K&N air filters - who's using them?
 

I was thinking about getting one for the MB. In gas engines the oil for the filter can cause problems with the electronics. Since I don't have any in the intake I am hoping there wouldn't be any issues.

Anyone here using these air filters?

dont use it, dont waste your time.

I have one and dont care for it. I'd imagine there was hundreds of other things in a 95 that could be "fixed" first before you needed more air.

In a perfect world, nobody.

The far worse filtration is not worth the small amount of power you would gain at high RPMs.

I was looking at replacing my 85 cali airbox with one of these.
It should filter better than K&N and flow better than stock

http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/pdfs/product_lit/americas_brochures/LT32599_05_optiair.pdf

Keep the Cali airbox. It's probably the best designed OE air filter setup MB designed for the OM617. No bracket breaking problem. Air flow isn't a problem with a MB turbo diesel, as they already ingest more than enough air needed for combustion.

Unfortunately its hard and expensive to get filters for it as it was used for only one year. As far as air flow I can pull a vacuum of 2 inches of mercury in my intake manifold with out the turbo. That is about a full psi pressure drop. I know the filter isn't all of the pressure drop but its part of it and I would like to reduce it.

Note: Since I have a turbo off of an OM603 I can disconnect the wastegate actuator which leaves the wastegate open and effectively removes the turbo's influence.

What don't you like about it?

The fix list is definitely long enough, but it is time to replace the air filter.

K&N I wouldn't
 

My "other" car is a Jag XJS V12. I researched K&N extensively for an air
cleaner modification I was doing. The Jag does need more air as opposed
to the MB diesel. What I found was most CLEAN stock paper elements
filter many times better with about the same air flow when clean, as the K&N. In most studies I found the K&N filter did give slightly better flow in
a WOT "racing" situation, at the expense of letting quite a bit more grit
into your engine. If used for racing, when you rebuild every season, no problem. Our diesels go say, half our lives before a rebuild :). Stick with stock. Anyone want to buy a set of XJS K&N filters cheap? Bought them
before I did a "google" on K&N.

I thought the way to get more power from a diesel was to add more FUEL not air? I always thought those filters were useless in diesels without anything else.

Scott

I have one on mine. :)

It does not. The airflow is still restricted flowing and changing directions through the compressor wheel, thats how you got your 2" of mercury restriction.

You need both.

Doesn't your 1995 have a MAF? If so your playing with fire putting and oiled K&N 6in from those thin elements...that will burn out if a little bit of dust gets on them.


IMHO you pay extra for a MB over a Chevy because they do it right, the factory designed the perfect airbox for that engine. It can already flow more air than your engine will ever consume, unless you plan on doing some mods. Throw in a nice German paper filter and use the K&N money for some new floor mats!:D

With the bigger diesels, IE, the PSD with a 7.3 displacement, I still would not run a K&N....
Normally, they are OK at best, but if cleaned wrong, they will not filter correctly.

IMO, they are not worth the money.

There may be another choice. Fram is making a washable filter that uses no oil and it cost less than the K&N type filters. I have no idea if they make it for Mercedes or not.
Also I have a K&N on my car. When I ask a question as to what other members were using other than the stock cleaner to wash there filter stired up a lot of controversy.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/212563-washing-k-n-air-filters.html?highlight=K%26amp%3BN+air+filters