2014 Lexus GX460 64,500 miles. Are my BRAND NEW K&N cabin and air filters going to destroy my car???
K&N gets a bad rep. Oiled filters can cause issues if not handled correctly. Typically they come oiled right from K&N. The issues start when the owner cleans the filter and has to re-oil. They put too much oil on the filter. That oil usually contaminates the MAF sensor (Mass Air Flow) in the intake which can cause a check engine light, among other problems.
If you know how to re-oil a filter correctly, they literally hurt nothing. Of course, you can also go with a dry after market filter as well. Those require no oil and can be blown clean with compressed air.
At my shop, we build and sell high performance vehicles. That means we want the most air flow possible, and an oiled air filter will outflow a dry filter every time by a considerable margin. We don't do just the filters but complete cold air intakes. For cabin filters, it just depends on how much filtration you want.
@mod_man
I don't drive in dirty/dusty areas. I will keep the K&N engine filter and toss it when it gets dirty. I should get 50K out of it. As for the K&N cabin filter, I will scrap it. I already bought the cleaning kits, but I don't trust myself to do it properly. Lesson learned.
@mod_man
I'm with mod_man on this one. Over 1/4 million miles and no maf failure yet ; ) Hadn't had any known issues on other cars I've worked on either. Also, the spray oil refill makes it less likely for you to over oil. With all this said (and from folks above), there's no benefit to you having/using these, cost, availability and your peace of mind... can't go wrong with oem grade : )
The K&N cabin air filter is a waste of money. I do not like reusable cabin air filters. I would prefer those disposable cabin air filters with special anti-microbial and pollen filtration. They usually have charcoal in them to filter out odors as well. The K&N cabin filter is literally based off of their engine air filter design, it's stupid for proper air quality filtration.
Now the K&N engine air filter is great as they can be reused for a while. You just clean those with an air compressor. Those are great if you want extra and easier air flow into the engine (better mpg).
Both will not destroy anything..
@razmigb
I see. Scotty just posted a YouTube video saying that the oil in the engine filter is bad news. I guess that the video shows a used filter that was not cleaned/oiled properly.......
@drwgca
That's why I don't use K&N filters. I use other aftermarket filters that don't need to be oiled (cold air filter setups by Injen). Oiled filters are very messy and I don't like dealing with them.
@razmigb
I will scrap the engine filter when it gets dirty. I will scrap the cabin filter now, based on what you said. Oh well....
@razmigb
If you have a throttle body motor the oil from the K & N will accumulate in the bottom of the plastic pipe that is attached too the throttle body and will make the motor not idle right, because small amounts of oil are being suck in and causes the motor too idle up and down, and cause the engine sometimes too cut of.Hope this helps. Ricko12
Yup. Those filters cause more problems then benefits. But if you know how to properly clean and oil them, then by all means use them.
Thanks for reminding me to check my wife's cabin filter.
they COULD, but more importantly the paper ones filter better, and you don't need K&N unless you're doing time trials on a drag strip.
Both the K&N cabin and engine filters are "snake oil" don't waste your time and money
