[DeTomaso] Data for K&N filters

[Julian Kift]

Charlie,


It is almost an impossible task to find unbiased data, ask any statistician they make a living at it!


Getting more air in the engine = more HP right? So if K&N filters are higher air flow through a coarser mesh then science says there must be a corresponding HP increase!  That said I have yet to find a before and after dyno test with a stock, alternative or K&N filter that proves such, however there are many web comments  attesting that the decal K&N supply is good for 5HP alone.....


So why is there no clear evidence? Well it is probably because a stock air filter is not a restriction to getting air into the engine, car manufacturers simply don't design that way, that is unless you run NASCAR restrictor plate series! If the engine is getting enough air already (and maintaining ideal Air to Fuel Ratio) what difference does providing access to more air (at constant pressure) make? None, you can pick a nice day remove your air filter and go for a test drive and this is the ultimate unrestricted air filter.......


But now you are not 'filtering' anything, so the K&N overcomes this with a light coating of oil on the coarse mesh to theoretically catch dust. Simple physics says there is higher probability that at least a portion of the dust will find a clear path to the intake without being impeded by the mesh or oil. However, as you can attest at least a good portion of dust remains on the outside of the filter! How much the passing dust impacts engine life is the big unknown, but assuming you had enough air getting to the engine with your stock filter anyway you are now just adding contaminants to your air/fuel mixture.


If we also think about the dirt/dust increased inflow in specific relation to a Pantera application we know that the engine bay is a vacuum for road dirt from under the car so with higher dust loading in the air I'd expect even more dirt sees its way into the engine. In addition, comparing a stock filter assembly to aftermarket, in the latter you also typically have an exposed filter element sandwiched between an upper and lower plate with a much greater surface area exposed to that dirt than a stock style snorkel air filter would have.


If you do find your engine is starving for air at higher rpms and you really need more volume then why not just increase the surface area of the stock style air filter? i.e. use a bigger filter. If you really want to increase HP then provide denser air i.e. colder or higher pressure. The moral of the story is throw the K&N filter away and get a blower/intercooler, but wait then you might need a high flow air filter to pass all that extra air...


Personally I just have to drive over to CA and the elevation difference alone will give me 15% more power for the cost of a tank of gas! And yes it is very noticeable from my unbiased and highly tuned seat of the pants, relaying to my Adrenalin meter!


Julian

________________________________
From: DeTomaso <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com> on behalf of Charles McCall <charlesmccall at gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2016 7:06 AM
To: Detomaso Email List
Subject: [DeTomaso] Data for K&N filters

After cleaning my filter last week, I got to wondering. Several people on
the list have heard anecdotal evidence that the K&N's aren't such a good
idea. Comments received include:



"My friend's mechanic said to get rid of it."

"If it's properly oiled, it's too restrictive. If it isn't properly oiled,
it doesn't filter properly and lets junk through"



Is anyone aware of a dyno test to indicate if any power is actually gained
by using one? Or lost?



On the K&N webpage they have a guy who drove a million miles in his truck
with a K&N, but are there scientific studies with controls to indicate the
comparative engine wear between filter types?



Maybe it's a byproduct of Facebook during the election campaign, but I don't
believe anything I read without seeing unbiased data. Thanks!

-------------- next part --------------
   Charlie,

   It is almost an impossible task to find unbiased data, ask any
   statistician they make a living at it!

   Getting more air in the engine = more HP right? So if K&N filters are
   higher air flow through a coarser mesh then science says there must be
   a corresponding HP increase!  That said I have yet to find a before and
   after dyno test with a stock, alternative or K&N filter that proves
   such, however there are many web comments  attesting that the decal K&N
   supply is good for 5HP alone.....

   So why is there no clear evidence? Well it is probably because a stock
   air filter is not a restriction to getting air into the engine,
   car manufacturers simply don't design that way, that is unless you run
   NASCAR restrictor plate series! If the engine is getting enough air
   already (and maintaining ideal Air to Fuel Ratio) what difference does
   providing access to more air (at constant pressure) make? None, you can
   pick a nice day remove your air filter and go for a test drive and this
   is the ultimate unrestricted air filter.......

   But now you are not 'filtering' anything, so the K&N overcomes this
   with a light coating of oil on the coarse mesh to theoretically catch
   dust. Simple physics says there is higher probability that at least a
   portion of the dust will find a clear path to the intake without being
   impeded by the mesh or oil. However, as you can attest at least a good
   portion of dust remains on the outside of the filter! How much
   the passing dust impacts engine life is the big unknown, but assuming
   you had enough air getting to the engine with your stock filter anyway
   you are now just adding contaminants to your air/fuel mixture.

   If we also think about the dirt/dust increased
   inflow in specific relation to a Pantera application we know that the
   engine bay is a vacuum for road dirt from under the car so with
   higher dust loading in the air I'd expect even more dirt sees its way
   into the engine. In addition, comparing a stock filter assembly to
   aftermarket, in the latter you also typically have an exposed filter
   element sandwiched between an upper and lower plate with a much greater
   surface area exposed to that dirt than a stock style snorkel air filter
   would have.

   If you do find your engine is starving for air at higher rpms and
   you really need more volume then why not just increase the surface area
   of the stock style air filter? i.e. use a bigger filter. If you
   really want to increase HP then provide denser air i.e. colder or
   higher pressure. The moral of the story is throw the K&N filter away
   and get a blower/intercooler, but wait then you might need a high flow
   air filter to pass all that extra air...

   Personally I just have to drive over to CA and the elevation difference
   alone will give me 15% more power for the cost of a tank of gas! And
   yes it is very noticeable from my unbiased and highly tuned seat of the
   pants, relaying to my Adrenalin meter!

   Julian
     __________________________________________________________________

   From: DeTomaso <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com> on behalf of
   Charles McCall <charlesmccall at gmail.com>
   Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2016 7:06 AM
   To: Detomaso Email List
   Subject: [DeTomaso] Data for K&N filters

   After cleaning my filter last week, I got to wondering. Several people
   on
   the list have heard anecdotal evidence that the K&N's aren't such a
   good
   idea. Comments received include:

   "My friend's mechanic said to get rid of it."
   "If it's properly oiled, it's too restrictive. If it isn't properly
   oiled,
   it doesn't filter properly and lets junk through"

   Is anyone aware of a dyno test to indicate if any power is actually
   gained
   by using one? Or lost?

   On the K&N webpage they have a guy who drove a million miles in his
   truck
   with a K&N, but are there scientific studies with controls to indicate
   the
   comparative engine wear between filter types?

   Maybe it's a byproduct of Facebook during the election campaign, but I
   don't
   believe anything I read without seeing unbiased data. Thanks!