For K&N lovers

[RF Overlord]

Background:

Until recently, K&N filters were made by Champion Laboratories in Illinois. For those unfamiliar with the company, Champ makes mostly private-label filters, including Royal Purple, Mobil 1, STP, and about a million others, including Ford factory-installed (not Motorcraft...those are made by Purolator), Toyota TRD, and being a second-source for GM, along with Delphi.

Along comes an investment group from New Zealand called The Rank Group who buys the FRAM division from Honeywell and more recently UCI, the parent company of Champion. They have now consolidated both companies into "FRAM Filtration".

I just learned from a thread on BITOG that Champion (FRAMpion?) no longer makes K&N filters. Here's the bad news, from Jay Buckley, Technical Training Manager at FRAM Filtration:


Hello,
I am the tech director at FRAM Filtration. Until recently, K+N oil filters were made in our Albion, IL factory. They have transferred production to a Korean company and are no longer made in USA or made by FRAM or Champion Labs. The filter efficiency has been reduced from the mid 90's% range down to mid 80 percent range in our testing. They no have lower efficiency, lower capacity and a lower cost that they are not passing along to end users. Not trying to sound like sour grapes that we lost this customer but they are not making the filter as good as it used to be.

Not that K&N filters were worth the money to begin with, but now they REALLY aren't. I'm not a FRAM fan-boy by any stretch, but it sounds like their new Ultra line is a MUCH better filter, for less money.

Just like Motorcraft... :)

[L.Mark]

Well nuts!!!! Where were you about a week ago. I just bought one for my CAI!!!:shake:

[RF Overlord]

While my (and Jay's) comments were specifically about K&N oil filters, I have to assume that Champ also lost the air filter business. I can't speak to whether the new company has also cheapened those, but K&N air filters were notorious for letting dust through. You may want to consider replacing it anyway. AFE and S&B are good alternatives.

[L.Mark]

Good heads up!!!

[ctrlraven]

JLT uses S&B filters for their air intake kits.

[L.Mark]

Might take the K/N back 'unused' and get a JTL...

[lji372]

Might take the K/N back 'unused' and get a JTL...

Partial to the jlt myself.
Leaves money on the table to invest in dumb crossover plugs (the good looking engraved ones):D

[L.Mark]

THat's why I was thinking of returning the K&N...:eek:

[marauder'10]

While my (and Jay's) comments were specifically about K&N oil filters, I have to assume that Champ also lost the air filter business. I can't speak to whether the new company has also cheapened those, but K&N air filters were notorious for letting dust through. You may want to consider replacing it anyway. AFE and S&B are good alternatives.


What is the model number for the filter needed for the MM

[marauder'10]

Im Sorrry For S&B

[RF Overlord]

The drop-in panel filter is a 66-2012.

Does anyone know what filter is used on the PHP CAI...I think it's an S&B

[Jolly Roger]

If you're interested in replacing the cone filter on your K&N C.I.A. the S&B replacement is a S&B #0927 and it has the power cone front opening instead of the chrome cap like the K&N does.
Should flow more.
$42.00 to my door.
FYI.;)

[ctrlraven]

What is the model number for the filter needed for the MM
The filter JLT uses you can find on their site
http://jlttruecoldair.com/ZenCart/index.php?main_page=product_in fo&cPath=6&products_id=214

The filter is 4"x 9" #SBAFR49 (+$5.00)

I purchased a second one last year from JLT so I have zero down time and always have a clean filter to put on. $50 plus free shipping
You can also get a S&B cleaning kit or use the K&N cleaning kit sold in your local auto parts store.

The drop-in panel filter is a 66-2012.

Does anyone know what filter is used on the PHP CAI...I think it's an S&B
Measure the opening connecting to the MAF and the overall length of the whole filter. If it's the same 4" x 9" then you can get a replacement from JLT.

[Mr. Man]

How long ago did the transfer of management happen? Filters in the stores might still be from the old company.

[jsignorelli]

I've had a K&N on the Marauder since I got the car in '04. All of my performance Mustangs have them as well. Even my 2010 Fusion Sport has a K&N filter. Never had a problem with any of them. Looks like my next new car gets an alternative. So you like JLT...I'll give them a try.

[cat in the hat]

I've been using an AEM Dryflow filter on my JLT because I'm not a fan of any of the oiled filters. K&N bought AEM a little while ago, and seems to have been leaving them alone, but who the hell knows where that stands now either . . .

[sam]

I've had a K&N on the Marauder since I got the car in '04. All of my performance Mustangs have them as well. Even my 2010 Fusion Sport has a K&N filter. Never had a problem with any of them. Looks like my next new car gets an alternative. So you like JLT...I'll give them a try.

+1 never a problem here, i guess their panel filters work and its the most readily available

[motorking]

How long ago did the transfer of management happen? Filters in the stores might still be from the old company.

hey,
This is Jay Buckley from FRAM. Easy to tell if it is a good K+N or not. The old model will say Made in USA right on the box. The new one does not. It also is skirting FTC regs because it should say Made in korea someplace on the filter or box. The older K+N oil filters were 95% efficiency, the new ones are 85% and made in Korea exclusively. We never made the air filters, they make them themselves. There is an interesting test on the GMC truck forum, shows K+N filters allowed 7 grams of dirt past the filter when tested to max capacity. They paid an independent lab to run the tests. All the paper filter held way more dirt and only passed 1 gram or so to capacity. The only filter worse than K+N was the UNI foam filter.:cool:

[RF Overlord]

Welcome to mm.net, Jay.

Watching your videos, it was nice to put a face to the name... ;)

Thanks for the clarification about K&N air filters. I didn't know Champ built only the oil filters.

[motorking]

Welcome to mm.net, Jay.

Watching your videos, it was nice to put a face to the name... ;)

Thanks for the clarification about K&N air filters. I didn't know Champ built only the oil filters.

Thanks, Wish I was better looking, would rather be making action movies!
:cool:

[jsignorelli]

Here is a thought. let's have a screen test for all MM.net members at Carlisle this June. Winner gets a picture on the web page......!
Anyone who triggers the "gag reflex" need not apply.

[Mr. Man]

hey,
This is Jay Buckley from FRAM. Easy to tell if it is a good K+N or not. The old model will say Made in USA right on the box. The new one does not. It also is skirting FTC regs because it should say Made in korea someplace on the filter or box. The older K+N oil filters were 95% efficiency, the new ones are 85% and made in Korea exclusively. We never made the air filters, they make them themselves. There is an interesting test on the GMC truck forum, shows K+N filters allowed 7 grams of dirt past the filter when tested to max capacity. They paid an independent lab to run the tests. All the paper filter held way more dirt and only passed 1 gram or so to capacity. The only filter worse than K+N was the UNI foam filter.:cool:Good info here. Thanks for clearing up some of the confusion. I use the 820S on the MM's but I am in need of a new cone filter. Good to know it's still made by K&N......and :welcome: to the site.

[PRCARGUY]

Thanks for the info. Clears up something I was thinking about.