k & N AIR FILTERS

Bruce,

I got mine for my 91 TR from them and it was here in a jiffy...I would give their new site the once over...I am pretty sure they had the K&N for the 550!!!!!!!! Congrats by the way...

Cheers,
Travis

 

For what it's worth, I bought K&N air filters for my 330 because they were the only ones I could find that would fit. (The good parts guy at NAPA couldn't even find them by dimensions.)

I can't notice any performance change at all.

 

It might not make any difference on a 550 with all that horsepower already, but was noticeable on my 308QV...

 

I'll stay out of the debate....but if you want them, this is an inexpensive source: http://www.performanceintl.com/airfiltersmenu.html

Their listings are somewhat confused, you might need to confirm the part correct number here:
http://www.ferrariclub.com/faq/knfilter.html


Regards,
Dave

 

I know this is not really the original question of this thread, but I just wanted to offer this info I heard. I spoke to someone at Norwood Performance in Dallas a while back and he recommended sticking with stock depending on how much you track the car and in what part of the country you live. In Texas, especially, he recommended stock b/c the higher flow filter will just let more junk into the motor. Plus there's really not much performance advantage, especially by butt-o-meter. I've had them on lots of cars.

 

While I don't know whether a K&N gives you any more HP, it does give you a little more intake noise so I assume its flowing more air. If you clean and re-oil K&N filters as recommended, they will not only not allow anymore trash into your engine than OEM, they will filter the air better. I have been using K&N filters in cars and motorcycles since the 1970s with no problems...and that includes motocross and enduro race bikes that got run in very harsh dusty and muddy conditions.

 

Can't comment on the 550 but I recently fitted K & N's to my 355 and although there were no power gains the exhaust noise was much improved under acceleration from low revs.

You need a horsepower gain of at least 10% before you start to notice any improvements. K & N's alone won't give you anywhere near those figures

 

I was informed by Norwood that KN Airfilters need to be oiled, and this oil is blown on to the engine, which is not good.

 

They come ready to go without the need for any oiling.

Depending on the conditions where you drive the original factory coating should last about 3 years.
If you're concerned about re-oiling then the whole filter can be replaced as they're(relatively) inexpensive. The cost of disposing of a K &N every 3 years can't be much more than replacing stock filters annually

 

This issue has been talked to death on the Jag-lovers website for years. Bottom line, you won't feel any difference in power with the K&N's. Anyone who says they do is imagining it (the "placebo" effect). Several guys dynotested it, and there was no difference in HP at the rear wheels between K&N and the stock filters. The most anyone saw was barely 1 bhp. If you can feel a 1 hp difference on an already high performance car, you should sell your services to NASCAR or an F1 team.

Plus, several unofficial studies showed that K&Ns and other "high flow" filters allowed more and larger particals through and into the engine, i.e., you're letting more dirt through. Take a look at: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm His results are interesting. What you find is that air flow is only marginally improved, but the amount of dirt that gets through is significantly higher.

After everything I've read and seen, I'm sticking with the stock filters on all my cars. But hey, it's your engine.

 

Save Money...My God man have you gone insane??? PM me and I will send you the filter just so I can say BRUCE has one too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,
Travis

 

Graham - are you in Europe? Trying to understrand why K&N for 355 only available in Europe based on the chart. Where did you buy them from? Pls send me a PM.
Thnx n Rgds
FL

 

Actually, Rob has found in back to back tests on his 328 a 10hp increase with the K&N. I have seen dyno test showing both no increase and some small incremental increase (usually 3-5 hp)... I agree it probably increases some dirt into the engine (no free lunch)...but how significant is that to engine wear? I had one on my Honda Accord and it was still going strong with 165k miles on it when I sold it...oil changes where every 6k miles (Mobil 1).

 

Well, when it comes to Ferraris, the engines are very close tolerance, high revving, high performance engines. If more dirt gets in, that can't be good for the engine. I'd probably be willing to take a chance with a Honda Accord, or Toyota engine, but anything I can do to keep the Ferrari engine from wearing out prematurely is a good thing, IMHO.

I'll confess -- I've tried K&N filters before. Never saw any performance difference in the cars. I had hoped for a noticable difference in an XJS V-12, but didn't make a bit of difference. Think I'll save my money and my engine.

 

I know that this is a different ap and that caribou tested a 308 engine and noticed no HP increase but I installed a tubi and noticed a big increase in throttle response and after installing the K&N it just got noticably better, I have a carb engine which i think reponds differently than a FI one so you should take that into consideration, plus newer engines computers adjust for airflow etc?

As for dirt getting in there, after coming back from monterey and seeing 10 mil gtos with no air filters at in all that dirt and dust, I feel that the K&N offers some protection. I never drive the car in dusty or windy conditions so I guess I am not as concerned, however the seat of pants feel for me was significant. I would agree the stock one filters more as I could not even blow through the stock UFI filter at all....

Just my 2 cents

Rob

 

I consider K&N's claims of increased performance and gas mileage as poppycock, balderdash and unsubstantiated.

I bought a K&N filter for my 308 simply because I couldn't find a replacement for my OEM filter and it was cheaper ($55) than the quote I got from the local Ferrari dealer.

If the K&N filter increased horsepower by 20%, as they claim, certainly the manufacturer would've included it as standard equipment.

 

The K/N part number for the 550 is 33-2816 and can be purchased online from Summit Racing. The price is about 46 each 1/2 of what every one else sells the filters for.

Agree, no noticable power gain, but improved air intake for better exhaust note.

MB

http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=emanufacturerSearch%2Easp&N=100

 

Never rely on the buttometer.
K&N/BMC filters are worth over 15 rwhp on the 550. Did mine on the dyno, have the facts to back up the claim.
Having said that, no-one is going to feel 15hp on the street.
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21771&highlight=550+dyno

 

Ok, everybody has their own opinion. And mine is based in what I see, touch, etc.
1. I have personaly Flow benched the stock UNI and the K&N model. The UNI flowed 77% of the range tested on. The K&N was tested and flowed 86.5% of the same range.
2. In my decades of racing, I have been around off road types. EVERYONE there runs them. I build motors. I've been thru several of these off road motors after many races. I did not see any undue wear. As a builder, I know what a complete race ready Blown Big Block Chev Alky motor costs. A BIG bunch. Enought to buy lotsa filters. Do you think everyone is missing something out in the dirt? A bad filter rumor would have them elements flying in the air!
3.I run a Sportster model, adapted to the rear of my computer, so the fan pulls thru it. As the office is above the shop, I used to have problems with the dust inside the CPU. I don't have that problem anymore.
I guess that would qualify me to be in the "They are Good" group. Fine, I comfy there.

 

Don,
I have NEVER seen K&N claim a 20% hp increase (that would be an insane claim). The most I have seen claimed is 10% (which is still very optimistic) if you use their complete air intake system...rather than just a "drop in" replacement filter.

 

I do feel the different. When I had my 308, I enjoyed the car and never look at the air filter. So when time comes, I bought K&N. Then, I found out that my car got no air filter in it at all. Then, I put in K&N. Same performance. K&N VS nothing.......