I stumbled across this website while researching oil filters. It's definately worth the read.

http://www.calsci.com/ST1300/Filters.html

Cheers

Bemis

 

Thanks for the heads up, Bemis00.

If I lived in an area where airborne particulate matter (i.e., dirt, dust, sand, etc.) was a major concern, I'd opt for using a paper filter. But as I live in Los Angeles, I'm not about become disturbed over the fact that I use a K&N.

 

That letter about the K&N filters on the construction site has been going around for sometime now. I once sent a copy of it to K&N and here is a copy of their response:

Dear customer,
It is a fake. Note the date, 1995 and still going around. How do I
know you ask? We DO NOT make filters for mining or construction equipment.
If he used a small Honda filter on a turbo charged V12, no wonder he had
problems!!! Here is the truth to it.
Our filters are tested by an outside, independent laboratory. They
have been proven to stop at least 99% of particles on a SAE dust test. This
test uses particles in the 0 - 5 micron range and goes up to 20 microns.
For comparison, a paper filter also stops 99% on the same test and the OEM
minimum standard is 96%. Foam is generally the worst media with a typical
efficiency rating of 75 - 85%. To get higher ratings, the foam must be more
dense and therefore way more restrictive. The "tack" characteristic of a K&N
allows for increase filtration without loss of flow as well.
The testing procedure used is SAE J-726 using ISO Coarse Test Dust.
This test is the standard of the air filter industry. The test procedure
consists of flowing air through the filter at a constant rate (airflow rate
is determined by the application) while feeding test dust into the air
stream at a rate of 1 gram per cubic meter of air.
As the filter loads with dust the pressure drop across the filter is
increased to maintain the prescribed airflow rate. The test is continued
until the pressure drop increases 10" H2O above the initial restriction of
the clean element (in this case .78" to 10.78" H2O). At this point the test
is terminated. The dirty filter element is then weighed. This weight is
compared to the clean element weight to determine the total Dust Capacity.
The amount of dust retained by the filter is divided by the total amount of
dust fed during the test to determine the Cumulative Efficiency.


The K&N filter achieved the following results:

Dust Capacity: 305 grams

Cumulative Efficiency: 99.05 %

We got started over 30 years ago making filters for motorcycles and off
road racers. The filters did so well that these guys wanted them for their
cars and trucks. We started making filters for these applications and here
we are today. If they did not work, we would not still be here and growing
every year.
We now make filters for Chrysler/Mopar, Ford Motorsports, Edelbrock,
Rotax Engines, and Harley Davidson. We come as original equipment on the
2000 Ford Mustang Cobra-R. We even made the filters used in the Apache
helicopters used in Desert Storm and the US Marine Corps new Osprey
tilt-rotor aircraft. If they work in these conditions they will work for
you. This leads me to the Ford post. The dealership may not void the
warranty per Federal laws. The Moss-Magnuson Warranty Act of the Fair Trade
Commission states that if a part is not covered under warranty, the consumer
may use any brand they choose to. Air filters are not covered under the
warranty so you are free to use any brand you choose. The real clincher is
the fact that Ford carries and sells a line of our filters at the
dealerships. We make the filters for Ford Motorsports and they even took
out a 1 page "ad" in our catalog. In fact, we are original equipment on the
2000 Mustang Cobra-R. I find it highly unlikely Ford would endorse a
product that causes problems with their vehicles. In fact, Honda and Toyota
only recommend K&N filters when using aftermarket high flow filters as K&N
is the only brand of filter the oil does NOT come off of.
You may post any or all of this if you like, in fact, it would be
appreciated. I would be interested in seeing the responses. Bottom line,
the internet is opinions not facts. Don't take all you read as accurate.
Thanks for writing, Rick

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Thanks for the heads up. I wouldn't be suprised if it was a fake. Mostly I thought the site was interesting for the oil filter info. It's worth reading through

Bemis