O/T: Do KN air filter

Swede

K&N filters operate differently than a paper filter. A visual comparison isn't very meaningfull as a result. This is exploited by competitors.

Simple as that. A dirty K&N will filter air better that a clean one and also out-flow a dirty paper element filter. But once a K&N is dirty, you have already done the damage and the filter is no longer performing as it should and now needs to be cleaned again. Repeat cycle....

I will run a K&N on my streetbike and on a drag/high HP car. Maybe even on my vehicle if I lived in a city, but not on any vehicle that I plan on getting near dirt. My dirtbikes get a Foam element filter (a Uni) that gets oiled and I am going to put a similar style on my truck even if I have to make one.

As to over oiling.... You can over oil a K&N style filter. What happens is your going to end up with that oil down your intack tract and right into your Throttle Body/Intake. Shouldnt do any damage , but it might gumm up carbs abit.

I can go on about this subject until the end of time. There are some folks who swear by K&N style filters and those (like me) who dont feel to good about them. I won't even run one with an Outerwear. That defeats the purpose of having a K&N in my eyes and therefor why bother!!??? I'll stick with my Foam (Uni's) Thank You.

Another thing you might consider for 1-2mpg is an MSD ignition system but it'll cost alot more $$ than a K&N. I priced it about 3 years ago at just over $300 to get the new coil and controller system plus their special plug wires.
Whatever you do DON'T use Splitfire plugs, I had nothing but heartache with those, made my truck run like crap, replaced them with $0.99 autolites (or whatevers on sale) and things are better.

I imagine that getting a carb setup correctly thoughout its full range of operation(idle through WOT) with a supercharger is a bit of a challenge.

Sorry to hear about your GMC, my Uncle Reg had a '76 Chevy that was a great truck but rusted BAD. He had the cab corners welded up and the cab went right on rusting around the patches. Had the bed and doors replaced with nicer ones off a '77 GMC from Florida and those rusted out too.
That was a good woods truck though first truck I ever drove to go hunting. Probably the third day I ever drove for Reg we got bogged down bad in a hole and I tore off both exhausts thrashing around but we got out. Reg was great, he just laughed and we went and got new exhausts put on. We saw lots of deer sign in that area so we went back the next day and he shot a big buck. On the way out we slid (literally) into the same big hole. This time I only tore the mufflers off (I guess the old pipes were weak). Reg said it was all worth it for that deer.

They did a air filter test for CFM on the 7.3 PSD and K&N did NOT flow more cfm than the stock Motorcraft filter, about 100cfm less. They didn't do any dirt particle testing. Gayle Banks was involved in the testing so it probably was legit.

The below link is a eye opener for several air filters used on the Dmax. Again K&N preformed poorly comparred to other air filters.

Also consider that if a air filter flows more CFM than a stock filter, it most likely will flow more dirt past the filter.

If you want better mileage then control the right foot as that will get you a mileage increase more than anything. Jack rabbit starts and speed above 60mph eats alot of fuel. Most engines are designed for maximum fuel ecomony at 45mph tops.

T_Bone

• D-Max Tests

The question I want to ask to the people who claim milage increases is how dirty was the filter you replaced w/ the K&N? If a person had a plugged filter and replaced it with a new one, milage and performance would also go up accordingly.

E

Biggest hassle, they have to be cleaned. To do this you buy a $10 kit with cleaner and oil and grease for the gasket. After washing it with cleaner and dishwashing degt and such, you have to let it air dry, DO NOT BLOW IT DRY, and do not force it dry with a hair dryer or such. The cotton will shrink excessively and blowing it with compressed air will damage it.

So here you sit, for a couple of hours or more while the filter dries out, Some people I know have two filters, they swap them, clean and oil the removed one, and plastic bag it for the next change. Kinda expensive though.

Charles