Best replacement for performance & economy

[Dohc98vteC]

Hey guys this is my first post, and I am debating on changing my air filter with an STP or K&N. I have done some searching on here and looks like lots of people don't see any advantages with K&N. I live down the street from a quarry, so it can get dusty when the trucks go in and out, so I think that is advantage STP vs oiled filter but I do mostly highway miles, any suggestions?

 

[Dohc98vteC]

Oh yeah my car is a 98 Prelude so has all the power on the upper rpm range.

 

[UncleS2]

Near a rock quarry?

I'd stick with the factory intake setup, and use an oiled paper filter, either the Pure One(by Purolator) or the Fram Tough Guard. And with all that rock dust I'd probably change it twice a year. I'm no expert, JMO.

PS: You might also look into the Amsoil air filters, they might have something in your OEM application.

 

[sxg6]

Between the two, i'd pick the STP. I seriously doubt you'd notice a performance increase with the K&N in your prelude, and thats the only real advantage a K&N has in my eyes.

 

[bottgers]

Don't know a thing about STP filters, but I do know K&N's don't filter as well as OEM filters. You may be trading off engine life to get any little bit of performance gain they might offer.

 

[mechtech]

If you drive in a dusty area, don't get a K+N.
They do flow more, but they flow more dirt, as well.
My relatively clean driving area allows me to use a K+N.
Keep fresh paper air cleaners installed.

 

[HardbodyLoyalist]

I'd definitely forego the K&N.

Be careful, however, to NOT change the filter too often. Remember... filters filter better when they're dirty. I'd leave the paper filter in place as long as I could see light through the media (barring tears or holes, of course).

 

[Dohc98vteC]

quote:

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Originally posted by HardbodyLoyalist:
I'd definitely forego the K&N.

Be careful, however, to NOT change the filter too often. Remember... filters filter better when they're dirty. I'd leave the paper filter in place as long as I could see light through the media (barring tears or holes, of course).

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See, now I am noticing some hesitation at low rpm especially like the engine is bogging. I recently changed the spark plugs, and pcv valve, maybe the fuel filter is what I should change next..

 

[oil pan 4]

No K&N.
Fram air filters with the orange fibers are good.
They arn't by any means like a K&N and they flow better then a regular paper filter. And still stop plenty of dirt.

 

[Dominic]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dohc98vteC:

quote:

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Originally posted by HardbodyLoyalist:
I'd definitely forego the K&N.

Be careful, however, to NOT change the filter too often. Remember... filters filter better when they're dirty. I'd leave the paper filter in place as long as I could see light through the media (barring tears or holes, of course).

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See, now I am noticing some hesitation at low rpm especially like the engine is bogging. I recently changed the spark plugs, and pcv valve, maybe the fuel filter is what I should change next..

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Low end bogging sounds like carbon buildup to me. Clean the throttle body and intake really well and be sure to run a energy conserving rather thin 5W30 and be careful what gas you run in it. If it really bogs, could be a clogged up cat converter or one beginning to stop up.

As for air filter, leave it stock. Horsepower gains wont be much if any with a new filter or CAI, and you won't filter better with a CAI.

 

[avette]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dohc98vteC:
I live down the street from a quarry, so it can get dusty when the trucks go in and out, so I think that is advantage STP vs oiled filter but I do mostly highway miles, any suggestions?

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Dusty or not, K&N doesn't provide any advantages over the cheapo paper, only potential hassles (filtration uncertainity and reoiling quagmire)

 

[cfromc]

avette, I have to disagree. K&N does provide a flow advantage, that is, if the engine requires more flow than the paper element provides. Most stock or very near-stock engines don't require more than the factory type filter, however to make a blanket statement that K&N doesn't provide any advantages is just not completely accurate. Also, I've owned K&N's for over 10 years and never had a reoiling problem.

 

[avette]

Very well, I'll rephrase it.
In the vast majority of cases...

 

[gtx510]

How do you guys feel about foam filters like Trueflow and BMC?
www.trueflow.com
www.bmcairfilters.com

I need drop-in filters for a '01 BMW E39 530i and a '00 Jeep WJ 4.7L.
Pops wants more mpg's outta the WJ. And it'll see lotsa dust and sand down in Baja.
He wants a K&N, I'm leaning towards foam in hopes of it filtering better.

And foam for the E39 since I figure that the oil shouldn't come off of it like a K&N (less chance of fouling the MAFS).


How well does the new Amsoil stuff flow?


And what do you guys think of www.monsterflow.com ?
My turbo 323GTX is going to run one of these.

 

[Harley Anderson]

I liked the idea of true-flow being a foam filter, but after using it on my diesel, it quickly clogged with dirt and was hard to clean. Then I replaced with an Amsoil Ea Air Filter which had an improvement in flow and stayed cleaner longer. My used oil analysis showed better results with the Amsoil filter as well in the silicon dept. I'm am sticking to the dry media filters or back to paper. I do like oiled foam on my dirtbikes though.

 

[Thermactor]

Foam filters are useless.

 

[gtx510]

Going by Bob's old filter test K&N and foam filters are about equally useless in regards to filtration.
www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm


Ok, you guys are winning me over on the Amsoil Ea filters.
It'll filter and flow better than a foam filter, huh?


And I'm just curious.
What do you guys think about Fram Airhog or Green filters compared to K&N?

 

[gtx510]

quote:

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Originally posted by cfromc:
avette, I have to disagree. K&N does provide a flow advantage, that is, if the engine requires more flow than the paper element provides. Most stock or very near-stock engines don't require more than the factory type filter, however to make a blanket statement that K&N doesn't provide any advantages is just not completely accurate. Also, I've owned K&N's for over 10 years and never had a reoiling problem.

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An engine is an air pump and it'll pump more air with less inlet (or exhaust) restriction.
But the increased pumping efficiency might not translate into hp gains that you can actually feel.