K&N Air Filter Leaking

[Rosie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rosie]

Hi All, I've got a V6 120 Series with a K&N Filter installed about 5000kms ago. The install was of coarse just a swap over and is pretty hard to stuff up. On Friday I pulled it out for its first routine cleaned and was instantly alarmed to find the down-stream side of the filter full of wet sand and a heap heading through the housing towards the throttle body. I pulled it apart and it doesn't look like anything's made it as far as the engine but after a full on clean and really careful re-installation of the filter I've noticed more sands made it in after the weekend away.

Has anyone had this problem with the K&N or any filter for that matter? I bought it off eBay and am wondering if it could be a fake but it appeared to fit perfectly and there's no signs of damage or anything.

Cheers, Ben

[D4Dforme Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4Dforme]

Hi All, I've got a V6 120 Series with a K&N Filter installed about 5000kms ago. The install was of coarse just a swap over and is pretty hard to stuff up. On Friday I pulled it out for its first routine cleaned and was instantly alarmed to find the down-stream side of the filter full of wet sand and a heap heading through the housing towards the throttle body. I pulled it apart and it doesn't look like anything's made it as far as the engine but after a full on clean and really careful re-installation of the filter I've noticed more sands made it in after the weekend away.

Has anyone had this problem with the K&N or any filter for that matter? I bought it off eBay and am wondering if it could be a fake but it appeared to fit perfectly and there's no signs of damage or anything.

Cheers, Ben

I used to use a K&N in my old 80 series and after reading a few write ups about them and their very poor filtering decided to ditch it........ok on the blacktop but no good at all for dirty/dusty conditions as you have found out.......

Somewhere on the net is a big compare of filters and what size particulate's they trap or don't trap and the K&N was the worst rated letting plenty of crud through.........they where designed for race track use really but everyone like me included thought they were a good thing but for a 4x4 application they aren't.

Dan

[Guest Close Guest]

Put back the normal filter.

[kevdebbi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kevdebbi]

I,ve had mine fitted for several years and have never had any problems with it. I have had it in and out several times and never noticed any foreign material part the filter. At worst a slight oily residue maybe.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

The filter must be well oiled for dusty conditions. Also re-oiled.
They do work well when oiled for the application.
Also dust can get past the seal on many air filters, not just prados, not just k&n, so I use rubber grease to help the seal on the rubber edges.
Works great! Nothing gets thru, not spec of sand.
I have recently done Fraser Island & robe beaches, even without a snorkel, lots of sand gets thrown in behind the liner, & gets sucked up, that fine stuff on Fraser, but most of it gets thrown out at the pre spinner, & lots on the dirty side of the filter & in my grease.
Without the grease, I find a thin film of dust on the clean side of the air box on prados. Depends how blocked it is & how much dust you are sucking.

I do recommend the use of a paper filter for offroad & dusty conditions.
K&n are best for on road to be safe.
Although I don't follow my own guide & leave it there often.

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

does your car have a snorkel ?

i race off road cars & trucks and most of us have ditched those oil filters and gone back to paper elements

K&N need to be dirty to start working !! and most guys clean them way too often

put the paper filter back in and go and do what you did to make sure it doesn't do the same

[Rosie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rosie]

Thanks guys, The only thing I can imagine could have happened to allow this amount of sand it could have been from the filter kinking when I tested the snorkel's seal after I installed it. I'm not even positive that the snorkel wasn't on and tested before the K&N was put in anyway.

I think I'll go back to the paper filters for sure and be really vigilant to check them for a while. I've often read about K&Ns letting dust in but I've been sure to really oil them up and have never had much of a problem. I've ran them on my last 3 vehicles over about 200,000kms but they've all had snorkels and most of my dirty work is around sand and mud, rarely bad dust.

Any idea what damage could have been done if sand has gotten in the engine? I changed the oil as soon as I noticed the sand in there and after about 550kms it's still clean as a whistle. Wondering if it could be worth me changing it again on the weekend to be safe.

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

i would clean the air flow meter as well
it get an oily residue on it from the filter
another negative reason not to run them !