K&N drop in vs stock air filter... what are your thoughts?

The search function only showed discussions about the CAI vs stock filters... Has anyone had any positive results with the drop in vs stock (besides any performance gains from having a lighter wallet)? I'm sure i don't want to spend the money on a CAI.

I have a 2014 TRD Sport with 52,xxx miles. I probably averaging 13-14 mpg with a stock truck except for 265/70/17 BFG AT's.i'd love better mpg's (who doesn't), but i don't see my driving style on the highway changing much any time soon.

 

Stock. Most will say stick with stock.

 

I'm running K&N's in both ours and have used them in other vehicles that went over 300,00 miles. No problems at all....

 

Stock Toyota Filter. At least l know for sure that it'll filter the dirtiest of air, and that's more important to me than the "potential" of a few horsepower.

 

Well, if the filter area is fixed then the only way to get more flow is to have larger 'holes' in the media. In my younger years, I tried a K&N in a Cummins and sucked all of the oil out of the filter coating the turbo in an oily dust residue. I, personally, am not a fan of an oiled filter and run a stock type air filter.

 

I use the dry washable filter by aFe. It is great, once a year I rinse it, nothing else to do.

 

I've been running K&N filters since the late 70's and have had no issues whatsoever !!! . I ve even run their filter socks and stub stacks with good results



Outerwear pre filter sock over my K&N CAI on my 02 Tacoma



Have gone 10.80's /126mph with this 10" dia 6" tall K&N filter in my sbc powered Camaro Drag race car

 

aFe filter for the win! If you over oil a K&N it will result in your cleaning your MAF all the time, or possibly fouling the MAF eventually. aFe is just as good but doesn't use oil.

 

stock

 

My trick for cleaning and oiling a K&N filter is to have (2) filters , a clean ready to install and the one in use on your vehicle

The clean one is oiled and ready to go usually 3-4 months prior to installation this way the oil has had a chance to dry thoroughly . Also I lightly fog the pleats keeping the spray nozzle over 12" away from the pleats . And again lightly fog the filter ,don't soak it with oil

 

Also using a Outerwears or K&N Filter socks definitely helps keep the K&N Filter cleaner !!!

 

These are pics of my K&N CAI filter that had the Outerwears pre filter sock installed . Also this filter was on my truck for 5k miles and I live in the Desert where there's constant winds blowing sand and dust into the air


There's absolutely no dust or dirt on the filter media

 

K & N is junk imo. Go with stock filters

 

This is very good advice should you choose to go with the K&N. I choose to use the aFe and not have to worry about it!!

 

Like I mentioned I've been running K&N Filters for 40 years with no issues !!

 

I think you have a nice system with the two filters and allowing them to dry properly. If I were going to run an oiled filter, I'd do the same thing.

 

I went back to stock after 5K miles on a K&N drop in. I've offered to give away the K&N many times in the subsequent years. I still have it. The offer is still open. Just pay shipping.

 

thanks everyone for your replies! I have run K&N filters on most of my old vehicles. did it make any difference... idk.

I picked up the filter today from auto zone... I'm still not sure if it gets installed tomorrow or returned to a stock one. It certainly seems like no one had had any issues from tossing one in their truck.

 

I ran a K&N for years in my Nissan pickup without issue. I bought my Taco brand new and decided not to take chances. It has 117K miles on the clock now.

 

Only time I ever had an issue with a K&N filter was using a K&N Filter top , I lost 11hp on a 500hp sbc but picked it back up replacing the filter top with metal domed top