Thread: Paper Filters are rubbish.

Not good. I'm about to try a Unifilter in my Td5. I wonder how they compare with the K&N.

I hope your MAFs like a bit of oil in them...

I used to run Unifilters on my rally cars and loved them but they definitely spread the filter oil around.

I am not sure what you are trying to show here? The discolouration on your filter could be any manner of things (e.g. oil mist/vapour).

It is indisputable that even a mediocre* cellulose (paper) filter will have MUCH better capture efficiency than K&N - see the tests I posted a while back.

If you think a K&N is providing better filtration you are fooling yourself.

* e.g. Ryco

Originally Posted by bee utey

I hope your MAFs like a bit of oil in them...

I used to run Unifilters on my rally cars and loved them but they definitely spread the filter oil around.

I've never had a problem with K&N.

Aren't Unifilters foam? I know from my old dirtbike days that foam filter oil is messy stuff.

As long as you stick to the K&N service kit with cleaning fluid and aerosole spray on oil, it's all good. I just give it a fair soaking with the cleaning fluid and then run water through it in the reverse direction (reverse to the airflow direction), wait for it to dry (over night) and apply the oil evenly.

Happy Days.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I am not sure what you are trying to show here? The discolouration on your filter could be any manner of things (e.g. oil mist/vapour).

Ummm, just wondering how you think oil mist could get here? And water vapor? I'm in Darwin, we haven't seen rain in months and months.

Happy Days.

Originally Posted by joel0407

Ummm, just wondering how you think oil mist could get here? And water vapor? I'm in Darwin, we haven't seen rain in months and months.

Happy Days.

Any manner of ways. You could have driven behind someone with a fumey engine?

discolouration on a filter is not a reliable means of determining anything. I can guarantee your K&N will be letting a LOT more dust into your engine.

If you want the best possible filter, try and find a synthetic (polymer) fibre filter. e.g. as fitted OEM to late 90's pajero V6s. Some companies make aftermarket synthetic fibre filters. [and no I am not talking K&N or unifilter here]

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Any manner of ways. You could have driven behind someone with a fumey engine?

And would that smog from a car in front be a light tan/red dirt color like the dirt roads up here? The K&N filter in my WRX had become stained black in the middle from what I would believe would be smog but that was after over 100,000km, not 5000.

I'm guessing you don't know Darwin very well. I mean no offense but we don't sit in traffic sucking exhausts like people do in Sydney.

Happy days

Originally Posted by joel0407

And would that smog from a car in front be a light tan/red dirt color like the dirt roads up here? The K&N filter in my WRX had become stained black in the middle from what I would believe would be smog but that was after over 100,000km, not 5000.

I'm guessing you don't know Darwin very well. I mean no offense but we don't sit in traffic sucking exhausts like people do in Sydney.

Happy days

Hold your beloved K&N filter up to the sunlight and count how many holes you can see the sun through, if you can see the sun then you are looking at the holes that the dirt gets through.
What makes you think a discoloured paper filter means dust is getting through. If you want the good oil on filter types go and have a look at all the road trains and see if they run K&N's, you'll find mostly Donaldson paper filters, like I used to run in my trucks. K&N are crap I dusted an engine in less than 15,000klms from new with a K&N, even after being told they were crap, Regards Frank.