Paper vs K&N

To meet minimum filtration standards, paper air filters must be thick and/or the fibers must be tightly compressed and dense. Therefore paper elements that provide adequate filtration are more restrictive to air flow by design. Additionally, as a paper filter becomes more and more clogged, the pressure inside the filter drops while the atmospheric air pressure (approximately 14.7 psia at sea level) outside the filter remains the same. It’s like using your lungs to draw the air out of a plastic milk bottle. When the pressure differential becomes too great, the bottle will collapse. The same thing could happen to your paper filter, although it is unlikely. But what will happen could be just as severe. An excessively high pressure differential created by a restricted filter can literally pull dirt particles through the paper medium. In other words, the performance of a paper filter, i.e. air flow through the filter and its ability to protect your engine, DECREASES near the end of its service interval.



Disposable Paper Air Filter

1. 
   Pleated wood pulp bonded together.
2. 
   As dirt builds, passages are plugged and filter must be replaced in approximately 10,000 miles.
3. 
   Irregular passages filter out dirt on a go/no go basis.
4. 
   As fibers swell from moisture or oil blow-by vacuum pressure increases and airflow decreases.
5. 
   Turbulent filtered air.

Typical Foam Air Filter

1. 
   Lack of surface area hinders air flow and dirt holding capacity. Open cell foam usually saturated with oil.
2. 
   Dirt builds on outside and blocks the openings.
3. 
   Higher vacuum pressures distort the cells drawing dirt deeper into the filter.
4. 
   Airflow is reduced as cells become blocked.
5. 
   Turbulent filtered air.
   

K&N vs. Disposable Filter Life

Stop Throwing Away Your Air Filter!One K&N air filter will last the life of your vehicle. Assuming you drive your vehicle 150,000 miles and bought and installed a disposable filter every 15,000 miles, you would throw away 10 disposable air filters.