K&N air filter (performance difference)

[porschpow]

I have driven 20K on the same old air filter. I was going to just replace it, but with the guys that got a K&N, is there a noticeable performance/ fuel economy difference. I am looking to put it in a 1989 LTC lopo 5.0

[Bobcat]

You should make one readers ride page and keep all of your questions to that. It seems like there's a couple threads everyday.. lol

It's a /good/ upgrade. It's not going to hurt anything and you won't feel a difference.. It just is a good quality maintenance item and will perform, slightly better.

None of us really have motors that would truly show huge gains from that type of filter.

[turbo2256b]

IF both paper and K&N are clean no real differance.

[miamibob]

I tried it on my cars and saw no uptick in MPG's or HP that I could measure or feel. Stick with a good well made aftermarket (if you choose to not use Motorcraft) and "call it a day"!

[sly]

the only reason I use the cone filters is because no need to change the filter... just clean it. makes it cheaper in the long run.

[miamibob]

Never used the cone ones. Only the traditional shape (rectangle). Except for the expense, I saw no difference.

[rezwrrd]

I have a cone filter in mine, just a cheap Spectre I got for my old Mazda and carried over. I don't notice any measurable difference, but I like being able to clean it and the wooshy sound it makes. I'm considering switching back to my stock airbox with a k&n filter I have lying around, after I clean and oil that, just to see if performance/mpg changes. We'll see about that once the weather stabilizes.

An added bonus of both of the reusable filters is that the wire mesh makes it difficult for mice to chew up your filter. I live in a woodsy area with lots of critters and got pretty sick of pulling dead mice and nests out of my airbox and replacing filters.

[sly]

+1 on the sound. The 88 sounds MEAN up front when I mash the gas. The 93 sounds mean period.

[IPreferDIY]

One drawback I've heard is that the oil on those filters can contaminate the MAF sensor. Personally, I'm quite happy paying about $5 or so every couple of years.

[porschpow]

I am not quite talking about the cone type, I mean the one that fits in the oem setup.

The 89 doesn't have the MAF sensor sensor, so I don't have to worry about that, right?

[sly]

Maintenance is the same whether the filter is a cone or OE fit. I've had to clean the MAF on the 93 once because I over oiled the filter, but I learned for that and keep the oil layer thin.

[porschpow]

I don't think the 5.0 panthers had Mass air flow, it was high density I believe, and that doesn't have any delicate electronics downstream from the filter

[sly]

Yeah. My 88 cares not. It just goes.

[88Vic]

I'd stick with paper filters, a few independent tests show they filter the best and you're not going to notice any difference with a K&N, and in fact I seriously doubt you would with a full CAI kit. I've used the same paper filters for years, the one on my truck has been there for 7 years and still looks clean, so I can't justify the cost of a K&N.

[miamibob]

I'd stick with paper filters, a few independent tests show they filter the best and you're not going to notice any difference with a K&N, and in fact I seriously doubt you would with a full CAI kit. I've used the same paper filters for years, the one on my truck has been there for 7 years and still looks clean, so I can't justify the cost of a K&N.

As I said - +1!!!