I have no doubt that they will last a long time, but the sad truth is that, even though they filter well, they progressively allow less and less air through. Everyone who puts one on seems to report great improvements, not surprising, since they probably just took off a dirty paper filter. The improvement they detect is not unlike taking a dirty filter out, and then going for a drive with no filter, because that's about the same improvement in airflow to the engine, but because a K&N traps, AND RETAINS dirt on their surface, as ooposed to a coventional air filter that shed a large portion of particles each time the engine is shutdown. These trapped particles continue to build up and dramaticly restrict the air flow as time goes on. I've rad several independant reports, but also seen this after only a few days of driving in the northwoods of Maine, whose logging roads are legendary for the finest dust that gets everywhere.
I run a conventional paper filter, but my engine breaths from over 6' off the ground, through a cyclone seperator atop my snorkel. The cyclone seperator really works well, and the vortex of dust is actually visable, coming out the top of the cyclone seperator. If you recall, this thread got started by a guy who wanted opinions on changing out an oil bath air filter. I stand by what I said, in that I wouldn't change one for a converntional filter, but most certainly not a K&N.
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