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Which cone filter is better? K&N or Apexi?

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Old Oct 21, 2005 | 11:37 AM
  #1  
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Which cone filter is better? K&N or Apexi?

My K&N come filter has seen better days and needs to be replaced soon. I remember a while back that their was a psot about Apexi filters, although being more expensive, yielded better hp than the K&N. Is that true? Also, the Apexi filter is a dry filter, meaning it would be better for the MAF sensor? I would like inputs as to which would be the better buy and what vendor would sell them at a good price. Thanks.
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:00 PM
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Apexi, but they are more expensive and harder to come by.
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:06 PM
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just put a plain filter in there and spend the 50$ bucks on something better ... you really think a special AIR FILTER is gonna give you any more horses?, lol ..
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:07 PM
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Apexi is better, but as Dasyce said they're more expensive and harder to find. I don't think the difference is that big though, so just go with the K&N. I did tests comparing the K&N vs. a Fram filter and after 5 tests each, using my radar gun up to 60MPH from a 4MPH roll I got an average of .3 seconds faster with the K&N.
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Maxima lover
I got an average of .3 seconds faster with the K&N.
wow that is a noticeable diffferance...
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:25 PM
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sorry to steal your thread but isn't monsterflow a foam filter like apexi? how does it compare?
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:31 PM
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Would I be correct to say that the Apexi is an oil-free filter whereas the K&N has an oily element? Would this make Apexi filters less likely to cause problems with the MAF sensor?
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:35 PM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by toyick
wow that is a noticeable diffferance...
Yep, thats what I thought. Here is the original post from a while back. Oh yea I got rid of the hacked air box, because it made my car a lot slower.

Originally Posted by Maxima lover
I decided to go get some proof on weather or not the K&N actually improved acceleration over a generic paper filter. I mounted my radar gun to the dash and grabbed a stopwatch. I went to an industrial road with no traffic that was straight as well as flat. Since I have a 5 speed I didn?t want the results to be affected by my launch, so I got it going in first gear and let it off the gas and let roll on its own at 4 MPH. Then I punched it and started the stopwatch. I stopped it as soon as the radar gun read 60.

I did 3 runs with the K&N that has about 6k on it, then I did 3 runs with the Fram that has about 3K on it, then 2 more with the K&N, and then 2 more with the Fram.

K&N
8.18
8.14
8.10
8.16
8.23

Fram
8.46
8.43
8.40
8.37
8.50

K&N average- 8.16
Fram average- 8.43

I have nothing performance wise done to my car yet. The only thing different from stock about my intake is 1 3" hole in the air box. I tried as hard as I could to make the results as accurate as possible.
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:40 PM
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There's been a couple posts regarding "which is the best filter" recently. There was an independent test done on a Supra turbo.

Apexi - excellent filtration - most HP although it made only less than 1hp more than the K&N. Remember, the test was done on Supra turbo, so the HP difference on Maxima would most likely be even less.

K&N - good filtration

HKS - This foam filter made the less power than the above filters and offered POOR filtration.
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by MaxKlinger
Would I be correct to say that the Apexi is an oil-free filter whereas the K&N has an oily element? Would this make Apexi filters less likely to cause problems with the MAF sensor?
The only problem your going to have with the MAF, is if you put to much oil on it while you reoil it. I think there has been some proof of performance lose due to reoiling it, so I plan to just buy a new one after 30K miles. I will end up only spending $200 after 120K miles and get .3 seconds faster. That about the same price/performance as the Y-pipe.
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 12:53 PM
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Its all subjective... Apexi cost more, are harder to find, and cannot be cleaned. When they are all cruded up, you have to toss them. K&N's are cheaper, you can find them anywhere, they are easy to clean, they WILL NOT harm your Maf if you don't oil the hell out of them. I'd just stick with the K&N myself, but its all personal choice and how many bills you have to spend.
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by mtrai760
Its all subjective... Apexi cost more, are harder to find, and cannot be cleaned. When they are all cruded up, you have to toss them. K&N's are cheaper, you can find them anywhere, they are easy to clean, they WILL NOT harm your Maf if you don't oil the hell out of them. I'd just stick with the K&N myself, but its all personal choice and how many bills you have to spend.
On that note, I'll go with the K&N. I didn't know that the Apexi could not be cleaned.
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 04:06 PM
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I'm happy with my K&N, how much sense does it make to spend more money on an air filter that is disposable and isn't proven to give you any more gains?
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 04:11 PM
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S&B, search for them, BITOG says there the best, next to OEM
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 04:49 PM
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maxS
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I like what i got /apexi:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...77_41_full.jpg
i don't think that oil is such a good idea for the intake (k&N)
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 06:59 PM
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i also have Apexi and love it
Old Oct 22, 2005 | 09:40 AM
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do they have teh K&N at like autozone or somewhere like that? i need a new filter, i figure why not go cone, and if i dont have to order it thats even better!
Old Oct 22, 2005 | 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by RockfordMax
do they have teh K&N at like autozone or somewhere like that? i need a new filter, i figure why not go cone, and if i dont have to order it thats even better!

Yep. I got mine at Autozone. They also have them at Orielly's and Advanced, although they didn't have the size I needed. They normally only have one of each size, so you might have to check out a couple of stores before you find it.
Old Oct 22, 2005 | 02:27 PM
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More for ya to chew on:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/fil...t/2/index.html
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