K&N gave me less MPG!

shaner123 · 05-27-2006, 08:12 PM

Hi all, im shane, i drive a 2001 Saturn SL 5spd a few mts ago i bought a K&N air filter to see if it would improve my gas milage. i used the filter for about a month and found about a 5MPG drop in gas milage. The K&N folks said that the drop in milage was becuase i used the "extra power" which didnt exist.. I can definatly say my driving habits did not change. I was curious if they were infact correct though, so i took the K&N out and replaced it with my old paper filter. Used it for about a mth and my milage was back up. I tryed the K&N out for one more month to see if the drop happened again or if i could notice a power difference and the same thing happened with my milage

im just posting to see if this has happened to anyone else and see who here uses the K&N or if anyone had a simular experience as i did

..shaner

kickflipjr · 05-27-2006, 08:14 PM

Yeah metrompg tested it and found no gain or loss. Just a waste of money.

http://www.metrompg.com/posts/air-filter-part-1.htm

http://www.metrompg.com/posts/air-filter-part-2.htm

SVOboy · 05-27-2006, 08:47 PM

K&N strikes again, dyno and filter tests ruin the brand too, poor people out there with their blingin' filters.

shaner123 · 05-27-2006, 10:10 PM

ya i was very disappointed.. i didnt get more power or better gas milage, and i figured even if i got the same power and milage it would be worth it because one k&N is 50bucks and the paper filers are 20, so at least id save on filters but when i got worse gas milage i was shocked

psyshack · 05-27-2006, 10:34 PM

I put a K&N layin in our 05 Accord. MPG didnt fall. And it did pull abit harder on the very top end. I pulled mine out cause I just dont think it filters as good as the OEM filter. I havent ran any OA's on the oil to prove my point. It seems many have on oil/filter fourms. K&N seems to be as worthless as Fram. Just cost more.

shaner123 · 05-27-2006, 10:56 PM

ive also heard that the k&n allow more dirt and dust into the oil, some guys on the saturnfans forum did an OA and proved it, but alot of people swear by them but im not a fan

MetroMPG · 05-28-2006, 08:37 AM

That's too bad about the filter, Shane. Mine cost about $80 CDN with tax, so I'm the biggest loser! (I love winning things.)

Even though it showed no FE gains at constant speeds, I left it in the car since there is the theoretical possibility that it helps under higher load driving (e.g. accelerating). But that's just me grasping at straws, trying to justify having spent the money.

Your post reminded me I should put it up for sale and maybe get some of the $ back.