K&N air filter

I use both in my truck. The reusable TRD filter is fine for normal driving on roads, but I swap to the OEM paper filter when going offroad because it handles dust much better than an oiled filter (the oil grabs dust fine but you'll have to do the full cleaning regime instead of just shaking a paper filter out). Changing out isn't hard since the air box is so accessible, and it also keep me inspecting the filters often so I don't forget about a dirty filter.

 

I know this is just anecdotal, but my '88 911 which I bought twenty years ago in '03, came with a K&N filter in the stock Porsche air box and I never thought about it too much until I read the article I poster earlier in this thread. I went out and bought the stock OEM Mahle paper air filter, and those back clips are a real bitch to get to on the Porsche to close it up, but the first time I took it out and jumped on it - say foot to the floor at around 40mph in 2nd gear, it just exploded with more punch than I'd ever felt from that car and the only change was going to the original paper filter.

 

I've used K & N Filters for well over a decade. I'm one who got hoodwinked by the K & N advertising. I found that the horsepower and gas consumption claims were just that, claims. I found zero benefit in reference to either of the aforementioned aspects of the claimed filter performance.

With that said, I have to emphasize that I have never encountered any problems with with the oiled filters causing failure or even effect to engine sensors. If one adheres to the instructions for cleaning and oiling and doesn't get overzealous with oiling amounts and procedures, in my experience, sensor problems are negligible at worst.

 

I replaced my 98 Jetta 4cyl air filter with a K&N early on. It 'sounded better' because I wanted it to sound better. No advantage to it. I use the standard Fram air filter on my SR5.

 

On 3rd Gen, at least on my 2021 TRD OR, there is another permenant charcoal filter (Glued on) right after intake filter, so I don't think the oil on K&N can get sucked into the intake and damage the MAF sensor. So K&N won't giving significant perfornamce improvement, maybe less filter change over life of the vehicle.

 

I had a K&N air filter on my second gen tacoma and on a WRX and never had an issue with either one of them. It noticeably helped with the throttle response on both vehicles which was obvious if you went back and forth testing it. On the 3rd gen I'm good with the oem filter as I've never felt like there was an issue with the stock setup.

Also it is extremely unlikely that some oil is going to actually damage your MAF sensor. If a mechanic tries to tell you it's damaged from being dirty they are trying to sell you something. They get dirty even with paper filters and cause CELs frequently enough. If you take it somewhere they will often immediately read the code and say oh it's the MAF sensor that needs to be replaced. It's usually two screws to pop it out and 10 seconds to wipe it off with a tissue and the CEL will be gone. I've never had that not fix the issue and I've come across it so many times in my own vehicles and others.

 

I use a K&N mostly because of the cost factor of a reusable filter. There is a little more induction noise, and I am pretty sure I get a little more mpg. To me it seemed to flatten out that surge you get at 3500-4000 rpm. I am pretty much an on road driver so not in a really dirty environment

 

There are other reusables that don't use the oil if that's the attraction, I have the AFE dry and been very happy

 

They are Rubbish, don't do it

 

Not true

 

It won't make any measurable difference.