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Should I used oiled, or paper engine air filters.

  

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Topic starter

Scotty, I live in Minnesota, and do mostly city driving with my 2009 Toyota Sienna and my 2010 GMC Yukon. 

I currently use a cleanable K&N Air filter, but I feel tempted to go back to throw aways. 

Which is better in my older Cars ?


5 Answers
6

Well, based on the vehicles you are using them in, I'd say you would be fine with just the throw away paper filters. The only time I see performance filters make a difference is if you are looking for more airflow due to additional performance modifications. Now, some say they get 1 MPG better or "feel" a power difference just by having a performance filter. I personally have not been able to prove that filter-only changes equate to much difference by themselves. 

I run dry performance filters in most of my cars because I hate dealing with re-oiling the other options. For maximum power, it has been proven time and again that an oiled filter flows the best. But as with everything, there are trade offs. They do not filter as good and also, if improperly re-oiled, they can mess up your MAF sensor. I also have many other modifications in the cars I run filters in that make it a requirement to have the extra flow. On a daily driver, like my 2020 Accord for example, I run the OEM paper. When it needs replacement, it'll get another OEM paper filter.

If I were you, I'd save the money and go back to paper.


3

No point in using oiled (and also more expensive) K&N air filter on those vehicles, especially without a tune.  Go back to OEM paper.

See below also from Scotty:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WV-vNGzzP_M

 


2

Unless you're trying to shave milliseconds off your zero to sixty, use the throw away ones.

 

Paper is definitely better for your engine because it filters out more contamination.


2

The throw away paper filters are just fine.


1

Get a normal air filter and don’t worry about reusing it. Just replace it when it is the time. 


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