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  Aug. 17, 2010 3:40 p.m. BoxheadTim Dork

  Typical WhatWouldGRMDo question...

  While not as good as an oil thread I figured I'll try to get some opinion on air filters, especially given that we live in a very dusty environment here (edge of the Nevada High Desert).

  Wife's Cherokee is due a tune-up and now that my tools have arrived from across the pond I am planning to do the majority of the work myself. Which of course means either hitting NAPA/Kragen or ordering the parts.

  I'm trying to decide between getting a K&N or an OEM-style paper filter. For obvious reasons we'd have to change/clean the filter rather often anyway and a K&N would probably pay for itself within a year if I factor in the cleaner and oil. Trouble is, I'm a little concerned about K&N and similar filters as some tests I've read suggest that while they flow a little more air, most OEM filters are better at filtering stuff out.

  Anybody got experience with running K&N filters on a DD in a very dusty environment? Any perceived effects on engine wear?

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  Aug. 17, 2010 4:48 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

  There's been a bunch of tests done on K&N's (IIRC there is one on bobistheoilguy.com) which show that they flow better- at first. Then they pick up enough dirt to make them flow much like a paper element, meaning their main benefit is reuseability.

  Dirt bikers avoid them because for that first hour? two hours? whatever that they flow better they will let very fine silt through. I have seen this with my own two peepers, it's not a myth. Oiled foam works best in that type of environment. But oiled foam will also clog quickly, so that's where Outerwears came from.

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  Aug. 17, 2010 4:50 p.m. thatsnowinnebago Dork

  I've just been running OEM paper filters on my cars lately and I've been pleased. I've read too many things about K&N filters not filtering well enough. I don't really want to shorten my engine life to gain maybe 5 horsepower.

  I'm gonna butta yo bread

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  Aug. 17, 2010 4:53 p.m. Kia_racer HalfDork

  I read/heard about a guy putting a stocking over his air filter to keep out ash from a volcano. I can't remember if it was here or someplace else.

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  Aug. 17, 2010 5:03 p.m. BoxheadTim Dork

  Well, given that this is a Jeep Cherokee and not a race car, gaining a couple of hp isn't really the issue here.

  @Jensenman, you're right, Bob has a test up. Based on those results I'll get the cheaper paper filter.

  Sanity is vastly overrated.

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  Aug. 17, 2010 7:46 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

  Like Kiaracer mentioned, you can get better life out of a paper filter if you use something like pantyhose over the intake for the airbox. That will filter out the big chunks (leaves, etc) and the stuff will just fall off.

  I will say I am not necessarily anti-K&N. I have them in the Trooper, the Jensen Healey and the Jensenator. I just don't care for them in environments with a lot of fine silt, such as desert areas.

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