Hello there, Let me give you some food for thought.

I have a 1995 Volvo 850 GLT Sedan and have been using the Amsoil Product throughout the entire vehicle. I originally started using the product about 2 years ago in my 4 WD vehicle and was impressed with the results. Now I even sell the Amsoil Products.

The Amsoil Synthetic products out perform all synthetics, sythetic blends and regular base motor oils that are currently on the market. Amsoil was the first Company to do full synthetics, they started in 1972.

Info about air filters(types):

Paper air filters: (all major brands)
1. Automotive filter paer, which surface-traps debris, starts with good air flow and adequate filtering capacity. As they age and become obstructed with depris, their filtering efficiency increase and their air flow capacity decreases. As air flow capacity decreases, engine performance declines.
2. Paper filters wear and tear; holes allow excessive dirt to pass into the engine.
3. Paper filters are single use products.

Amsoil Air filters:
Amsoil air filters contain reusable oil-wetted foam filter elements. They provide substantially greater air flow and greater dirt stoppage than paper filters provide. Greater air flow promotes mote complete combustion which enhances power output and enhances fuel efficiency in older, non-computer monitored vehicles.
1. The thick foam elements in Amsoil air filters contain twisted but spacious passageways. Air rushes through the porous foam, while the complex of tunnels obstructs debris particles. Tack oil holds debris to the filter so it cannot circulate once trapped. The tack oil also aids in the trapping of particles smaller than 5 microns.
2. Soft filter foam 'gives' easily, resisting tearing.
3. The foam filter elements may be removed, washes with household detergent, rinsed, dried, reoiled with the Amsoil foam filter oil and reinstalled in the vehicle. The filter foams may be reused for years as long as they remain undamaged. Plus, due to the thickness of the foam elements, Amsoil air filters may be used for longer intervals between cleanings than paper filters may be used between replacements.


It's worth the look and the investment. If your interested in learning more I'll be glad to help you out and that goes for anyone else as well. Give me an email at rpiescik@attbi.com.

Talk to you soon.

I'm not sure that there is any peak hp improvement, but in my car the turbo seems to spool up a bit faster with the K&N. I am not concerned about the filtering performance of the K&N. There is information on the net that raises the K&N's ability to filter out the dirt into question. But most of this seems to be coming from their competition. Everyone I've run into who has experience with K&N is very happy. IPD has been selling them for years with no problem. In my experience, I was frankly shocked when I saw how much dirt it had captured in just several thousand miles...a paper filter would have looked perfectly clean over the same period. I believe that the paper filter comes stock on the car for the simple reason of saving a few bucks while simplifying the maintenance procedure. My 2 cents - again :)

-Ted

This was a copy of a web page that was circulating about 1-2yrs ago. Based on this and other info - I would never use a K&N Filter in any of my cars. I only use Amsoil Foam/Oil Air filters in my '97 850 GLT & '96 4Runner. Hold one of the K&N filters up to the light and one can definately see holes in the filter element. Yes - this will allow greater air flow but also greater particulate matter to get through. I definately feel there is better low end torque/acceleration in both of my vehicles.

Best of Luck
Andrew





K&N Air Filters


------------------------------

Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997 22:07:12 +0530
From: elbutcho@juno.com (Paul Tom)
Subject: K&N filters
To: toy4x4@tlca.org

After reading it I was a little concerned myself about the possible damage I could be doing to my engine's top end.


>John: If I wrote "subjective" I meant "objective".. I was
>responsible for evaluating re-usable air filters
>for a major construction/mining company that had
>hundreds of vehicles ranging from large earthmovers
>to pick-up trucks and salesmen's cars. This study
>was embarked upon due to the fact that we were
>spending upwards of $30,000 a MONTH on paper air
>filters. Using them one time then throwing them
>away.. I inititated the study in that I was convinced
>that a K&N type filter or oiled foam would save us
>many dollars per year in filter savings, man hour savings,
>and of course engines as these would filter
>dirt better than paper. (yes, I had read the K&N ads and was
>a believer)
>Representative test units were chosen to give us a
>broad spectrum from cars right through large front
>end loaders. With each unit we had a long history
>of oil analysis records so that changes would be
>trackable.
>Unfortunately, for me, every single unit having
>alternative re-usable air cleaners showed an immediate
>large jump in silicon (dirt) levels with corresponding
>major increases in wear metals. In one extreme
>case, a unit with a primary and secondary air cleaner,
>the secondary (small paper element) clogged
>before even one day's test run could be completed.
>This particular unit had a Cummins V-12 engine
>that had paper/paper one one bank and K&N/paper on
>the other bank; two completely independent
>induction systems. The conditions were EXACTLY
>duplicated for each bank yet the K&N allowed so
>much dirt to pass through that the small filter became
>clogged before lunch. The same outcome occured
>with oiled foams on this unit.
>>We discontinued the tests on the large pieces almost
>immediately but continued with service trucks,
>formen's vehicles, and my own company car. Analysis
>results continued showing markedly increased
>wear rates for all the vehicles, mine included.
>Test concluded, switched back to paper/glass and all
>vehicles showed reduction back to near original levels
>of both wear metals and dirt. I continued with
>the K&N on my company car out of stubborness and at
>85,000 miles the Chevy 305 V-8 wheezed its
>last breath. The top end was sanded badly; bottom
>end was just fine. End of test.
>I must stress that EVERYONE involved in this test
>was hoping that alternative filters would work as
>everyone was sick about pulling out a perfectly good
>$85 air cleaner and throwing 4 of them away
>each week per machine...
>So, I strongly suggest that depending upon an
>individual's long term plan for their vehicles they simply
>run an oil analysis at least once to see that the
>K&N or whatever alternative air filter is indeed working
>IN THAT APPLICATION... It depends on a person's priorities.
>If you want performance then indeed the K&N is the
>way to go but at what cost???
>And no, I do not work for a paper or glass air
>filter manufacturing company nor do I have any affiliation
>with anything directly or indirectly that could
>benefit George Morrison as a result..

Here's the info I have on air filter performance. Tests were done using
SAE J726C Test Method 5-best --> 1-worst

Oiled foam Paper Oil Bath Oiled
Gauze
(AMSOIL, UNI) (K&N)

Large particle efficiency 5 5 5 4
Small particle efficiency 5 4 1 2
Airflow capacity 5 2 3 5
Dust holding capacity 4 2 5 2
Load up characteristic 4 1 5 1
Backfire characteristic 3 2 5 3
Cleanability 4 1 4 3

As you can see, K&Ns are great for airflow, which is what they were
designed for. Their original application was on racing engines, where
airflow is important and ultimate engine life was of little consern.
They
are not as good at filtering as paper or oiled foam types.



Sorry that was so long but I thought it was important!


Paul
'93 xtra-cab

how do you know that the k&n air filter lets dirt in? Are you just assuming more flow means you get more dirt in also. It is my understanding that k&n are designed to outperform standard air filters in filtering terms, moreover they have a fabric base with a oil coating (the red recharge kit they require). At least that is what my friend who rebuilds british cars.

An air filter that lets in too much air? That's a new one. ;-)
--
Nathan Valles, Black 855R, MBC, tint, strut brace, RE 730's

Mine is a non-turbo but I realized very little improvement over the stock paper filter. I guess Dan has a turbo and he said the low end torque was impreved.
Ihsan