To all K&N drop-in filter owners.

[jhan1102]

Dear K&N drop-in filter owners, I really didn’t wanted to purchase K&N filter thinking it may damage the engine, but at this point I really don’t give a f!@# about further damage. If the engine goes, I’ll have Acura pay for one. I’ve been reading and researching over and over so I want to do this poll. Do you guys “really” see the MPG gain from K&N drop in filter? I had AEM Short Ram intake with K&N filter before but I burned more gas then saving gas because I lost low-end torque. I noticed improvement in low-end when the stock airbox and filter was replaced and MPG when up. So, I don’t really think I want to go with CAI on this car. It already sucks at low-end as is. Please don’t bull crap. I already know that I got 20-21 MPG in city, 39 MPG on hwy. when I was driving w/o the air filter, and now I am at 17 MPG w/ filter city/hwy. This could also be caused by the engine damage or the break-in period. Thanks for your input.

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[Chingrin]

I've used K&N in all my previous cars and did not have any problems. Most recent car was a 91 Legend LS with 188,000 miles with a K&N in from 80K on and never had any problems with the engine.

If anyone actually has had engine damage from a K&N I would be suprised.

As for MPG gains in my 04TL 5AT went from 19 in the city to 22 in the city. I live in DC and drive 25 miles each way and takes me 1.5 hours each way!

[jmn4667]

My K&N has been installed for about 1k miles now and my gas mileage has definitely improved. My city mpg avg has gone from 19 to 21 and I expect the hwy mpg avg to go from 30 to 34 (as that is what it did for my '01 CL-S). Neither of my Acuras have ever experienced any problems using from the K&N.

By the way, you're getting 39 mpg on the hwy??? You must drive like 40 mph or something!

More info here

[jhan1102]

Originally Posted by jmn4667

My K&N has been installed for about 1k miles now and my gas mileage has definitely improved. My city mpg avg has gone from 19 to 21 and I expect the hwy mpg avg to go from 30 to 34 (as that is what it did for my '01 CL-S). Neither of my Acuras have ever experienced any problems using from the K&N.

By the way, you're getting 39 mpg on the hwy??? You must drive like 40 mph or something!

More info here

No, I was driving without the airfilter connected to my engine. -.- I am trying to ask why my dealer didn't spot this before.

[3PUTT]

Originally Posted by jhan1102

Dear K&N drop-in filter owners,

I really didn’t wanted to purchase K&N filter thinking it may damage the engine, but at this point I really don’t give a f!@# about further damage. If the engine goes, I’ll have Acura pay for one.

I’ve been reading and researching over and over so I want to do this poll.

Do you guys “really” see the MPG gain from K&N drop in filter?

I had AEM Short Ram intake with K&N filter before but I burned more gas then saving gas because I lost low-end torque. I noticed improvement in low-end when the stock airbox and filter was replaced and MPG when up. So, I don’t really think I want to go with CAI on this car. It already sucks at low-end as is.

Please don’t bull crap. I already know that I got 20-21 MPG in city, 39 MPG on hwy. when I was driving w/o the air filter, and now I am at 17 MPG w/ filter city/hwy. This could also be caused by the engine damage or the break-in period.

Thanks for your input.

how many miles does your car have?
if you haven't logged in too many miles, the engine has not completely settled.
in other words, let your car break in for a few more months.
the filter imporved the MPG slightly (23 MPG). my daily route deals with mountains which is why the change in MPG is little. when driving on mostly highway, it goes up to about 33 MPG.

[Nodoze2004]

Originally Posted by jhan1102

Please don’t bull crap. I already know that I got 20-21 MPG in city, 39 MPG on hwy. when I was driving w/o the air filter, and now I am at 17 MPG w/ filter city/hwy. This could also be caused by the engine damage or the break-in period.

Thanks for your input.

In answer to your query I saw no difference whatsoever on the gas mileage....it still sucks (16mpg). I should also note that I drive rather aggressively (you have to get any performance out of the car) and my driving is 50/50 mix of city/hwy.

I did notice a slight reduction in the apparent 'lag' I used to encounter with the stock filter when I mashed the accelerator. Aside from that there is little to no difference.

One question, why were you driving around without a filter? Just reading that gave me the chills!!

[jmn4667]

Originally Posted by Nodoze2004

In answer to your query I saw no difference whatsoever on the gas mileage....it still sucks (16mpg).

