Has anyone changed the OEM airfilter to a K & N airfilter?

[Ram]

Went to NAPA auto parts begining 03March18. Ordered from them a K & N airfilter for the ICE.

Couple days later it arrives, and yesterday was first nice day that I could get out and change the filter over with out freezing or getting rained upon.

Found out quickly that the K & N filter did not fit. Found out this afternoon that the K & N not only was the wrong filter but K & N over phone to NAPA said that they do not even make a filter for the 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

 

I looked online yesterday for the K & N and they had what looked to be the right one to fit my car.

 

Has anyone orded a K & N airfilter for the ICE and if so, what part number did it come with that fit the car?

 

Thanks in advance. :)

 

[ptjones]

FFH uses the same K&N air filter as CMAX Hybrid: https://www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?prod=33-5001 and I have 4yrs/140k miles on mine. It is a real hard job to replace it on the CMAX so I haven't replaced it. ;( Looks pretty easy on the FFH. I don't think it made a difference on MPG's, but on hard acceleration it did. :)

 

Posted 14 November 2013 - 05:34 PM

Old filter is in box and new is sitting on the box.

 

Well I did it, Changed The CMAX AIR FILTER. What a pain in you know what! It can be done, but not without patience and blood. There are sharp things down there in the ICE compartment. FORD instructions are marginal at best, they don't want you doing this. You need to unplug Mass air flow sensor not in instructions and wire strap I broke around PCV tube. I think you can get this at AutoZone, but don't see why you need it. Wear good gloves to prevent from giving blood. LOL

 

I tested all three filters on my very simple (KIS) test. Here is how it works. You take a box and tape it up good. Then make holes for filter(tight fit) and shop vacuum. Then I setup Dial Indicator on side of box to measure compression of box. Only took a few minutes to setup. Here are the results.

 

1. No filter .000"

2. K&N filter .0005"

3. Ford new filter .0025"

4. Ford 42K old filter .005

 

I'm thinking that the difference is significant and maybe 1 mile per gal. We will see. I don't think there has been very many CMAX's air filters changed. I think you can guess what filter I'm using.

 

Paul

Edited March 30, 2018 by ptjones

[Ram]

Paul, Thank you for your info. This is beyond great. Today is the forth anniversary of my FFH and hopefully the new filter can be ordered and received by my birthday next month. Thank you again, Happy Good Friday and have a fantastic weekend and a Blessed Easter Sunday. :)

Gary

[ptjones]

I don't think I ordered mine, I got it at AutoZone, Walmart might have it. :) Here is ebay motors for $44.99 https://www.ebay.com/sch/Car-Truck-Parts/6030/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=K%26N+air+filter+33-5001&_sop=15

 

Paul

[Ram]

Paul, Ordered directly from K & N, no shipping and it will be here wed of next week. All for $45.57.

I also like your pressure differential testing you set up.

 

Thank you again,

Gary

[billford]

 

 

I tested all three filters on my very simple (KIS) test. Here is how it works. You take a box and tape it up good. Then make holes for filter(tight fit) and shop vacuum. Then I setup Dial Indicator on side of box to measure compression of box. Only took a few minutes to setup. Here are the results.

 

1. No filter .000"

2. K&N filter .0005"

3. Ford new filter .0025"

4. Ford 42K old filter .005

 

I'm thinking that the difference is significant and maybe 1 mile per gal. We will see. I don't think there has been very many CMAX's air filters changed. I think you can guess what filter I'm using.

 

Paul

 

 

Seems to me your test indicates the ford filter is causing somewhat more restriction, maybe more filtering media, which indicates its filtering better. Or am I missing something?

[ptjones]

 

Seems to me your test indicates the ford filter is causing somewhat more restriction, maybe more filtering media, which indicates its filtering better. Or am I missing something?

You don't have all the facts. :) I have 140k odometer miles/ 70k ICE miles since I installed K&N Air Filter. I changed my oil a few months ago and had BlackStone Labs test the oil and the results came back better than any of the previous tests. :yahoo: The take away from this is that K&N air filter has more surface area and is real obvious when you put them side by side with the FORD one. Which means less restriction with the simular amount of filtering. :)

 

Paul

[billford]

Which means less restriction with the simular amount of filtering. :)

 

Paul

 

I disagree about the similar amount of filtering, but if it works for you, great.

