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Every car forum I've surfed seems to have some sort of heated discussion going about the K&N. I have no feeling one way or another... other than a completely personal one, which is that all I need is another routine maintenance item turned into a project (filter cleaning).
The fundamental problem here is that the all the R&D which "proves" it works fine is going to be from somebody with a vested interest in it, and nobody is going to spend the time and money to "prove" that it doesn't work (or damages engines, etc.). Any alleged damage reports are going to be anecdotal at best.
Bottom line is that you do whatever you're comfortable with. Oiled-cloth filters have been around since... well... somebody figured out that gasoline engines needed filters, but that doesn't make them the best solution, just "a solution".
The fundamental problem here is that the all the R&D which "proves" it works fine is going to be from somebody with a vested interest in it, and nobody is going to spend the time and money to "prove" that it doesn't work (or damages engines, etc.). Any alleged damage reports are going to be anecdotal at best.
Bottom line is that you do whatever you're comfortable with. Oiled-cloth filters have been around since... well... somebody figured out that gasoline engines needed filters, but that doesn't make them the best solution, just "a solution".
