K&N extended life air filters

[Thursday]

I tried searching for info on these with no luck so forgive me if they’ve been discussed. I’m not sure if they’re new but I don’t remember seeing them before. Of course we all know of the K&N reusable air filters but I didn’t know they offered a line of disposable air filters as well. They offer a “long life” filter which they list at 18k miles and an “extended life” listed at 24k miles. These are disposable oiled air filters.

Does anyone have any info on these? My first impression is that it seems well made. Made in China. Very very similar to the oiled STP premium air filters that I’ve been running,

 

[Kira]

Info?, I've none.
First impression? They're merely attempting to cash in on a name recognition.

As usual, 99.5% efficiency? ...at what particle size range?

 

[twX]

They are probably fine, but they seem really overpriced for what what seems like a basic air filter.

"Up to 99.5% efficiency" seems good, but that figure would represent one of the most efficient models. K&N claims "up to 99% efficiency" for their washable filters, but a typical ISO test result for one of these filters is 97% initial / 98% average efficiency, and that's with coarse test dust, not fine dust.

 

[shortyb]

~$35 for a run-of-the-mill looking oiled paper filter? No thanks, give me a Mann for half that.

If you look closely at the pic, you can see the holes .

 

[circuitsmith]

The OEM filter on my last 3 cars (2006 Toyota, 2017 & 2024 Hyundai) are rated for 30K miles.
That's extended enough for me.
I put a restriction gauge on the Toyota and it took 43K miles to reach 11 inches restriction on a full throttle run.

 

[GMBoy]

I don't get the 24k "extended life" when most cars recommend 30k mile filter changes. That is just marketing off the K&N name and selling a regular filter relabeled K&N. I would pass unless the price is good enough over other brands.

 

[Chris142]

As usual, 99.5% efficiency? ...at what particle size range?

Pea gravel and larger!

 

[oil pan 4]

They are probably fine, but they seem really overpriced for what what seems like a basic air filter.

"Up to 99.5% efficiency" seems good, but that figure would represent one of the most efficient models. K&N claims "up to 99% efficiency" for their washable filters, but a typical ISO test result for one of these filters is 97% initial / 98% average efficiency, and that's with coarse test dust, not fine dust.

Info?, I've none.
First impression? They're merely attempting to cash in on a name recognition.

As usual, 99.5% efficiency? ...at what particle size range?

If it's 99.5% on iso5011 that's very good.
A traditional k&n stops around 96%.
Any cheap no name paper air filter should stop around 97%.
A good paper air filter stops about 99%.
A very good air filter stops about 99.5%.
A great air filter stops greater than 99.9%.
That's iso5011 dirt rangeing in size from about 1 micron up to about 80 microns with most of the mass of the calibrated iso5011 dirt being in the 20 to 40 micron range.

 

[Thursday]

If it's 99.5% on iso5011 that's very good.
A traditional k&n stops around 96%.
Any cheap no name paper air filter should stop around 97%.
A good paper air filter stops about 99%.
A very good air filter stops about 99.5%.
A great air filter stops greater than 99.9%.
That's iso5011 dirt rangeing in size from about 1 micron up to about 80 microns with most of the mass of the calibrated iso5011 dirt being in the 20 to 40 micron range.

Indeed it is:

Not planning on running this thing 24k. I switch my filters out yearly which works out to be about 6k miles.

 

[oil pan 4]

Indeed it is:

View attachment 240332
Not planning on running this thing 24k. I switch my filters out yearly which works out to be about 6k miles.

Put a filter minder on there and change it when you get a slight restriction or when the foam starts to rip.
Last filter I replaced between 20,000 and 30,000 miles because the foam started to rip.
I've had the current air filter on my truck for about a year and 8,000 miles and still no trip on the 10 inches of water setting.
Also filters hit peak filtering efficiency when they are between 10 to 20% clogged.

 

[twX]

A traditional k&n stops around 96%.

And yet they advertise them as "up to 99% efficiency* (*efficiency varies by application)". My point was that they probably use the same marketing tactic with these filters. A typical model might only be 98% efficient.

 

[oil pan 4]

And yet they advertise them as "up to 99% efficiency* (*efficiency varies by application)". My point was that they probably use the same marketing tactic with these filters. A typical model might only be 98% efficient.

I'm not sure how how they came up with 99% on the traditional oiled cotton filters.

 

[Oliveoil2]

60-80k miles Air filter change. 1.5l Honda. Don’t live in a dusty environment. That’s about 4-5 years. It’s clear that filters efficiency improve with age, to a certain point. Most air filters are changed way to soon.

 

[KevinMalone]

I switch my filters out yearly which works out to be about 6k miles.

Do your driving conditions warrant annual/6K mile intervals? Otherwise that seems extremely wasteful

 

[Bill Judson]

I've been using AEM for years across multiple vehicles, so with over 200k and I've never had any issues at all.

 

[ZeeOSix]

"Cumulative efficiency" ... meaning after the completion of the test, and the filter has been fully loaded with enough dust to terminate the test. ISO 5011 determines the efficiency by comparing how much dust was introduced to the filter media over the entire test period compared to how much dust was captured by the media. It doesn't use real time particle counters of any kind, like ISO 4548-12 does with oil filter efficiency testing. Air filter efficiency is done by dust weights.

So if it took 50 grams actually going into the filter media to load the filter enough to terminate the test, and the filter was 98% efficient, then it captured 98% of 50 grams (49.0 grams), and let 2% of 50 grams (1.0 gram) of dust through the media.

 

[Bill Judson]

if it took 50 grams actually going into the filter media to load the filter enough to terminate the test

At that point the filter has 15k to 20k of drive time on it in real world testing.
In other words... I'm good to go with my AEM filer! Way groovey with KooLness

 

[ZeeOSix]

At that point the filter has 15k to 20k of drive time on it in real world testing.
In other words... I'm good to go with my AEM filer! Way groovey with KooLness View attachment 252445

It was an example using numbers of how the ISO 5011 efficiency test is done. How much debris any air filter captures in real use and how that effects it's flow and performance depends on many factors. Air filter manufactures don't really say how much debris in grams the air filter will hold, they just recommend an up to mileage rating.

 

[Bill Judson]

How much debris any air filter captures in real use and how that effects it's flow and performance depends on many factors

Sounds like a mystery that has not been solved yet.... nobody knows!

 

[ZeeOSix]

Sounds like a mystery that has not been solved yet.... nobody knows! View attachment 252673

The only good way to know when to change the air filter is to use a dP monitor gauge across it and change it when the dP gauge shows too much restriction. Or just change it out based on feelings of how it's been driven in dusty or not conditions.