K&B Air Filter vs. Paper, Paper Wins!

[xintersecty]

I put a K&B air filter into my Chevy Aveo about a year ago. I have cleaned it twice since then. My millage went down and I thought it was because of crappy Iowa gas. Well I was wrong about that. I ran across an interesting article regarding oil based filters corrupting the mass air sensor.

The oil film on the air filter is just enough to collect on the very fine wires used to measure the air flow. At then end of every run cycle a very high current is ran through the wires to "burn" off any debre collected on the wires. If the wires are dirty that can change the air flow reading and gas milage.

I replaced my K&B filter with a paper one, my gas milage went from 30 MPG to 34 MPG.

I am a fanantic about measuring my gas milage. I believe it's one the best ways to understand the condition of the car.

Cost of the K&B air filter is around 50 bucks and the cleaning kits around 10. A good paper filter is around 12 bucks. I think it's an even trade on the cost but if the milage goes down, it's a loosing proposition.

Comments? No kidding really!

[petrified.rabbit]

i believe i've said the same thing on here a few times.

did you run a drop in or intake of some kind? what year is your car?

[xintersecty]

i believe i've said the same thing on here a few times.

did you run a drop in or intake of some kind? what year is your car?

I have a special value 2006 with add on AC manual transmission. I made no modifications to the air intake. Just bought a K&B filter and drop right in. I have not seem the previous posts since I am still new on the forum. At least I paid attentioned and measured my milage before and after filter change.

[petrified.rabbit]

A 2006 should not have been affected the way you describe because it has no maf. (the wires you take about). It. Uses a map and iat.

[xintersecty]

A 2006 should not have been affected the way you describe because it has no maf. (the wires you take about). It. Uses a map and iat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_flow_sensor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAP_sensor

Interesting. My conclusion: My air filter was not cleaned properly. I may have to buy an other cleaning kit again and try my K&B air filter when my paper filter is due.

[petrified.rabbit]

Not sure what those link refer to. Wiki is terrible on iPhone

I use the blue unoiled performance filterthat came with my cai from chromeintakes. You can buy a paper performance filter or unoiled filter for just a little more than oem but a whole lot less than k&n but still have the performance.

Over oiled a k&n won't flow for much.

[AveoJoe]

I got the K&N for my wifes car but will not use the oil the cleaning kit came with.

[Shibbs]

I got the K&N for my wifes car but will not use the oil the cleaning kit came with.

Then you'll be better off running with a window screen as your air filter.

[oscare003]

when u say paper filter. do u mean the stock 1?

[Shibbs]

Yeah, the stock filter is a poly increasing density filter.

Some aftermarket ones use paper instead and they're pretty much crap.