And I just proved it. I just got my 02 Maxima SE not 3 days ago, and one of the first thing I always do with a new car, is drop in a K&N. Well, I dropped one in yesterday, and it wasn’t in 5 minutes when the CEL came on and the car started to run horribly. Luckily I got the car at carmax, so I popped the paper filter back in and turned in the car for service (still under 30 day warranty). They called the next day and said just what I was expecting, the MAF was throwing the codes, and they would have to replace it for me. So be warned, the K&N panel filter very much CAN break your car!

 

5th genners have been saying this for years. Too much oil FTL!

 

Is the Nissan MAF just super sensitive or do other cars have problems with this filter?

 

I think its just nissan. The car the Max is replacing, a 1995 Mazda MX-5, has the same hotwire MAF sensor. And I have been running a K&N filter on that car for 3 years, go figure.

 

No one said it couldn't... is it possible that an oily K&N will cause MAF failure? Yes. Is it a sure fire way to kill your MAF? No.

I've had 3 K&N filters (1 panel and 2 cones) for 50k miles and I'm still using my original MAF, and its not even an AM600 MAF.

 

Use an AEM dryflow and you don't have to worry about oil. They filter out a little bit more than a K&N also. However they don't make them for a stock airbox, aftermarket applications only.

 

Seems worth it to buy a dry filter at a bit higher cost than risk screwing up the MAF...MAFs seem to be a ticking time bomb in some Maxima's anyway.. why tempt fate

 

its been proven for quite some time.

like PM said, you can get away with a oil based filter and not take out the maf, its not a surefire thing that it will, and in fact, its usually an over oiled filter that does it.

and yes, the bosch HFM5 is a sensitive MAF. i went through the same thing with 996s and boxsters. but it does apply to all hot wire/hot film MAFs.

 

ive used K&N filters on both my maximas 00 (cone and drop-in) and 02 (cone) with no problems at all.
if a MAF does go bad, you cant blame it on the K&N (like you are doing). you blame it on too much oil.

 

It's because some re's oil their filters too much.

This thread proves ****.

 

Oh man, i was about to buy one. its good i read a lil

 

I alwase thought it was caused by re-oiling the filter to much as well. But this was a brand new out of the box filter. So it was K&N that did the over oiling.

 

Or maybe it was just that your MAF was just destined to die right around the time you installed the filter. Could have been pure coincidence.

 

It's not just K&N filters that can blow up your MAF, it's also the aftermarket versions of the Nissan Air Filter. I haven't had a problem with my 03 Max, since all I will run on it is the stock Nissan paper filter, but in my 00 Max, I went aftermarket and ended up buying a new MAF.

Apparently, the aftermarket filters don't seal the housing as well as the Nissan version and they allow some dirt to pass through to the intake. Eventually the dirt will cause the MAF to fail. No problems since I went exclusively to the Nissan filter and between the two cars I have driven 80 or 90K miles. I would like to move to a K&N, but I don't want to change my MAF, so I will stay with the Nissan brand.

 

Why risk a expensive MAF on the 02-03 just for no horsepower gain from a K&N. Seems worthless to me

 

nissan can't make mafs. mine died without a KN.. heck i've replaced 3 until i finally got the updated model.. so far, it's holding, except when it's cold.

bloody pos i tell you.

 

cause it gives you 50hp and an intake gives you another 100. simple. more air = more powah. you know

 

I have been using a stillen intake which uses a k&n cone.
I have used for the past 20k and have already re-oiled it once.

I love the intake and have NEVER blew a MAF sensor, knock on wood 3 times!

 

My A32 MAF lasted for over 10yrs, 200k miles

 

people cant take care of their cars so the MAF goes bad

ive always said "people on the org report a problem 90% of the time so we think its a huge problem. nissan-wide the problem is probably 10%. we dont have problems because of the way nissan built them. we have problem because of the way we tend to drive our cars."

 

I am using a Purolator PureOne blue pre-oiled filter in the OEM air box and have had no issues thus far. 10k miles

http://www.pureoil.com/smartlink/?partnum=PA24278

 

Quoted for... well you know.

