K&N - Never again!

My dad visited me a few weeks ago and bought me a K&N air filter for my new truck. I was going to get an afe but since its from my pops I thought I'd give it a try. I mean its a free air filter and I've never tried a K&N before so whats the harm? Well, the first tank sounded a little heartier but after the subsequent few tanks I've been averaging 1-2 mpg less than before I had the air filter. I opened up the box last night and low and behold there is a sheen of oil residue. Am I loosing my mind or can the oil from the K&N really be this bad?

 

Installing CAI could save you on gas millage, that is if you drive like uncle goerge... assuming there is more air availiable, there is more drinking capability if you have heavy foot.
Was removing pcv necessary to install your kit? could your oil residue be caused by internal engine oil fumes? I'm not sure what you mean with your last comment.

 

Did you apply the oil to your filter or was it preoiled-if preoiled it shouldve been lightly and evenly coated. People tend to overoil the filter which causes your problem.

 

I have used k&N before on my 02 tacoma and never had a loss of mileage or problems with the MAF sensor. The residue you are talking about, could you elaborate. Is it the filter leaking or something other?

 

the filter was pre oiled and looks like a bit of oil dripped out of the filter and kinda just swirled around. Maybe I got one that was oiled a little too much from the factory.

 

Every K&N that I have ever seen...for any vehicle, has come pre-oiled. If additional oil was applied, it's gonna make a mess.

 

Have you removed that filter yet? If so does the truck run correctly, I have heard that the abundance of oil on the filter can dirty up the MAF sensor. Here on the site they tell you how to clean it up and make it like new. Hope all goes well.

 

Is the oil brown, black or pink?

 

i'm sorry but...

 

I've run K&N's on various vehicles for many years. And like people have already said.... if they're over-oiled, that's when you can have problems. Also - if you don't clean them often enough, you can also have dust getting past it.

Like 1bad03snake asked...what color is the oil residue?

K&N's shouldn't be over-oiled from factory, but I guess you never know. Where did your pops buy the filter from?

 

I have noticed the same thing I thought I got worst mileage with it that with a paper filter I went back too and I only used it for about 5000 miles anybody want to buy one!!! fits the 3.4 ill even clean it and send you the recharge kit

 

I meant I got worse mileage not worst mileage!!!!

 

A very common experience for many (most?) people. I can't prove it but I believe the K&N I had on the CAI in my '05 Altima caused a MAF failure. That was the last straw for K&N for me.

Get an AEM Dryflow.

 

I have the dropin too and have repeatedly switched out and in with confusion as to what exactly was I gaining using it. I run paper now and the K&n sits in a box in the garage. With my twin exhaust it just seems more comfortable with the paper.

 

Anyone ever run an old truck with the oil bath filter system, Now I know there was no MAF to worry about in those things, but how bad could it be. I put in my FIPK and it sounds so good I can`t keep my foot off it! I know why mileage went down haha

 

^Well that's usually the case, Rightfootism. If you're OK with it, stick with it.

 

There ya go Rosco

 

I had a K&N drop in on my 98 taco and it messed up my MAF sensor as well and I will never buy another one of their POS filters again.

 

You're going to get oil residue inside the intake tract any place downstream from where the PCV system ties in.

Anything before that will be caused by something else, such as a K&N filter.