Georgia Fiero Club Forum

All Things Fiero => Tech Tips, Tech Questions => Topic started by: pgackerman on August 11, 2018, 10:04:28 pm

Title: Air Filters
Post by: pgackerman on August 11, 2018, 10:04:28 pm

While at Coffee & Cars this morning an RX7 owner was telling me how great K&N air filters are.  So I looked them up.

$50.00 for an air filter!?! 

Does this guy work for K&N or is there a noticeable difference between a $50 K&N air filter and a regular $10 air filter?

Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Air Filters
Post by: Fierofool on August 11, 2018, 11:50:47 pm

I have had a K&N in my 87 as long as I've owned it.  I can tell a little difference in the sound between it and the standard filter in the 86.
 It's supposed to breathe bettter.  It's made of stainless steel mesh.  It's designed to be washed and recharged.  The initial filter and recharge is a little expensive, but the recharge bottle is good for 3-5 recharges.  Afterward, new recharge bottles keep bringing down the average cost of filters. 

Divide the cost of the kit by the number of recharges it says you can get, then compare that with the cost of a regular filter. 

Title: Re: Air Filters
Post by: pgackerman on August 12, 2018, 12:19:37 pm

I only put about 5K miles on my Fiero per year.  The average air filter lasts around 20K miles. 

The only reason to replace my air filter with a K&N would be some sort of performance improvement -- sound, horsepower, 0-60 mph time, cost, and/or reliability. 

I like how my car sounds below 4500 rpm so the improvement would have to be one of the other three points, since cost and sound are already disqualified. 

Title: Re: Air Filters
Post by: scottb on August 12, 2018, 03:49:21 pm

When I was working on asphalt Super Late Models (NASCAR pee wee league) the engine builder said do not under any circumstances use  a K&N air filter.True, they flow a lot of air, but they dont stop any dirt. Ypu are much better off running a paper filter. If a paper filter is good enough for a $20,000.00 engine its good enough for my $1,500.00 car. Your mileage may vary.

Title: Re: Air Filters
Post by: pgackerman on August 12, 2018, 04:01:50 pm

Good answer.  Thank you.

Title: Re: Air Filters
Post by: Raydar on August 12, 2018, 10:25:25 pm

Quote from: scottb on August 12, 2018, 03:49:21 pm

When I was working on asphalt Super Late Models (NASCAR pee wee league) the engine builder said do not under any circumstances use  a K&N air filter.True, they flow a lot of air, but they dont stop any dirt. Ypu are much better off running a paper filter.
...

Thank you for chiming in. I had heard similar, but didn't want to fill the thread with "hear-say".

Title: Re: Air Filters
Post by: GTRS Fiero on August 12, 2018, 10:30:56 pm

Good to know.  I guess it's hupe.