 

I find the problem with the k n and other low cost filters is that after a year, the seals compress and do not seal well against the air box, loose fit. Its worse with the k+n because you keep reusing it. I can almost always see a trail of fine dust inside the intake ducts where it needs to be clean.

[Ram]

Should this be the case that the seals don't protect well I can always make a new gasket seal out of RTV and make it large enough to fit the air box opening. I can do some easy stuff like that, I just can't crawl around on the floor and or bend over any more with what I have going on medical now.

 

I disagree about the similar amount of filtering, but if it works for you, great.

 

I find the problem with the k n and other low cost filters is that after a year, the seals compress and do not seal well against the air box, loose fit. Its worse with the k+n because you keep reusing it. I can almost always see a trail of fine dust inside the intake ducts where it needs to be clean.

[ptjones]

 

I disagree about the similar amount of filtering, but if it works for you, great.

 

I find the problem with the k n and other low cost filters is that after a year, the seals compress and do not seal well against the air box, loose fit. Its worse with the k+n because you keep reusing it. I can almost always see a trail of fine dust inside the intake ducts where it needs to be clean.

You obviously haven't looked at a FFH K&N air filter, they're atleast as good as a FORD air filter and they cost three times as much. If the air filter isn't plugged up there is very little vacuum press anyways to pull in dust around seals. Bottom line is experience is pretty much everything when evaluating air filters. :) I have never taken my K&N out sense New.

 

Paul

[billford]

You obviously haven't looked at a FFH K&N air filter, they're atleast as good as a FORD air filter and they cost three times as much. If the air filter isn't plugged up there is very little vacuum press anyways to pull in dust around seals. Bottom line is experience is pretty much everything when evaluating air filters. :) I have never taken my K&N out sense New.

 

Paul

 

Your right, I haven't looked at them. I just replace the factory filter every few years.

 

If you never have taken yours out since new, how do you know if its clean? It still has to be inspected, cleaned and sprayed with their cleaning kit. They also have a sealer for the seals to prevent dust bypassing now.

[ptjones]

 

Your right, I haven't looked at them. I just replace the factory filter every few years.

 

If you never have taken yours out since new, how do you know if its clean? It still has to be inspected, cleaned and sprayed with their cleaning kit. They also have a sealer for the seals to prevent dust bypassing now.

I suspect it's not real clean which means it is a little more restrictive and filters out smaller particles. My BlackStone Labs oil report tells me the ICE isn't being significantly damaged do to the fact that this last one I got the best results so far. :) It gets better in that I had 13k ICE miles on the oil or 30K ODO miles. I just love this car. :)

 

Paul

Edited April 3, 2018 by ptjones

[Plus 3 Golfer]

ORNL conducted tests on the effect of dirty filters on modern ICE vehicles and a 1970's car. Their conclusion in case you don't want to read the attachmnent below is quoted below. Note the red highlighted text. ;) :)

 

 

"The goal of this study was to explore the effects of a clogged air filter on the fuel economy of vehicles operating over prescribed test cycles. Three newer vehicles (a 2007 Buick Lucerne, a 2006 Dodge Charger, and a 2003 Toyota Camry) and an older carbureted vehicle were tested.

 

Results show that clogging the air filter has no significant effect on the fuel economy of the newer vehicles (all fuel injected with closed-loop control and one equipped with MDS). The engine control systems were able to maintain the desired AFR regardless of intake restrictions, and therefore fuel consumption was not increased. The carbureted engine did show a decrease in fuel economy with increasing restriction. However, the level of restriction required to cause a substantial (10–15%) decrease in fuel economy (such as that cited in the literature3,4 ) was so severe that the vehicle was almost undrivable. Acceleration performance on all vehicles was improved with a clean air filter."

 

My conclusion: I'll stick with the OEM filter as FE doesn't increase with a lower restriction filter. The 1/2 dozen times a year I might run at WOT for 5 - 10 seconds doesn't justify a lower restriction filter. Read the test report as to what ORNL deemed a clogged filter for testing purposes (shop towels inserted into air box). I seriously doubt one will see that much pressure drop if the OEM filter was left in for 150 k miles.

 

Air_Filter_Effects_02_26_2009.pdf

Edited April 3, 2018 by Plus 3 Golfer