K&N Air filters

[bubbakat]

This is a service bulletin I just received from a good friend who is a GM wrench<br /><br /><br />Document ID# 1468758 <br />2004 Chevrolet Chevy C Silverado - 2WD <br />Info - Automatic Transmission Shift, Engine Driveability Concerns or Service Engine Soon (SES) Light On as a Result of the Installation of an Aftermarket Reusable, Excessively Oiled Air Filter #04-07-30-013 - (Mar 5, 2004)<br />Automatic Transmission Shift, Engine Driveability Concerns or Service Engine Soon (SES) Light On as a Result of the Installation of an Aftermarket Reusable, Excessively Oiled Air Filter<br />2004 and Prior Cars and Light Duty Trucks<br /><br />2003-2004 HUMMER H2<br /><br />DO THIS<br />DON'T DO THIS<br /><br />First, Inspect the vehicle for a reusable aftermarket excessively oiled air filter<br />DO NOT repair under warranty if concerns result from the use of a reusable aftermarket oiled air filter.<br /><br /><br />The installation of an aftermarket reusable, oiled air filter may result in:<br />Service Engine Soon (SES) Light On <br />Transmission shift concerns, slipping and damaged clutch(es) or band(s) <br />Engine driveability concerns, poor acceleration from a stop, limited engine RPM range <br />The oil that is used on these air filter elements may be transferred onto the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor causing contamination of the sensor. As a result, the Grams per Second (GPS) signal from the MAF may be low and any or all of the concerns listed above may occur. <br /><br />When servicing a vehicle with any of these concerns, be sure to check for the presence of an aftermarket reusable, excessively oiled air filter. The MAF, GPS reading should be compared to a like vehicle with a OEM air box and filter under the same driving conditions to verify the concern.<br /><br />Transmission or engine driveability concerns that are the result of the installation of an aftermarket reusable, excessively oiled air filter are not considered to be warrantable repair items.<br /><br /><br />GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.<br />© Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved

 

[Boomyal]

Re: K&N Air filters

BBK, I've been using one of these on my Ford E150 4.6 liter for about 180k miles. Just now in my second set of sparkplugs and absolutely zero other repairs. I clean and lightly re-oil my K&N about every 50k miles.<br /><br />I hope the key to the bulletin is the part about 'excessively oiled'.

 

[JasonB]

Re: K&N Air filters

Yup, Ford's will have this problem too. Each of the 4 vehicles ('92 Ranger 3.0. 2 contours with the 2.5l, and a 99 F-150 w/4.6 v8) I have installed a K&N on has shortly there after popped the "check engine" light on. The issue is that the fresh filters have a bit too much oil on them which the engine sucks down the air intake. In the process, some of this oil coats the MAF sensor in the intake pipe. Since the sensor can't read properly any more, it sets off the CE light and the engine starts running rough. A careful removal and cleaning of the MAF sensor with either brake cleaner, or electronics cleaner (something non-oily and no residue)has always fixed it up for me. Just have to be careful as the filament is a bit fragile if you try to clean it by some means other than spraying it off gently, and those sensors are high $$$.<br /><br />***insert disclaimer here: not responsible if you try to clean your MAF and mess it up. It's an expensive piece and it's repair is best left to qualified mechanics and tinkering with it will likely void your warranty. My vehicles were out of warranty when I got them End Disclaimer***

 

[steam_mill]

Re: K&N Air filters

I did run a K&N filter on a 4runner for 5years with no problems, when I purchased my Subaru, I was going to purchase the K&N again.<br /><br />Read a lot of forum posting and this is a very common problem of MAF sensor contamination.<br /><br />Also did much reading on K&N in general.<br /><br />If it let more air in, it lets more particles in.<br /><br />This is bad.<br /><br />Tx.<br /><br />Joe

 

[dhammann]

Re: K&N Air filters

I never did understand how people get suckered into buying after-market parts. My experience has not shown any justification in using non O.E.M. parts. Why would someone let a sales marketer basdardize thier vehicle?

 

[LubeDude]

Re: K&N Air filters

Well, Air filtration goes hand in hand with lubrication, so I guess I will put my 2 cents worth in here also.<br /><br />I used to think that the paper stock filters were all bad, but after seeing many oil analysis reports that actually show more silcone in engines with the K & N and the Amsoil filters, I have decided to only use paper. This is not the case every time, but the new computer controled vehicles are soooo touchy now, I beleive we should use the paper filters.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: K&N Air filters

The reason I posted this is because I was going to install a K&N filter system on my dodge 1500 and I was discussing it with my friend and he got real serious real quick. Well with his back ground and his opinion on them there will only be stock filter system and fuel system.<br />Now he did approve the exhaust change.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: K&N Air filters

