K&N recharging filter question

[Cal Cruzer]

Which side to oil from is not an issue. As the instructions say, it just has to sit for a while to allow the oil to "wick" to all parts of the filter. I think the PT uses a speed density injection system to the following doesn't really apply, but on a mass air metered system, too much oil on the filter will end up on the heated element in the meter and will coat it and cause it to return bad readings to the computer causing stumbling and generaly poor performance. I saw this a lot in the mustang arena and people were always amazed at the difference cleaning the meter element would make. There is no need to over-oil these. Once the filter is red it is good enough. When I oiled mine I usede the squeeze bottle and just put a line down each rib of the filter. After sitting for 30 minutes or su the oil would wick to all areas of the filter.

[GregsPT]

From the K & N box

Performance Hints

Service every 50,000-100,000 miles on street driven applications.Service more in often in off-road or heavy dust conditions. Let the dirt "build-up" work for you. It will not hurt the performance and actually help filter the air.

Everybody think when it gets a little dirty you need to clean it but you don't want to clean it too often or you let small stuff thru the filter.

[H Roberts]

You are absolutely right. After reading up on the filter cleaning and your comments, I decided to wait. I only had about 30,000 miles on the filter. Thanks for the info.

[wagonmaster]

K&N's have served me well in several cars. We have one now in our other two cars. I only oil the side of the filter that gets the "dirty" air. Oiling the "clean" side is a waste of time, in my opinion. After washing the filter and allowing it to dry, I spray the "outside" with an even light coat of K&N filter oil. I can't wait more than 6,000 miles down here, we get too much sand. I don't wash and re-oil every time, but just "knock off" the offending sand and bugs, etc. Hope this helps.
Joe

[touringpro]

GregsPT is right. Leave the damn thing alone! The crud on the element will allow it to actually FILTER. I've run K&Ns in most of my engines (including the PT's) for years and always believed in them. Lately though, my thinking has changed. They do flow more air than conventional paper filters, but trap significantly less dirt - at least when freshly oiled - and preventing dirt from entering the motor is the whole point of the exercise.

It was pointed out to me that if a tablespoon of dirt in the intake is more than enough to destroy a 12 liter CAT truck engine, the PT's 4-banger would tolerate significantly less. The HP gains in most street engines equipped with K&N, Blackwing, and other similar filters are fairly insignificant too, so I plan to let 'em go until they get plenty filthy, and then go back to paper.

BTW - if you feel you have to reoil, do it on the outside and only enough to turn the pleats a light pink. It's not supposed to be soaking wet.