K & N Oil Filter

Any feedback on K & N oil filters. Any problems ?

They are pretty well-regarded on BITOG, as far as I know.

I've used them off and on, no problems. From the test results I've seen they're not necessarily better at filtering compared to, say, a NAPA Gold or Platinum filter, but in some applications I find the nut at the end of the filter and the lockwireability a big bonus.

BoxheadTim wrote: I've used them off and on, no problems. From the test results I've seen they're not necessarily better at filtering compared to, say, a NAPA Gold or Platinum filter, but in some applications I find the nut at the end of the filter and the lockwireability a big bonus.

+1

I use them on my rallycross car that has a filter that seems to self tighten to the point it has to have a screwdriver stabbed through it in order to be removed. The nut on the end of the filter makes oil changes a lot easier.

BoxheadTim wrote: I've used them off and on, no problems. From the test results I've seen they're not necessarily better at filtering compared to, say, a NAPA Gold or Platinum filter, but in some applications I find the nut at the end of the filter and the lockwireability a big bonus.

On a smallish filter (like on the Hayabusa motor on my race car that gets fairly frequent changes) I use the old motorcycle racer trick of a screw hose clamp around the filter, and wire that to a hard point on the engine. This affords the ability to, after tightening the filter, position the hose clamp so the wire has no slack. Also, as the wire's tension is effectively tangental to the OD of the filter, it's much more easily able to keep the filter tight, rather than "not unscrewing all the way".

No problems here

Got one as a freebie with an oil change deal from the auto parts store.
On an NC Miata, getting a tool in there to get the thing off was a lot more challenge than just using the cup wrench that matches up with the OEM filter.
The money saved on the freebie filter was more than offset by the purchase of a 1" combination wrench, something I didn't previously own.

Installed one on the S197 just a few weeks ago. Won't drive it nearly enough till next oil/ filter change to comment on cutting it open and spreading the pleats to see the construction. Installed w/ band type filter wrench as usual, the hex nut will only be used for ease of removal tho, nice to have btw.

Nothing but love for them both on bikes and cars. They work great.

There are a number of oil filter tests scattered across the Interwebs.

The one i put on the cummins doesnt have a hex on the end

fasted58 wrote: Installed one on the S197 just a few weeks ago. Won't drive it nearly enough till next oil/ filter change to comment on cutting it open and spreading the pleats to see the construction. Installed w/ band type filter wrench as usual, the hex nut will only be used for ease of removal tho, nice to have btw.

FWIW, I never use any tools to install oil filters. Hand tight is good enough, no reason to cause yourself pain down the road when you need to remove it.

I use the drop in k&n oil filters on my saab (ecotec 2.0). No complaints. Better than the bosch counterpart i've tried.

FYI, they're exactly the same (save for the nut) as Royal Purple and Mobil 1 filters. Same factory, same specs, same line. Different color. Champ Labs, in Indiana, owned now by Fram.

Kramer wrote: FYI, they're exactly the same (save for the nut) as Royal Purple and Mobil 1 filters. Same factory, same specs, same line. Different color. Champ Labs, in Indiana, owned now by Fram.

the ones that they sell at Wal Mart look exactly like Frams except for the white paint and lack of bedliner on the end to grab onto... they also lack the hex head, but they were nice enough to keep the higher price point so you think you are getting something better than the orange junk next to it on the shelf.

Tom_Spangler wrote: FWIW, I never use any tools to install oil filters. Hand tight is good enough, no reason to cause yourself pain down the road when you need to remove it.

+1, tools are for taking oil filters off, not putting them on.