Air

[FrankS]

Check out this site for comparison of Air Filters
http://home.usadatanet.net/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm
Regards Frank

[Muddy Oval]

That test you linked to is quite informative and it does bring up one huge point: People claim they "need" more flow- but the stock paper filter and airbox can supply enough air to allow the engine to run all the way to its electronic rev limiter AND to the electronically limited top speed... so why would one believe that there isn't enough flow to drive around town?
People claim to feel an improvement and to that I call bullsh*t. Even if you did get 5hp-10hp, on a 6000lb truck you won't feel it. The "butt dyno" is not that sensitive- but the placebo effect is. Louder noises make people think they are faster- just look at all the sh*theads in little 86hp imports with huge mufflers doing 9 second 0-60 runs at wide open throttle who think they are "racer dudes."

[Adam in NYC USA]

Originally Posted by FrankS

K&N filters might be OK around NYC but if you tried using one in outback Australia, where roads can have bulldust (like talcum powder) a foot deep, then your K&N would be totally clogged within a few miles, that's after letting in enough dust to do some serious damage. A good quality off-road Paper Air Filter can be blown out, and the Donaldson's on my Mack truck got dry-cleaned once a month and they lasted a couple of years or a million Klms or so. I had A cold air induction on my BA Ford Falcon GT (5.4 quad cam V8 290kw) and a K&N air filter, performance gain with this system was 18kw at the rear wheels extra. The engine was replaced at 15,000klms because of an oil consumption problem. If you could have seen the grit and grime in the plenum and the inlet trumpets, you would not use a K&N, as I don't, Regards Frank.

Now, we are not quite like the Outback here in New York City, but we usually have our "little" incidents here like some old doctor blew up his townhouse here in Manhattan just the other day. Now we have to worry about the same old terrorist knuckleheads trying to take out the subway or one of our tunnels.

Your point of view changes a bit when your hood gets splashed with jet fuel from a crashing airliner. It did not happen to me but a fellow coworker did on his Mazda MPV.

It is getting to be just as interesting here in the Big Apple or Mumbai or London or Midrad (sic) as in the Land Down Under.
Right after 9/11, we also had a industrial explosion here , an plane crash in the Far Rockaways, and just a couple of anthrax attacks. When anthrax attacks in your neck of the woods, it is usually to prolonged contact with infected sheep.

What has that got to do with airfilters?

The last thing I want to be thinking about is my airfilter when the kangaroo hits the fan. Had my ambulance almost choke on the dustcloud down on 9/11 with the back full of patients. I was one of the first repsonders arriving when the second tower went down.

That was a stock airfilter for a Ford F-250. So it does not really matter when you are in an extreme condition, you will have to pull over and clean that airfilter.

I also see nobody took the ten seconds to check the book when to check and when to replace the airfilter. So we all know when as well?

Adam in NYC

[FrankS]

Adam, very interesting life you lead over there, the stress must be incredible, you need to pay us a visit and have break from it all. Back to Air Filters, I was looking to fit a K&N to my disco (before the dirt in plenum problem with the GT), went to local Parts suppler (who also builds and races Rally cars WRC) and he advised me not to fit a K&N or any other "Oiled cloth or sponge type Filter" as they didn't do a good job of keeping grit and dust out of the engine. I was suprised at this statement, so I spoke to a mate of mine who has a Zook that he raced in off-road events, same story and he gave me this web-site http://home.usadatanet.net/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm to check out, there is some very good data there and K&N have never challenged it to my knowledge. I am a mechanic and have seen the results of dust getting into engines, some people say it (the dust) gets burnt in the combustion process, but enough gets through to cause damage.
BTW contrary to popular belief overseas I have to drive hundreds of miles to get to the "Outback" and I haven't squished a 'Roo for years, good thing about paper filters is you can give them a quick cleanout (shaking or banging against the side) and you're on your way again, a good Idea if your travelling in bulldust areas is to have a "cyclonic" pre cleaner on your snorkel, anyway best of luck in NYC, Regards Frank.

[apbtpetey]

Adam,

while I am not against k&n air filters, they do allow more air to flow in which also means they allow more particles of dust and other crap to flow in as well. A paper filter will catch more of the particles which makes them flow less. Sure a properly cared for k&n souldn't hurt your MAF ( using to much oil will though), but people are right when they say you shouldn't use a k&n filter in dusty conditions becuase they do allow more crap to flow into the engine.

I have the greatest respect for people in your line of work, but honestly you cannot compare NORMAL driving conditions in NYC to NORMAL driving conditions in the outback. The driving conditions you talked about in NYC are not everyday events. Extreme dust in the outback is much more a common thing than dusty road conditions here in NYC.

[Muddy Oval]

Driving in NYC is probably more punishing than driving in the Outback (except the extreme dust)... Holes in the road, constant starting and stopping, heat, cold... urban driving is actually considered 'harsh conditions' when it comes to an aggressive PM schedule.

[apbtpetey]

Originally Posted by Muddy Oval

Driving in NYC is probably more punishing than driving in the Outback (except the extreme dust)... Holes in the road, constant starting and stopping, heat, cold... urban driving is actually considered 'harsh conditions' when it comes to an aggressive PM schedule.

Steve I was referring to the dusty conditions of the roads between the two places.

[Muddy Oval]

I know- that's why I commented that aside from the dust- NYC is a harsh environment...

[apbtpetey]

Originally Posted by Muddy Oval

I know- that's why I commented that aside from the dust- NYC is a harsh environment...

[afirover]

all this talk of COLD AIR but i bet you guys are still runing your plunim deicers ummmmmmm puting hot ass antifreez in to the "COLD AIR " intake system
that little hose that comes from the radiater goes to the plunim and then to the therm hosing ????

just a thought