K&N filters - how do they do it?

Um, they don't block the same particle size. They let a lot more of the smaller particulates through, running on the theory they will burn off...

ANd you can clean it as often as you like. I clean and oil mine once a year, or 10,000 miles.

Do you notice any power increase, or other postives?

Previous post by SAE Yota techs say if you over oil they mess up the $300-400 Mass Air Flow sensor! Its the oil that catches the small particles. They often tend to create a kind of roar sound under the hood. I've used in older pre 90 yota but afraid to use on anything newer.

Better throttle response (not really more power, but faster response when I step on the gas) and about 4~5 more MPG (Um, this is on a '95 Tercel...)

It did really increase the throttle response! There is no lag anymore when stepping on the gas. And, the car was getting 38~40 MPG when I bought it, after the filter change, it went to 39~45! I think I was averaging 42 MPG under all conditions, whereas before it was 37/38. It always is in the back of my mind, however, that I may be letting more contaminants into the engine, hence, cleaning the filter more often and keeping a fresh coat of the special oil on it. I was working in an old gas station and one of the bathrooms wasn't being used, so I would hose it, spray it with the cleaner, and then swish it around the unused toilet a few times and then flush with the filter still in the bowl, spray it again, rinse it, dry it and apply the oil. Fairly effective, really! ;)

Smoke and Mirrors?.....................

More flow from the same area filter is impossible without sacrificing the filtration of the smaller bits.

K&N is a money machine in my opinion. they are designed mostly for performance vehicles, and unless you are doing some serious performance stuff, not much help.

only my opinion.

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MUADIB®

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You're right. They do allow more air in but also allow more dirt. As miles wear on, this is actually worse for the engine. As the engine wears, the power wears. So much for power gains.

As far as any gains, this should be minimal. In order to get any significant gains, the whole system must be increased...meaning the intake plenums, heads, headers or downpipe, and the rest of the exhaust. If the rest of the system is still restrictive, there can't be significant gains at all. Put it this way: lets say that you have a 10-foot hose that's 3 inches in diameter, if you increase the first foot to 5 inches, you still have 9 feet of restriction. The water coming out of the end would seem to be the same amount as before.

I agree. The normal filter ensures adequate filtration and as for throttle response,..that large intake-plenum chamber ensures throttle response stays on the slow side. So much for throttle-blipping during double declutching!

Jason