K&N air filter

Anyone use the K&N air filter on their 2.7L Tacomas? If so I was wondering how much it helps with fuel economy. My truck is brand new and I get about 21 average mpg which is not bad but I want to try and squeeze every last mpg I can out of her. So if it's worth the buy let me know.

 

Tons of threads on this.

Simple answer, no air filter will improve MPG, save your money.

 

Wouldn't your engine get all full of crap if one didn't have an air filter.

 

From what I have read here do not use kn filters

 

I think what he meant was that there is no air filter that will improve fuel economy.

 

That is what I meant.

 

Actually, K&N is only marginally better than not having a filter.

It will catch birds and large rocks, but it won't catch the fine grit that will pollute your MAF, score your cylinder sleeves, and contaminate your oil which will in turn score the bearings.

Just stay with the stock filter.
Your mileage will improve as the engine breaks in, but 21 is not bad, depending on your city/highway mix, and your speed when on the highway.
80mph will blast you by 2-3mpg compared to 65-70.

 

K&N's are fine if you keep them cleaned regularly, seat them properly, and don't over-oil them.

Just sayin.....
Owned many of them myself and never had any problems.

 

This sounds good to me. I was impressed with 21 avg off the bat myself. During the work week I do mostly city driving since I live 10 minutes from work. On my days off who knows where my adventures take me. Could be all highway could be 50/50. It's not as good as my old 5-lug of 23-25 mpg highway but I'll still take 21. And like you said it will get better over time. One week I did almost 3/4 of a tank all on the highway and got almost 430 miles out of my tank. Usually I get about 380-400. My 5-lug got 430-450 with a highway city mix.

 

Ya, that 10 mile commute to work is a killer.

I've got an Ultragauge so I can actually see what kind of mileage I'm getting on short trips vs the entire tank.
If I gas up when I get home on Friday and do some shopping with the wife over the weekend, I'm looking at around 15-17mpg when I park it Sunday night.

This is not uncommon with Toyota. They tend to gear high, which really helps highway economy, but at the expense of in-town economy.
It also makes the engine work harder when fighting wind or high speed due to the overdrive ratios.
My worst tanks have been in Arizona and Texas... Texas 80mph on the interstate, and Arizona, 65mph, but bucking high winds from a storm to the north of us. Both tanks at 22mpg.

A "clean" 65mph highway run could easily net 26mpg.

 

It honestly depends where you live I mean I know guys here in Oregon who have used K&N filters without an issue and they probably have close to 100k or more of the filter being in there. But hey it depends where you live and where you drive. I personally would go with whatever filter your want.

 

There's mixed opinions about oiled air filters. Some have zero issues and some have issues with thejr MAF sensor.

Personally, I run an AFE dry-pro. Dunno if theres any "actual" improvement but to each their own.

 

This is how I fell about them. K&n filters are pure shit and the only reason they are still around is the BS hype all over the Internet and the people who have them and say they work awesome when they really have no idea how bad they are.