 

umm....i have been using my K & N drop in for over 12,000 miles now and havent had a single problem to this day!(knock on wood)....i agree with others, the MAF is very sensitive but dont blame the filter, blame urself for oiling it too much...

my $.02

 

lighten up on the oil dude.

 

Again, I didn’t oil the filter, it was new, I took it out of the box, and put it in the car. I’m not bad mouthing K&N, im simply stating my experience, nothing more.

 

I have used my K&N for over 2 years and have not had a single issue. My money is on that you had a faulty MAF prior to installing your filter. Having the car only 3 days prior to installing the filter pretty much solidifies my wager.

 

I have been using 3 different filter that I clean & re-oiled for the last 4 year now and never had to replace a MAF, so go figure what happend with your are it's maybe just a coincidence.

 

Hmm, I took out my K&N out of pre-caution on my 2k after reading a couple of threads about it messing up the MAF. Anyway, Im not get a CEL but my car does hesitate when initially driving it first time of the day, so I was told it was likely my MAF, but if it isn't giving me a CEL like the person above then there is nothing wrong with it, or am I wrong? Could the MAF be broke potentially yet doesn't give off a CEL?

 

Point taken, but I think the point people are trying to make is that your claimed cause (K&N) and effect (blown MAF) may not be entirely correct. There were other factors at play here which you did not take into account; for example like Tim said, how certain are you that the MAF was not already about to take a crap before installing the K&N? AFAIK, MAFs don't "die slowly" or deteriorate in a noticeable way, they will just die.

Just curious, could you check the part number for the MAF that was blown and post it please? Or you can PM it to me if you want. It should be in white lettering on the side of the MAF housing and should be either 22680-6N201 or 22680-AM600. Thanks.

 

my car has had the K&N filter for the whole life of the car...no BLOWN MAFs. I don't over oil it like the DIRECTIONS SAY NOT TO. Just like the others, I think it's just a coincidence that you put the filter in and it blew.

 

It's overoiled from K&N... IMO, I wipe off any excess and then install it.

 

nissan doesnt make MAFs.

 

There is no way I can say for certain that the K&N caused it. It very well could have been a coincidence. But FWIW the MAF crapped out after about 2 minutes of driving with the K&N, and as you said, it didn’t die slowly, it died instantly. So I guess ill never know for sure.

Unfortunately carmax kept the old MAF, so I can’t check. I’m just happy I got a new one for free.

 

I have had K&N for 30000 miles now no problem. Along with everyone else I think it is coincidence that the MAF blew. However, I agree with early one is saying that it is up to take care of the maxima. If you know the MAF is weak going in to it that take precautions with it. For example, work it into your maintenance schedule. What do I mean by this every 10000 or so miles spray some CRC MAF cleaner into it to keep it spry. This especially needs to be done when having an aftermarket oil based filter such as the K&N. Also some common sense too. When I received mine from the threads and looking at the K&N I noticed it was really oily. Also knowing that th eMAF was weak I knew it wasnt a good combo. Before I dropped my K&N in the airbox I washed it and very lightly reoiled it. Take the resources like this forum and common sense and take car of the Max.

 

Wow this argument again...


Once again, I had three MAF blow on stock paper filters. Ever since I have switched to K&N (3 years ago) I have not blown one at all. Thats on one panel filter and now on a cone filter...

 

my maf went to 90K on an oil based stillen filter before failing


:shrug:

 

APEXi dry element filters FTMFW.

 

Ehhh...maybe. They almost cost as much as a new MAF from Dave B.

BTW...I run my K&N filter without oil and my MAF hasn't died so it MUST be the oil! Damn oil!

 

I've been using K&N in several vehicles over the years with not one problem. If the instructions are followed for cleaning and oiling correctly, they pay for themselves. According to past research, the K&N performance has been proven superior to dry filters. Please post the updated research or tests for all to read. Thanks.

 

Actually in this test the Apexi Dry filter was proven superior. It has beenlong noted about Apexi's great performing dry filter. The only down side is lifespan is 50,000 miles while some wont own their maxima that long. I plan on driving her til her wheels fall off. That is why I went with K&N.

Results of Test Here