I run a K&N in my f150, but only because it is a 5.8 liter engine that runs Speed Density instead of Mass Airflow. There is no filament to get buggered by the oil. I have ran K&N since they first came about, and if cleaned and oiled properly they are superior to paper flow wise, but by themselve yeild little improvement. Free up the exhaust, improve ignition, then you see more result. My truck had the K&N in it when I bought it, along with the Flowmaster exhaust. I run paper element in my Grand Cherokee because it does not need anything else, it is stock.<br /><br />If you want to improve airflow, look at your airbox and its inlet. Often times the airbox and filter is more than adequate, but the hose bringing the air to the box is restrictive, cutting off air before it even gets to the filter.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: K&N Air filters

Hey Jason, glad to see ya still around

 

[PierBridge]

Re: K&N Air filters

Heading straight for the garage to rip out my K&N.<br /><br />This doesn't even make GM's top 100 for stupid service bulitens.<br /><br />They will do anything to avoid a warrenty claim.<br /><br />Follow the directions correctly and this won't happen. I like to let mine dry a little bit...LOL

 

[DJ]

Re: K&N Air filters

Tests show that the K&N, along with others do offer a superior airflow, at the expense of filtering capabilty. Figure it out folks, you can't have both.<br /><br />Your choice. <br /><br />I'll stay stock and OEM ONLY.

 

[JB]

Re: K&N Air filters

Agree with DJ.<br /><br />I put a K&N in my ML320.<br /><br />It improved performance and fuel mileage.<br /><br />The replacement mass air flow sensor was $745.<br /><br />

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: K&N Air filters

The replacement mass air flow sensor was $745.<br />

Holy Crap

 

[JRJ]

Re: K&N Air filters

I've run a K&N in my diesel for ten years, but I sure won't put one in my new Toyota now. Thanks for the info.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: K&N Air filters

Ugh..I just bought a K&N off of eBay for my Escape to hopefully get better gas economy.. What do I do now???

 

[bubbakat]

Re: K&N Air filters

jsfinn put it back on e-bay

 

[RedRangerVIP]

Re: K&N Air filters

To each his own. If properly installed no reason for problems. I agree wholeheartedly with Jason J and DJ. I have run K&N in eveything I have owned for the last 20yrs with no problem at all. Thank god I don't own one of those "touchy" new vehicles! My two cents worth. By the way Happy New Year everyone!

 

[Mark42]

Re: K&N Air filters

I have a K&N in my Town Car. You probably won't notice any performance or milage increase unless other mods are made to intake and exhaust.<br /><br />With a cold ram air intake the K&N is the right choice and gives my Town Car a noticable kick in the 50 to 80 mph range. That and a pair of low restriction mufflers and fatter pipes gave about .5 to 1.0 mpg increase when driven gingerly. And 0-60 in 7 seconds when WOT.<br /><br />If no other mods are being made, the K&N is like putting a bigger screen on your picture window; you aren't going to be able to see any more than you could with the original screen.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: K&N Air filters

One thing to remember about oiled filters like the K&N is that it is the oil that is doing the job. Just saying that increased flow equals more junk getting through is not accurate. If properly oiled, the oil grabs the dirt from the air. Over time, the filter does an even better job of filtering as more dirt is captured from the air. Oiled filters are nothing new, they had been around for decades. What made K&N unique was it's durability and wash-ability. <br /><br />Now, it you put an un-oiled or under oiled unit in and run the vehicle, you will get a lot of dirt coming through. One thing I like to do after cleaning and reoiling is to use my air tip on my compressor, hold the element away from the tip, and blow air through it. That gets the excess oil out of the element without damaging it (you can't hold the tip close or it damages the gauze). If, after all of this you still get dirt past the element then you have to look at the airbox itself. A properly installed and oiled filter will filter better than paper. It is when it is done hastely and improperly that it doesn't work. Like I said before I have used then on MAF vehicles in the past with no problems.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: K&N Air filters

Back in the old days when air filters were shaped like a ring you could just get one a little taller and your airflow issue was solved so long as the hood could still close without whacking the top of the air filter. No sacrifice in anything that way. <br />But new times have arrived, mostly for the good, though at the cost of increased expense and complexity. Since reliability is generally better, I'll take it. (Not that we have much choice!) <br /><br />I spent a couple years working on GM's finest and biggest automatic transmissions- The Allisons. While I was never a whole-hearted GM auto fan they did arguably have the best trannys, and engines were not far behind being at least as as good as anyone's. But what now? A tranny can fail because of a fouled MAF sensor??? Really? That stinks- badly. This does not need to be. GM will do itself a big favor if it fixes the software or provides some other workaround for this problem- K&N airfilters or not. Sounds like shoddy engineering to me. Unfortunately the big three still seem fully intent on shooting themselves in the foot at every opportunity. And they still wonder why imports have so much of the market?