What do you think a K&N Air Filter would do for L99?

[radz28]

I'd be VERY careful with any oil-impregnated air filters. They have been known to allow their oil to get sucked off and into the Mass Ari Flow Sensor and one of the results of that is it giving off funky readings, and burning up transmissions. This is not a myth, but a fact. I would stick to the dry high-flow filters or even kits. That filter looks like it's going to be big enough not to impair flow much, if anything - I'd look in to cold air systems when they are available (and GM will offer them) and look to eliminate any resonators or baffles. FWIW, if you have any familiarity with 4th Gens., a lid, but itselt, would net about 10 RWHP because it eliminated the ribs under the lid and the baffles that were at the outlet. Anything to smooth flow and transition smoothly is going to be a benefit and if you can keep it in cold air, it'll give even more power. It is fact that air temperature can effect how the PCM runs the timing and fueling and such, so the colder air the better.

Again, I'd recommend looking into the GMPP cold air system when there is more information. I can guarantee that they will test them to make sure there are no oiling problems and place them in such a way water intake will not be a factor, another thing to consider.

JMVHO.

[Crowley]

Nothing wrong with going with K&N filters .. have never had an issue with them .. just don't over oil them ....

I'll be more interested in a FIPK from K&N and not just the filter .. I will not do anything that goes into the fenderwell though .. to much of a PITA to clean and the chance of sucking water into it ...

Crowley

[The_Blur]

Very rarely do oiled filters cause a problem for the MAF or the engine. You will get codes until you have a tuner in your possession. Otherwise, you'll probably be fine from a technical viewpoint. The odds of something messing up are very low.

There are other points to consider, though. Intakes, while they give you a couple of bonus ponies in naturally aspirated engines, do require separate maintenance. To get all of your horses, you need to keep them very clean. If you go to the track and dyno right after installing it, you'll see benefit. Wait a few hundred miles; dyno again. You'll see what I mean. They get dirty if you're not maintaining them, and then they turn into shiny but useless performance parts. This problem will vary extensively based on where you live.

Maintenance is a problem for another reason, as well. When you take your car to a dealer with obvious performance parts, some tool at the dealership will always try to writhe your warranty away from you. You need to know your rights as a consumer. Do your research. In this case, it is really hard to prove that the oiled filter caused a problem in your engine, but MAFs aren't priced like Happy Meal toys. If your MAF goes out, the dealer will always pin it on your intake, and you are going to have to pay for a new one.

Additionally, you've got the issue of forced induction. If you plan on supercharging your motor, it is very possible that any intake may not work for you. You'll spend a ton of money on a performance part that you'll end up selling later. You could argue that is is fun for now, but both might cause your warranty to be worthless, at least according to your dealer, so you might as well put that money toward a turbo or super for your car if that's in your future plans.

[CWI]

Everyone has an opinion and everyone has their own source of reliable information, so here's what I have been told. I have friends who are mechanics, a brother who is a certified mechanic, an uncle that retired recently and was one of the very best transmission specialist in the northwest, and a few friends that race quarter mile and some that race dirt track.

Is it a coincidence that they all say KN filters are no good? First of all they rely on oil to function properly and "grab" particles from the air passing thru. Then they must be oiled properly. Too little, they allow particles to pass thru. Too much oil and they DO INTERFERE with sensors, creating an improperly tuned engine. Makes a lot of sense to me. Most of them recommend Wix racing filters. I put a KN cold air intake on my Colorado until I was told they are no good. I still use the intake but have switched to Wix and my last couple oil changes were cleaner. Most of the particles that your engine consumes end up in the exhaust. On it's way to the exhaust it acts as an abrasive on every engine part it comes in contact with. Some of those particles get pushed past the piston rings and end up in your oil, (part of what makes your oil dirty). At that point you now have particles getting a free ride to every nook and cranny in your engine via the lubrication system. They still have abrasive characteristics even though they are suspended in oil

If I am wrong, then shoot me. But I am still going with the filter that keeps my oil cleaner. And yes, I know oil filters play their part also. Still, a good air filter is nearly as important in keeping your oil clean as the oil filter is. My comments may get shot down here, but I am going with the experts on this one.

