Air cleaner question

[Michael]

It has been said that the oil from the K&N air filters can foul the MAP sensors on our engines which are not easy or inexpensive to replace.

Has anyone experienced this?

Wasn't a board member also producing an aftermarket filter?

GM, your thoughts?

[Michael]

[metzger]

Check the unofficial M5 website for plenty of examples of this problem with e39 M5's (same engine & drivetrain).

MMike Metzger
2002 Z8 (silver/black)
2006 650 sport coupe (silver gray/chateau)

[Z8Bob]

Oil coated filters, unless properly prepared, can give off minute oil particles which can foul the MAF sensors, causing the car to go into “limp-mode.” Z8 Andy at one time made filters for the Z8 and the E39 M5. He owns the leading helicopter air filtration company and used that technology to create filters for his own cars (and a few of us fortunate enough to have bought them). He retailed them for a few months, and realized that being in the aftermarket car parts business was a distraction.

The issue usually arises when the filter is cleaned and then recoated. If a little is good, more must be better! NOT. When in doubt, use dry filters.

[Michael]

There might still be a few available?

[Z8Andy]

Wetted cotton filter elements are great for more airflow over a longer period of time. Their capture rate is not quite as good as paper but they breathe a lot better. What gets through them in comparison to a paper element would never harm your engine.
The trick to making these filters not have the problems that are associated with other wetted filters, is that the pleats are far deeper than automotive wetted filters. I developed an M5 / Z8 filter and enjoy them with great success. The pleats on a standard automotive filter I think are something like 1/2 inch deep, and mine are 1 and ¾ inches deep. This allowed me also to achieve far more surface area than an automotive filter. The oil contaminating the mass airflow sensor is caused by too much oil being applied to the filter when initially set up for use.
The filters that I made were pre-oiled with an exact amount metered on them, then their temperature was raised to about 140 degrees, and then high velocity air was flowed through them to make sure no oil of any kind left the filter. I have been running a set in my M5 / E39 for 47,000 miles with no issues. My Z8 with about 10,000 miles on them has no issues, and my X5 4.6 with them has had no issues for about 60,000 miles.
The reason I stopped making them is because as ‘Z8 Bob’ predicted, I hated retail and frankly, I don’t trust the automotive consumer. There was no doubt in my mind that some moron would try to service the filter improperly and re-oil it using enough oil to fill up the Exxon Valdez, and then come after me to replace his mass airflow sensor.
The other problem with this filter was they were truly hand made and hand set up like aircraft parts. They were really expensive to get them in a box to a consumer.

[Michael]

About not selling them any longer. Should one worry about the quantity of oil that K&N applies at the factory prior to selling to the consumer?

[Z8mania]

I think I have about 5,000 miles with zero issues.

[Wldeyefoto]

I have a spare set available if you're interested and Z8Andy has offered to give them a complete check-up before you receive them. Just let me know.Grease Monkey

[Wldeyefoto]

I have a spare set available if you're interested and Z8Andy has generously offered to give them a complete check-up before sending them to you. Just let me know.Grease Monkey

[Michael]

Yes I will take them, just let me know how you wish to proceed

[Wldeyefoto]

E-mail me at wldeyefoto@aol.com and we'll figure it out.Grease Monkey