Is it possible that bad gas or "Florida" gas could be the cause the poor gas mileage?

[jhan1102]

Originally Posted by Nodoze2004

In answer to your query I saw no difference whatsoever on the gas mileage....it still sucks (16mpg). I should also note that I drive rather aggressively (you have to get any performance out of the car) and my driving is 50/50 mix of city/hwy.

I did notice a slight reduction in the apparent 'lag' I used to encounter with the stock filter when I mashed the accelerator. Aside from that there is little to no difference.

One question, why were you driving around without a filter? Just reading that gave me the chills!!

Yeah, isn't it crazy? I think so too.
http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110020

I got the car, and it came without filter being connected.
Took it in to complain about the engine noise, but nothing was done.
later, found out that it was never connected from the factory.

Crazy~~~~~

[E-luzion]

Guys, Ive never heard of a air filter causing damage to an engine.....even if more than a usual amount of air flow enters, you would get a light triggered by the MAF sensor....

[jhan1102]

Wow, no gain? Hmmm... something to think about.

[Ron A]

It's not the air he is worried about, it is what is in the air that is getting into the engine, which would normally have been filtered out if the air filter were connected properly.

Unless you drove in a dirty environment, or ran into a sand storm or windy place carrying lots of airborne particles, I don't think you have much to worry about. A thousand miles of driving in a relatively clean environment shouldn't have caused much, if any, wear on the engine.

[bluenoise]

I've never heard any concerns about K & N and engine damage. I thought they did at least as good a job at cleaning the air as the paper filters, but I may be wrong. I'm planning on putting a K & N Filtercharger into my TL this weekend as my previous cars all had one and I like the long life and lower restriction.

Where is there info about engine damage from these things? I certainly want to read about it before slapping one in my new car.

[jmn4667]

Originally Posted by bluenoise

I've never heard any concerns about K & N and engine damage. I thought they did at least as good a job at cleaning the air as the paper filters, but I may be wrong. I'm planning on putting a K & N Filtercharger into my TL this weekend as my previous cars all had one and I like the long life and lower restriction.

Where is there info about engine damage from these things? I certainly want to read about it before slapping one in my new car.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

You can read my response to his test here...

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109804

[jhan1102]

Originally Posted by Ron A

It's not the air he is worried about, it is what is in the air that is getting into the engine, which would normally have been filtered out if the air filter were connected properly.

Unless you drove in a dirty environment, or ran into a sand storm or windy place carrying lots of airborne particles, I don't think you have much to worry about. A thousand miles of driving in a relatively clean environment shouldn't have caused much, if any, wear on the engine.

Just my luck I drive by construction zone everyday. I already have rock chips on my front bumper, which Acura might replace because of their error. But I hope the rain that came down for a week helped a little. I hope....

I wanted to get K&N is it did improve the MPG, but it looks like it didn't. Either people punched every chance they get thinking that it's an intake system... Who knows why no change in MPG.

As far as engine damage, I haven't seen anything other than dirt bikes engine getting jacked up. But it also says not to use their filter in dusty area. -.- (Another points for the lawyer.)

[KBOM]

I've run K&N in all of my past cars. Last car had 230,000 miles with a K&N, and it's still going strong. I actually had it replaced under warranty by K&N when it showed signs of wear at 180,000 miles.
BTW, I haven't noticed any increase in MPG.

[jhan1102]

ok... Poll shows that there isn't MPG improvement.

So, what are you guys getting? city and Hwy drive?

[jmn4667]

Originally Posted by jhan1102

ok... Poll shows that there isn't MPG improvement.

So, what are you guys getting? city and Hwy drive?

No, the poll shows that 12 people on THIS site aren't seeing any improvement in gas mileage. I drive mostly in the city and my TL is DEFINITELY getting 2 mpg better with the K&N. And, my '01 CL-S with a K&N saw an improvement of 4 mpg on the hwy so I'm expecting the same results on my TL.

I put in the K&N at 14k miles. Maybe those "12" put it in too early. Maybe their gas is different than Texas gas. Maybe they have more smog than we do. Who knows?

[jhan1102]

OK.... this isn't going far as I wanted to hear.

OK... Does anyone notice any difference between Stock vs. K&N?

[jmn4667]

Originally Posted by jhan1102

OK.... this isn't going far as I wanted to hear.

OK... Does anyone notice any difference between Stock vs. K&N?

Yes!

