K&N filter!!! leads to rough idle over time - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

FrancoLepe · 08-08-2015, 08:37 PM

Alright so i installed my K&N air intake about a year and a half ago on my SS and has been great so far ....until recently i noticed that visually my engine shakes alot when the hood is open and also my idle is abit "dancy".( made the car sound cool like if it had a Cam in it!) My dad actually pointed it out to me but I didn't notice my car was acting odd because i guess it happened over time little by ..little but ultimately it made it hard for my RPMs to climb in gear and accelerate. so I Decicded to pop the hood and see what was causing this so i first think that maybe the filter is dirty and its now time replace it so i clean it with a air gun but it doesnt fix anything. UNTIL IT HITS ME the K&N filters use oil and I realize all that oil has probably gunked up the MAF (mass air flow sensor) so I clean it using some BG products MAF cleaner and throttle body cleaner and MAN did it make a difference !! car runs Amazing! now! smooth idle and smooth linear power.

Disclaimer : my car stalled out when i first Cranked it tho Probably sprayed too much into the throttle body but started right up on the second try! just wanted to gives you guys this Tip if you buy a K&N filter clean your MAF every oil change to avoid this.

camarosspower · 08-08-2015, 09:56 PM

Hmm. I've had a k&n intake for 5 yrs and I don't think I have that problem. My engine shakes a lot but I guess because its cammed Lol. I'm scared to clean my maf sensor. I've heard of a lot of fails

LSX Camaro · 08-09-2015, 09:27 AM

CRC makes a MAF sensor cleaner that works great. It will not harm the sensor. I have cleaned hundreds and never had any issues.

camarosspower · 08-09-2015, 12:07 PM

How often do y'all clean the sensor?

avido · 08-09-2015, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camarosspower

How often do y'all clean the sensor?

i clean the maf every 10 000 km on all over my car.

i use a product made by Kent. it's called one shot.

camarosspower · 08-09-2015, 03:19 PM

Notice a difference?

Jasper · 08-11-2015, 07:12 AM

Had a K&N on my other car for years and never cleaned the MAF. One day the car would barely run and when I checked the Maf, it had so much baked on crap (oil) that it killed the sensor and I had to replace it. That's why they say not to over oil it but that is sometimes hard to determine and eventually it will bake a coating on the sensor over time. So I would definitely clean the sensor every so often or have some new MAFs ready to go.

J

Apex Motorsports · 08-11-2015, 08:34 AM

K&N filters are notoriously over oiled. You should always blot them with paper towels until you stop picking up oil before installing them. That goes for any oiled filter.

camarosspower · 08-11-2015, 08:51 AM

I need to inspect my maf sensor then. Even though I always wait like 30min after I spray the oil and then use a paper towel like apex says

Bo White · 08-11-2015, 09:27 AM

Correct. They are overoiled right out of the box. They are over oiled on purpose for evaporation from time spent on the shelf but since they are rapped they didnt change that and its not needed anymore. Ive been running them for decades. I clean my maf rarely and when I do I just use brake clean.

Outlaw77 · 08-11-2015, 03:47 PM

This is why I always buy the dry filters now. Hell I ran the roto fab filter with no oil on it for a year with no issues. I stopped re-oiling the filters after I clean them for quite some time now on my other vehicles and I never had any problems. I honestly wonder what that oil really does. Of course the manufacturer says it does wonders but all I know it buggers the MAF.

camarosspower · 08-11-2015, 03:58 PM

Brake cleaner is good enough and safe to clean it bo? I guess I'll clean it after 90k Mi. Lol

Bo White · 08-11-2015, 04:04 PM

The cotton is there to hold the oil. The oil is there to filter the air.
Ive been using brake clean for as long as Ive been using these filters.

speedygonzales · 08-11-2015, 05:15 PM

Oil from a cotton filter will not effect the MAF

http://www.knfilters.com/maf/massair.htm

08-08-2015, 08:37 PM	#1
FrancoLepe Drives: 2011 Black Camaro ss M6 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Alexandria VA Posts: 4	K&N filter!!! leads to rough idle over time Alright so i installed my K&N air intake about a year and a half ago on my SS and has been great so far ....until recently i noticed that visually my engine shakes alot when the hood is open and also my idle is abit "dancy".( made the car sound cool like if it had a Cam in it!) My dad actually pointed it out to me but I didn't notice my car was acting odd because i guess it happened over time little by ..little but ultimately it made it hard for my RPMs to climb in gear and accelerate. so I Decicded to pop the hood and see what was causing this so i first think that maybe the filter is dirty and its now time replace it so i clean it with a air gun but it doesnt fix anything. UNTIL IT HITS ME the K&N filters use oil and I realize all that oil has probably gunked up the MAF (mass air flow sensor) so I clean it using some BG products MAF cleaner and throttle body cleaner and MAN did it make a difference !! car runs Amazing! now! smooth idle and smooth linear power. Disclaimer : my car stalled out when i first Cranked it tho Probably sprayed too much into the throttle body but started right up on the second try! just wanted to gives you guys this Tip if you buy a K&N filter clean your MAF every oil change to avoid this.

