K&N Air Filter

[gman2000]

I have a question about a K&N filter. I had changed the fliter in my Firebird this past summer and when I did my fuel mileage went down. It changed from 29mpg to 26.5mpg. I replaced it with a normal filter and my mileage went back up. I called K&N and they told me to diconnect the battery for 30 minutes to reset the processor. I tried this but the same thing. I called K&N back and this time by the end of the converation I said I would never use a K&N part again. Does anyone know why my mileage would go down? Also the K&N filter is only about half a thick a normal filter.

[airattack111]

Re: K&N Air Filter

LOL, a k&n flows better than stock, mileage has to do with the way YOU drive, mabye you had your foot on the pedal more with the k&n, it's not enough to make a difference in power or anything, just an air cleaner that offers a tad better flow and filtration.

"I called K&N back and this time by the end of the converation I said I would never use a K&N part again."

Speechless...

[gman2000]

Re: K&N Air Filter

Well when I checked it I had about a 400 mile trip. I averaged about 73mph. After finishing the job I returned home. I replaced the filter before leaving. Once again I traveled about 400 miles averaging about 73. I'm guessing it is restricting the air for some reason. It was 95% interstate.

[Chris2088]

Re: K&N Air Filter

So are these things junk or what?

[flyfrito_SS]

Re: K&N Air Filter

So are these things junk or what?

No, they flow better than stock.

[Vanquish]

Re: K&N Air Filter

It's crazy to think that a better flowing air filter would hurt your mpg by almost 3 mpg. It's your driving, not the air filter. It could be any number of things, and your miles per gallon doesn't stick at one certain set number forever, it bounces around as you give it gas and let off the gas.

Get a head unit that estimates your mpg and economy gas mileage and watch it increase when idling and decrease as you accelerate. It's all about how you drive it. And no, it doesn't matter if you are going the same speed. What matters is how you shifted and accelerated to get to that speed.

[gman2000]

Re: K&N Air Filter

Well first of all, it doesn't seem to be a better flowing air filter. Maybe it is just this particular air filter...maybe something wrong with it? As far as fuel economy changing, I agree with you to a point. As I have travelled the roads for the last eight years...averaging over 200 days a year on the road, I can say without a doubt that traveling down the interstate at an average speed of 73, decent weather, running premium fuel...my mileage have never changed more than .5 mpg unless something is mechanically wrong. The bird I was speaking of was totaled in September and has been replaced. I have not tried this filter on my current bird but will tomorrow. I will everyone know what happens. But I do have one question, is the normal K & N filter smaller than a normal Wic's filter? My Wic's filter has more surface area than the K & N filter which doesn't seem normal.