about 1/4th the time.[/b][/quote]
To all the Canucks, sounds like he just left Canadian Tire. *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Not sure if they make more power or not but they can be a pain to clean you need to have the soap and oil.I have seen many cars ### in to my work with some nasty k&n filters in them some people buy em then forget them. I know at most local short tracks they are a no no(seem`s they will hold a shot of nos for a 1 lap run) http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *just my 2 cent`s jeff in nh

You first response post on impurities is true. Diesel.com put a warning out not to use the K&N filters in any diesel trucks, that it lets in more dust and ruins the engine. I have seen no warnings at all for gas. Rock, do you do a lot of driving in the back roads (dirt)? If so, what will best stop the dust from getting into the carb I would focus on....I think it is better to change the exhaust to Flowmasters (dual) and go to a larger pipe diameter say 2" to 2.5"s to let the engine breathe alittle better. Headers will also help. Dump the catalytic converter as well, creates to much back pressure for easier breathing, but if you a worried about spot inspection, cats can be welded in the exhaust system even with headers. (Personal experience) *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I have a &#39;96 GMC Jimmy 2Door with the Vortec 4.3L V-6, automatic. *I had a K&N filter for it and I did not really notice a difference. *However, this past December I bought the K & N Fuel Injection Performace Kit (cold air kit) and I noticed a difference in fuel economy, about 2 mpg on average, and although I couldn&#39;t dyno it, it seemed to have much better acceleration. *In addition to that, I than got a Hypertech Power Programmer Plus and reprogrammed the computer (also had to use 93 Octane fuel), then I really noticed the difference in acceleration, firmer shifts, no bogs while shifting and I suprised a few people driving those zippy little imports at some stop lights. *Now, I am not saying that it is like driving a 396 ci big block, but I think they made a difference. *I have ordered a 2003 Envoy with the In-line 6 and I will probably add the FIPK and Power Programming to this vehicle, as well as an exhaust system (once they are developed). So without making any engine modifications, I wonder what kind of horse power I can get above the 270hp it has off the lot? *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif
* * According to Hypertech&#39;s Website. *By using the Power Programmer Plus for the new Chevy and GMC 6.0L Vortec, they boast 48 hp gains. *That is power you can feel don&#39;t you think??

I put a K&N on my 95 Bonneville and I think it made a difference. It seemed to rev a little faster. Biggest difference is that the huge airbox is gone and it now makes a loud sucking sound until it warms up and the EGR valve closes. I like it though. Havent cleaned it yet but I probably should soon.
* * * * * * Ryan

I put a K&N FIPK on my durango. I felt it suck air a lot more and it felt stronger. *But when i went to trade the truck in i put back the old system and it felt gutless. *The K&N makes a diffrence.

I also got much better fuel economy. *The FIPK system paid for it self very fast. *

I also run one on my camaro and love it.

The misconseption is that K&N filters get dirty faster. *When there dirty they filter better but they still have a long way to go before there clean. *

Cleaning them takes about 30min and during that time only 10min when your accually doing somthing the rest of the time its drying. *

It worth the money for any truck but i would recommend a FIPK cold air system.