K&N or aFe drop-in air filter on RX-8's...which is better?
10-19-2017, 10:33 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
K&N or aFe drop-in air filter on RX-8's...which is better?
I had K&N Air filter on my 1990 RX-7 before and the car was at 250,00+ miles before it started giving a little compression issue...so i'm not really worried about dirt getting into the engine...it seemed to filter fine and you get a deeper exhaust note to boot.
I'm thinking about getting K&N for my 2010 RX-8 GT, but i heard about this new company aFe so Im wondering has anyone experience with both and can tell me which one is better?
I'm thinking about getting K&N for my 2010 RX-8 GT, but i heard about this new company aFe so Im wondering has anyone experience with both and can tell me which one is better?
10-19-2017, 12:09 PM
#3
K&N rarely flows better than OE. Even if it does, there's usually more dirt ingress. Even if there isn't, that never lasts until you have to recharge the filter; at that point, you have to execute it PERFECTLY or you get worse flow, more dirt, or both (usually both). And at no point is the flow benefit big enough to make a difference -- again, if it even exists, which it rarely does.
aFe at least has a broad catalog to choose from. Some filter media with higher flow rates, others with better filtration. Lots of shapes and sizes. Oiled and dry. But again, none of those is demonstrably better than OE. The better-flowing ones have much worse filtration; the better-filtering ones have worse flow; and none of them will be a guaranteed fit and a great seal every time like OE.
Don't underestimate fitment. The quality of the seal around the air filter can make or break it. OE is excellent every time. Aftermarket is hit-or-miss.
My brother and I have used K&N, Amsoil, aFe, and OE filters of all kinds between us. The only reason we've found to use anything other than OE is with an aftermarket intake (which is questionable itself because those usually don't do much). In those cases, the thing to do is to pick a filter medium that has the best possible filtration, and then select the biggest possible filter with that medium to compensate for the flow restriction. aFe is good for that because they have a lot of options, but Amsoil works, too. The one brand that I have yet to find a use for is K&N.
But yeah, barring that, seriously just stick with OE. It's the best engineered, has the best fitment, and has the best filtration without being an airflow bottleneck. Aftermarket panel filters never have meaningful upsides and always have some downsides.
aFe at least has a broad catalog to choose from. Some filter media with higher flow rates, others with better filtration. Lots of shapes and sizes. Oiled and dry. But again, none of those is demonstrably better than OE. The better-flowing ones have much worse filtration; the better-filtering ones have worse flow; and none of them will be a guaranteed fit and a great seal every time like OE.
Don't underestimate fitment. The quality of the seal around the air filter can make or break it. OE is excellent every time. Aftermarket is hit-or-miss.
My brother and I have used K&N, Amsoil, aFe, and OE filters of all kinds between us. The only reason we've found to use anything other than OE is with an aftermarket intake (which is questionable itself because those usually don't do much). In those cases, the thing to do is to pick a filter medium that has the best possible filtration, and then select the biggest possible filter with that medium to compensate for the flow restriction. aFe is good for that because they have a lot of options, but Amsoil works, too. The one brand that I have yet to find a use for is K&N.
But yeah, barring that, seriously just stick with OE. It's the best engineered, has the best fitment, and has the best filtration without being an airflow bottleneck. Aftermarket panel filters never have meaningful upsides and always have some downsides.
Last edited by IamFodi; 10-19-2017 at 12:13 PM.
10-19-2017, 12:33 PM
#4
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Thread Starter
Thanks for the input guys.
But im serious about my old 1990 RX-7 GXL being at 250,000+ miles...well i got the car when it was around 60,000...so even if the engine was rebuilt, i still put a good 190,000+ on it...i went through 2 clutches, new radiator, oil sensing unit, the plastic hose connector to the thermostat i replaced with the Mazdatrix aluminum one...but never rebuilt the engine...i was going to keep the car but the subframe ended up cracking due to rust and in california it was deemed a hazard...i cried when i got rid of it
But im serious about my old 1990 RX-7 GXL being at 250,000+ miles...well i got the car when it was around 60,000...so even if the engine was rebuilt, i still put a good 190,000+ on it...i went through 2 clutches, new radiator, oil sensing unit, the plastic hose connector to the thermostat i replaced with the Mazdatrix aluminum one...but never rebuilt the engine...i was going to keep the car but the subframe ended up cracking due to rust and in california it was deemed a hazard...i cried when i got rid of it
Last edited by jorlanjm; 10-19-2017 at 12:44 PM.
10-20-2017, 05:07 PM
#7
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
Ridiculous video. Less filtration = more dirt in the engine. It's not complicated. Now on a normal piston engine it's probably not enough to do serious damage but a Renesis doesn't need any help dying any earlier. I mean think about it, if there was a performance benefit to these type of filters and they actually filtered well don't you think a car manufacturer would use them?
Last edited by 9krpmrx8; 10-20-2017 at 05:09 PM.
10-20-2017, 06:21 PM
#8
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Thread Starter
Ridiculous video. Less filtration = more dirt in the engine. It's not complicated. Now on a normal piston engine it's probably not enough to do serious damage but a Renesis doesn't need any help dying any earlier. I mean think about it, if there was a performance benefit to these type of filters and they actually filtered well don't you think a car manufacturer would use them?
I like that the RX8 has a nice exhaust note already...i just want to make it a little louder but not loud as if you have change the exhaust thats why i was thinking about the K&N LOL
Last edited by jorlanjm; 10-20-2017 at 06:24 PM.