[SouthernBoy]

The primary reason I won't use a K&N is the fact that it is an oil-wetted filter. I did use one on my '88 Mustang LX 302CID and found I had to clean the throttle body valve about every 6 months (in fairness, some of the crappy build up is a result of the EGR valve).

For my last car, a 2002 Altima SE, I installed a Frankencar intake with the Apexi "Power Intake" dry element filter. This filter is significantly better than the K&N but expensive and hard to come by. I have two in my basement from my Altima as I write this.

Oh, one more thing. The new TL has no MAF.

[madehtsobi]

where did you guys purchase the air filter from?

and how much with shipping?

my car has 2300 miles on it now...do you think its necessary to change it now or wait until i have more miles?

i hope i see a difference in the gas mileage cause mine right now sucks ass...

[jmn4667]

Originally Posted by madehtsobi

where did you guys purchase the air filter from?

and how much with shipping?

my car has 2300 miles on it now...do you think its necessary to change it now or wait until i have more miles?

i hope i see a difference in the gas mileage cause mine right now sucks ass...

I would at least wait till you've had your fist oil change, around 4-5k miles. I bought my K&N online at 4filters.com.

[jmichaelp]

On my old '88 Accord 5MT I used a K&N filter. At first, I didn't notice a power boost because I was driving in suburbia & figured this was hype... When I finally got on the highway & went to pass a car in 5th gear, there was a definite boost Also, I was averaging 30-31 mpg & w/ the addition of the K&N this increased to 34-35 mpg

I can't speak to the TL, but because the TL already has good airflow into the engine there may not be the same types of increase. I'd be interested in getting even a 1-2 mpg boost if a K&N could do it...

[Road Rage]

If there were actually a fuel economy benefit, the major mfrs would be providing these free of charge - that should be so obvious as they spend millions for a fraction of an MPG for their CAFE. Besides, the whole idea of the gauze filters is claimed HP improvement, right? More air + more fuel, so they say - but that equation shows nothing to me that would indicate how more fuel raises fuele conomy.

Anecdotal claims of increased this and that from add-ons are almost always placebo effect - I mean, the Tornado gives 25% increase in power and economy - anyone buy that?

The only fuel economy benefit that makes sense from ANY filter is where the old one is nearly clogged.

My observations and test results from gauze filters like the K&N have been posted before. Again, I use one in my S2000 which gets very few miles on it, and is almost always used at the top of a a very high RPM range. Andf I have tested to ensure that the filoter makes a good seal in the modified airbox. If AFE made a filter that fits, I would surely use it instead, as i do on the Cobra. AFE just flat out makes a better filter, from the quality of the polyurethane seals (vs cheap Platisol in the K&N) to the filter area of the gauze medium.

Maybe if they get enough inquiries from TL'ers, they will make one for us. Call them with the needed dimnensions and perhaps they will.

www.afefilters.com

[jmn4667]

Originally Posted by Road Rage

If there were actually a fuel economy benefit, the major mfrs would be providing these free of charge - that should be so obvious as they spend millions for a fraction of an MPG for their CAFE. Besides, the whole idea of the gauze filters is claimed HP improvement, right? More air + more fuel, so they say - but that equation shows nothing to me that would indicate how more fuel raises fuele conomy.

Anecdotal claims of increased this and that from add-ons are almost always placebo effect - I mean, the Tornado gives 25% increase in power and economy - anyone buy that?

The only fuel economy benefit that makes sense from ANY filter is where the old one is nearly clogged.

My observations and test results from gauze filters like the K&N have been posted before. Again, I use one in my S2000 which gets very few miles on it, and is almost always used at the top of a a very high RPM range. Andf I have tested to ensure that the filoter makes a good seal in the modified airbox. If AFE made a filter that fits, I would surely use it instead, as i do on the Cobra. AFE just flat out makes a better filter, from the quality of the polyurethane seals (vs cheap Platisol in the K&N) to the filter area of the gauze medium.

Maybe if they get enough inquiries from TL'ers, they will make one for us. Call them with the needed dimnensions and perhaps they will.

www.afefilters.com

Believe what you want. I use the thing and my TL's gas mileage has DEFINITELY improved. When I pulled out the OEM filter it was pretty damn clean, and it's now in a box in case I ever need it again.

Look, you can say that YOU haven't seen any improvement in mpg, but please don't tell us that have that we're basically imagining things. I don't work for K&N and I couldn't care less how many people use their filters. I'm just telling the FACTS as I know them.