I have all but given up on oiled K&N filters since they keep fouling my MAFS to the point I had to replace them. I switched back to Wicks paper filters but I am looking for suggestions on other less restrictive filters.
Though it sounds like you've given this a couple of tries, and I'm assuming used the K&N refresh kit, it sounds like your K&Ns were over-oiled. I've been running them for years with no MAF issues whatsoever. That said, quite a few run OEM filters (Mann I believe) cause quite frankly there's no way they are so restrictive as to notice a difference. Good luck!
Oh, and try a search, I know air filters and alternatives have been discussed a bunch...
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Last edited by RoundelM5; 28th April 2009 at 23:53.
I have all but given up on oiled K&N filters since they keep fouling my MAFS to the point I had to replace them. I switched back to Wicks paper filters but I am looking for suggestions on other less restrictive filters.
Thanks,
Frank
The problem is how they are oiled, not the concept. I've used them in many applications ( although i prefer BMC) without any issue. You are not going to get a noticeably less restrictive paper filter.
When you clean them... wash them very very well with solvant, but be careful not to damage the cotton. make sure they are rinsed well and have no solvent on them. Let them dry complety. Next, just like you are spraying some body work, use very light passes across the filter. Let the filter dry between each extremely light coat of oil until you have the filter covered. Also only oil the side of teh filter that sees the outside, there is no need to spray the back side. Wipe off any residue after eash spray that will acumulate around the nonabsorbant rubber rim. If in doubt that you have put too much oil in the cotton, or is glossy when finished,... YOU DID, go back and start from the beginning.
The finished product should have only enough oil as to trap dirt to the cotton, we are not trying to make an oil barrier, just add some adheasion power to the cotton.
fWIW- I have not put in anything other than paper filters in the s62 so far, but I will be ordering some BMC filters soon. They make 2 types, street and race. the street versions have 4 layers of cotton, the race only has two. The race filters are not sutable for street application IMO as they let in too much dirt for the average user that isnt concerned about winning a race.
Cliff notes: K&N filters are fine, just take the time to oil them correctly.
__________________
2003 Alpine White M5
2006 Phantom Grey Tundra 4dr
2004 La Mans Blue CBR1000rr track bike
The problem is how they are oiled, not the concept. I've used them in many applications ( although i prefer BMC) without any issue. You are not going to get a noticeably less restrictive paper filter.
When you clean them... wash them very very well with solvant, but be careful not to damage the cotton. make sure they are rinsed well and have no solvent on them. Let them dry complety. Next, just like you are spraying some body work, use very light passes across the filter. Let the filter dry between each extremely light coat of oil until you have the filter covered. Also only oil the side of teh filter that sees the outside, there is no need to spray the back side. Wipe off any residue after eash spray that will acumulate around the nonabsorbant rubber rim. If in doubt that you have put too much oil in the cotton, or is glossy when finished,... YOU DID, go back and start from the beginning.
The finished product should have only enough oil as to trap dirt to the cotton, we are not trying to make an oil barrier, just add some adheasion power to the cotton.
fWIW- I have not put in anything other than paper filters in the s62 so far, but I will be ordering some BMC filters soon. They make 2 types, street and race. the street versions have 4 layers of cotton, the race only has two. The race filters are not sutable for street application IMO as they let in too much dirt for the average user that isnt concerned about winning a race.
Cliff notes: K&N filters are fine, just take the time to oil them correctly.
That's a lot of work for 1/2 HP they give you isn't it?
You know if you read the literature in the K&N box there's a whole blurb about how they don't cause MAFS failures and that if your dealer denies a MAFS warranty claim because you have K&N filters installed, they will help you legally. Wish I had one of those handy to quote it. But I see this with Toyota's all the time. Only the hotwire MAFS are affected and the failure rate seems astronomical with K&N or similar filters. Maybe oiling technique is everything though huh?
That's a lot of work for 1/2 HP they give you isn't it?
You know if you read the literature in the K&N box there's a whole blurb about how they don't cause MAFS failures and that if your dealer denies a MAFS warranty claim because you have K&N filters installed, they will help you legally. Wish I had one of those handy to quote it. But I see this with Toyota's all the time. Only the hotwire MAFS are affected and the failure rate seems astronomical with K&N or similar filters. Maybe oiling technique is everything though huh?
Well on my race bike, the addition of race filters net 4 hp. (also have a modified airbox, intake, exhaust, and comp) and on a sub 400lb bike, it makes a difference.
I agree that the cost / benifit / potential sensor failure makes the addition of a few HP questionable at best.
That said, If done right, they DO make more HP and They DO NOT scew up the sensors.
High risk though, and I would never suggest them to someone who isnt extremely anal about the prep work involved.
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2003 Alpine White M5
2006 Phantom Grey Tundra 4dr
2004 La Mans Blue CBR1000rr track bike
Here is a litlle more info. the dealer installed these when I had the dinan work done because they could not get the blue dinan filters at the time. Then they fouled and the dealer cleaned the mafs and it lasted for a while. I pulled them out last week and the one filter actually stained a paper towel with some oil so they were definatly overoiled, then I blew some compressed air thru the filter and my hand on the other side had a oil film on it. These were factory pre oiled I believe so I may try to start from scratch but I do not want to ruin any more sensors. The car does seem to run better with more air but the difference is slight, I am attending the NASA pocono raceway event this weekend so I want every bit of power my beast can muster.
Here is a litlle more info. the dealer installed these when I had the dinan work done because they could not get the blue dinan filters at the time. Then they fouled and the dealer cleaned the mafs and it lasted for a while. I pulled them out last week and the one filter actually stained a paper towel with some oil so they were definatly overoiled, then I blew some compressed air thru the filter and my hand on the other side had a oil film on it. These were factory pre oiled I believe so I may try to start from scratch but I do not want to ruin any more sensors. The car does seem to run better with more air but the difference is slight, I am attending the NASA pocono raceway event this weekend so I want every bit of power my beast can muster.
yeah,.. thats way way too much oil. you should not be able to wick any oil or blow oil off. There is no question that if reinstalled like that you will foul the sensors again. The goal is to add a light film to the cotton, not have a saturated mess spraying the sensors.
Most are ok from the factory, but I have had to clean a few before they were ever installed.
__________________
2003 Alpine White M5
2006 Phantom Grey Tundra 4dr
2004 La Mans Blue CBR1000rr track bike
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