Will I harm my car if I install a k&n filter?

Question

I have a 2003 Honda Element 4 speed auto Awd. From the research of this filter, it claims to have more air flow and less restriction, therefore it is suppose to give better gas mileage and throttle response. However, if that’s the case wouldn’t that means it’s actually capturing kore dust particles in compensating for better air flow. It other words, destroy your engine?

This claims don’t seem to make sense to me.

How is that possible that it’s better than OEM? Would their be a trade off for something else?

This claims don’t seem to make sense to me.
How is that possible that it’s better than OEM? Would their be a trade off for something else?

Anonymous · Answer

Or they have more folds giving more surface area to breathe through.  It works that way too...as they can not afford to be sued for proven engine destruction because they have a "holy" filter.

Anonymous · Answer

nope, have one on both my car & my truck ..................

Anonymous · Answer

No, if dry. There use to be oil baths on old carb jobs, from factory. It wont pass smog, you might get better response and MPG. Best is at top end. Better to also o reprogram ECM with an aftermarket chip as well. The ECM could see the greater flow as "too much air",  and be fooled into running Richer. If car was at proper mixture, it may even be slower.

Robert J · Answer

K&N have less restriction but allow more fine dust through to the engine when the are clean.

They restrict airflow as they accumulate dust and cause more restriction than a standard paper filter, long before a paper filter would be at the end of its life.

Avoid them and use the proper filter the car maker specifies.

Anonymous · Answer

Not as much as you do driving it at 90-100 mph.

? · Answer

Stick with the stock filter. K&N are trouble. I know from experience.

FlagMichael · Answer

It probably won't hurt it badly, although as JetDoc says the oil from it can cause trouble. However, it is impossible for it to improve fuel economy. In the days of carburetors restrictive air filters made the engine run richer, but with electronic fuel injection like your Honda Element has restriction just acts like the throttle is not open quite as far.

I am not a fan of K&N filters.

? · Answer

K&N filters require the filter media to be treated with a light coating of oil, which can be sucked into the intake system and can contaminate sensors in the intake stream.  "Lifetime" washable filters like the K&N were probably a good thing back in the days of carburetors, but not so much for cars with sensitive electronic fuel injection.

? · Answer

OEM filters are designed for maximum of everything
air flow , dust particle capture and air volume 
You can have a filter that can catch .01 mincron dust but the air flow is affected
 you can have an air filter that catches 1 mincron and the air flow and performance of good 
 you can have a filter that only catches 5 microns or bigger and you have good air flow but engine life is reduced
 never fit any thing more in micron size than what is stipulated in the OEM   filter specifications

Will I harm my car if I install a k&n filter?

9 Answers