Has anyone done any experimenting with aftermarket air filters?

luvtoride · Sep 16, 2015

I am sure this has been discussed at some point. Cannot find. A search didn't show much of anything but info on K&N air filters. I'm not interested in info on those. I'd like to know about the cheaper alternatives like the Hi-Flow brand. Are they really high flow? suggestions maybe? ridicule maybe?

Richouse · Sep 16, 2015

I think you will find that most people here don't really like the hi flow filters a whole lot. They just don't filter the air as good and if you use a K&N (or like) it will leave a oily residue in the throttle body. With 145 factory hp and since it is not a race bike, I think that might be enough for the avg. person. I would like a little more but...

luvtoride · Sep 16, 2015

I didn't think that the HiFlo Filtro had oil in the filter. It isn't a paper cartridge like OEM? Edited... I see they indeed do use oil. Are there paper filters available that folks use? I'm just exploring to see if there is alternatives. I have always used OEM air filters up to this point. Edited again: I think that I was looking @ the

Queensland Ken · Sep 16, 2015

My 9 year experiment has been working well, the same K&N has been in 3 FJR's.

Recently bought an 08 from a mate with 190K kms

He had installed a K&N, surprised how clean the throttle bodies were.

RossKean · Sep 16, 2015

Why are you considering an alternate filter? Might save a few dollars but the OEM lasts a long time if you are not in a dusty or excessively wet environment. I check mine once or twice per year and blow it out with compressed air. I probably replace every 40,000 miles or so - pretty cheap. You will not see a perceptible performance improvement with any aftermarket filter.

s.ga.rider · Sep 16, 2015

Only experience I have had is in my truck. I put a k&n in for several thousand miles and when i would check it I had dust in the pipe past the filter. It was properly serviced and charged so after seeing that I was done with them.

redzgrider · Sep 16, 2015

https://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html

rushes · Sep 16, 2015

I've got a brand new K&N you can have for free if you want to try it Heidi. Just needs the special oil.

rbentnail · Sep 17, 2015

I live/ride in a fairly dusty and spring pollen-infested area. When I say infested, I mean every spring morning there's at least 1/8" of pollen on the vehicles.

That said, I change my air filter at the beginning of every summer. I've used OEM, Uni, Emgo and HiFlo. IMHO all are comparable for filtering. All fit as well as OEM. Prices (like tires) are seasonal so when ordering something else from a distributor I always look to see if one is on sale. All 3 can usually be had for ~$15 at the right time so I just tack it onto an order.

No, the HiFlo does not use oil.

The Gen II Bin O' Facts lists the part numbers for the non-OEM filters.

EDIT: I didn't understand the idea that a HiFlo filter would require oil until I re-read some posts. To differentiate:

High flow filters that pass more air prolly require oiling. HiFlo is a brand, HiFlo Filtro, of paper-type filter similar to the OEM.

Pterodactyl · Sep 17, 2015

K&N I took off a friend's R1200RT; had about 5000 miles on the filter. Any claimed performance boost by K&N is due to the increase in air flow that is gained by reducing filtration. It all comes down to filtering surface area. The K&N is much thinner than the OEM and has much less filtering surface. In this case I can only guess that the K&N was over oiled. I've now been servicing the bike this came off of for 4 years with an OEM filter installed. I've replaced the OEM filter once because the owner wanted to do so. The OEM filter would remain serviceable for at least 20,000 miles if occasionally cleaned with compressed air. I think searching around for an alternative to the OEM filter is "pennywise and pound foolish".

rbentnail · Sep 17, 2015

Pterodactyl said:
I think searching around for an alternative to the OEM filter is "pennywise and pound foolish".

I guess it all comes down to what's available to you. We've (the collective "we) have had this discussion many times. I have no dealership within 45 minutes of me. The closest ones are idiots. The 2nd closest broke **** on my bike. In 8 yrs neither of them have ever once had the OEM filter in stock. If I have to order one anyway why should I pay twice as much to companies/dealerships I despise? Just my $0.02.

There are alternatives, bin o' facts lists them.

luvtoride · Sep 17, 2015

Thanks everyone!

Walter · Sep 17, 2015

I will never run anything except a OEM style paper filter usually on any vehicle except when longevity of engine life is less important to me than need for air flow. Manny tests have shown from several sources that altho paper style filters aren't exciting or have some restriction over aftermarket foam or gauze filters nothing does a better job than paper. Part of the appeal of the FJR for me is its ability to last many many miles and clean air vs dirty air can affect this on any internal combustion engine. In the end its up to you but unless there's is some benefit in it I just cant see using anything else.

Good read about the subject on the nissan forums but still relevant IMHO

900gc · Sep 18, 2015

I bought my '08 used about 4 years ago with 14k miles from a TENN. dealer. The previous owner had put in a K&N air filter at some point. I noticed that the PO had done much riding in an area with a fine red dust by the amount built up in areas that aren't reached with normal washing. Having done research on K&N, etal. filters in the past and reading many of Uselesspickles posts on this forum, I knew I wanted to put in an OEM filter so ordered one up on ebay for a good price.

When I pulled the K&N, I found the fine red dust had left a gritty film down stream into the throttle bodies. The K&N was oiled and installed correctly so that was not the issue, it simply did not filter that fine dust well.

Most all of my riding with the FJR is in a low dust environment (minus the spring tree pollen) so when I pulled the OEM filter to blow out with about 16K of use, it was still pretty clean and down stream into the throttle bodies was spotless. I would guess the HiFlo, etc. OEM type brands probably works as well as the OEM.

NMRoadRunner · Sep 18, 2015

The only problem with K&N's is they over clean and oil it. Been running one for 8 years on the FJR and the intake is as clean as a "Safeway Chittlin" and compression is better than when I first checked it in 08. I have found zero downside to the K&N set up, and still have an almost full bottle of cleaner and full can of oil on the shelf.

Bounce · Sep 18, 2015

chazglenn3 · Sep 18, 2015

If someone wants to take rushes up on the offer of the free K&N filter, I have a only used once cleaning /oiling kit that I would be happy to donate. My previous Honda V65 Magna had a K&N filter because Honda quit making the paper filter.

FJR Flyer · Sep 18, 2015

Been running a Uni foam filter for quite a while. No residue in the box. No issues I can point to.

Pterodactyl · Sep 18, 2015

NMRoadRunner said:
The only problem with K&N's is they over clean and oil it. Been running one for 8 years on the FJR and the intake is as clean as a "Safeway Chittlin" and compression is better than when I first checked it in 08. I have found zero downside to the K&N set up, and still have an almost full bottle of cleaner and full can of oil on the shelf.

FJR Flyer said:
Been running a Uni foam filter for quite a while. No residue in the box. No issues I can point to.

I think it is the stuff you cannot see that is the issue. Ah well, to each their own. Who knows, my OEM filter may be riddled with carcinogens.

Has anyone done any experimenting with aftermarket air filters?

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