08-09-2015, 09:27 AM	#3
LSX Camaro Master ASE, GM, LSX Tech. Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,034	CRC makes a MAF sensor cleaner that works great. It will not harm the sensor. I have cleaned hundreds and never had any issues. __________________ 2010 2SSRS A6, Custom Pat G. Cam, WCCH Cylinder Heads, Kooks Headers/Exhaust, BTR Valvetrain, Fluidampr 25% UDP, All Engine ARP bolts, Flex-a-lite radiator/Trans cooler, Yank converter, PFADT Suspension, ADM Race Intake/Scoop, Torq tow hook, CFD auto shifter, Dynojet AFR gauge, Aeroforce scan gauge, Brake Performance rotors/pads Prothane bushings, ZL1 wheels, spoiler, Z/28 wickerbill, 1LE Aero/Suspension Package, Anderson Composites COPO Carbon Fiber Hood, LED lighting, Elite Catch Can, Improved Racing oil pan baffle, crank scraper, windage tray 480 RWHP 452 RWTQ + Nitrous Express 150 Shot

08-11-2015, 05:15 PM	#14
speedygonzales Drives: 99 z71, 2012 2SS Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Smithfield, VA Posts: 205 View My Garage	Oil from a cotton filter will not effect the MAF http://www.knfilters.com/maf/massair.htm __________________ Fix your garage pics so we can see them

08-08-2015, 09:56 PM	#2
camarosspower Drives: 2010 camaro ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Port Arthur, Tx Posts: 2,383	Hmm. I've had a k&n intake for 5 yrs and I don't think I have that problem. My engine shakes a lot but I guess because its cammed Lol. I'm scared to clean my maf sensor. I've heard of a lot of fails

08-09-2015, 12:07 PM	#4
camarosspower Drives: 2010 camaro ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Port Arthur, Tx Posts: 2,383	How often do y'all clean the sensor?

08-09-2015, 03:19 PM	#6
camarosspower Drives: 2010 camaro ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Port Arthur, Tx Posts: 2,383	Notice a difference?

08-11-2015, 07:12 AM	#7
Jasper Drives: 2011 Summit White Camaro SS (LS3) Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Welland, Ontario Canada Posts: 542	Had a K&N on my other car for years and never cleaned the MAF. One day the car would barely run and when I checked the Maf, it had so much baked on crap (oil) that it killed the sensor and I had to replace it. That's why they say not to over oil it but that is sometimes hard to determine and eventually it will bake a coating on the sensor over time. So I would definitely clean the sensor every so often or have some new MAFs ready to go. J

08-11-2015, 08:34 AM	#8
Apex Motorsports Drives: 2000 Camaro SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky. Posts: 25,179	K&N filters are notoriously over oiled. You should always blot them with paper towels until you stop picking up oil before installing them. That goes for any oiled filter.

08-11-2015, 08:51 AM	#9
camarosspower Drives: 2010 camaro ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Port Arthur, Tx Posts: 2,383	I need to inspect my maf sensor then. Even though I always wait like 30min after I spray the oil and then use a paper towel like apex says

08-11-2015, 09:27 AM	#10
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,018	Correct. They are overoiled right out of the box. They are over oiled on purpose for evaporation from time spent on the shelf but since they are rapped they didnt change that and its not needed anymore. Ive been running them for decades. I clean my maf rarely and when I do I just use brake clean.

08-11-2015, 03:47 PM	#11
Outlaw77 Drives: 2018 Charger SRT 392 F8 Green Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Oakville Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,910	This is why I always buy the dry filters now. Hell I ran the roto fab filter with no oil on it for a year with no issues. I stopped re-oiling the filters after I clean them for quite some time now on my other vehicles and I never had any problems. I honestly wonder what that oil really does. Of course the manufacturer says it does wonders but all I know it buggers the MAF.

08-11-2015, 03:58 PM	#12
camarosspower Drives: 2010 camaro ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Port Arthur, Tx Posts: 2,383	Brake cleaner is good enough and safe to clean it bo? I guess I'll clean it after 90k Mi. Lol

08-11-2015, 04:04 PM	#13
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,018	The cotton is there to hold the oil. The oil is there to filter the air. Ive been using brake clean for as long as Ive been using these filters.