Almost forgot. My son is in the Air Force and performs non destructive testing on F-15 fighters. One of those tests is engine oil analysis. If they could do it, they would use intake filters but it is impracticle on something thats sucks in that much air and can reach close to Camaro speed.

[radz28]

I'm not trying to encourage a debate over this, but, like 'Blur and Crowley have said - make sure to properly oil them. Personally, I haven't had a problem, but that's because I've been careful and tried to be sure not to over-oil. I know of cases where oil from the filters have been pulled in and onto the MAF sensors, but I'm sure there are many more filter users out there without problems than with, otherwise, K&N wouldn't be in business. As far a CWI', it seems to me, just by looking, that the mininal amount of actual filter thickness wouldn't trap or hold or grab as many particles as it would seem but I don't know. I can not validate any of my points as I haven't performed any scientific tests so I'm just passing along what I have collected over the years. Back to some posts back though, I'd look into an FIPK, because I don't think adding a filter will do much in the way of power.

[GTAHVIT]

^+1

Bottom line.

People are dumb and lazy, and won't properly maintain their cars.

If you are one of those people leave your Camaro stock.

[ponycrusher21]

there are alot of words in this thread...... my brain hurts

[CWI]

Originally Posted by radz282003

I can not validate any of my points as I haven't performed any scientific tests so I'm just passing along what I have collected over the years. Back to some posts back though, I'd look into an FIPK, because I don't think adding a filter will do much in the way of power.

The way I understand it is that oil is a hydrocarbon. I know that much is true as I have spent a lot of time working in major oil refineries. If the filter has oil on it, a certain amount of hydrocarbon will be released into the air and into the intake. Those hydrocarbons are detected by the sensors and cars computer tunes accordingly. No harm, just different performance. I can't validate this either, other than I have had heard the same form several people. I am by far no expert. Don't claim to be.

On that note, what is a FIPK?

To help a few people understand what some of us have said. No filter will give you better performance or more HP. However a cool air or cold air intake can give you more power. You can fit more cool air into a cubic foot of space than you can fit hot air into a cubic foot of space. So given the same rate of air flow into an engine, the cooler air will feed more air, hence more oxygen into the combustion chamber than with hot air. More oxygen= hotter combustion, more HP

[radz28]

Fuel Injection Performance Kit. More-or-less, it is a complete system from throttle body to air box, usually eliminating any sort of resonator or other restrictions in the intake system that quell intake "noise".

AHHH... That's good info'. Honestly, I don't know what exactly coats (if you will) the MAF, just that it has allegedly happened. Thanks though; that provides more insight into what's going on

[Matrix]

I Have a K&N in my Magnum. There is no dramatic increase if any in HP but boy I wud have paid twice more for the growl you get with it. It is so much fun!!! Never go back to stock!!!

[Milk 1027]

Didn't someone post a thread about different air filters a while back?
I'll look for it.

[Evilangel]

From what I understand the filter will not produce any gains unless the vehicle's ECU is tuned to accomodate it. At least this is the case with Evos. Not sure if it's different elsewhere.

[patriotpa]

It worked on my Silverado...

K&N FIPK/Gibson cat back.= NOTICEABLE improvement.

[TainoWarrior316]

Got Flowmaster dual exhaust with K&N FIPK on my 2000 silverado. I Installed the FIPK myself and did that BEFORE the exhaust was installed. on start up after the K&N was installed i Immediately heard and felt the power increase when i gave her some pedal love. K&N FIPK systems do give you more pony's its a fact. not a regular plain ol K&N filter that fits into your stock airbox. As for the oiling problem. You have to be retarded to over oil your filter for god sakes it comes with instructions READ THEM! Nothing wrong with K&N filters just the ppl that buy them.