Retail, yes - the last one I bought was $30. I doubt that the foam element
will last more than 4-5 yrs, and not the 1,000,000 miles K&N warantees, but
who keeps a car that long?
So, Although I think the K&N would outlast the Amsoil,
it's academic because I don't keep a car more than 4 years - I find that I
can buy a quite decent car (the Mk VIII is doubtless the best car I ever
owned, and it was a little over $4,000), and I will get the 4 years out of
it.
So, the better deal for me, if it performs as described, is the Amsoil over
those 4 years, but I already have a K&N. Next car, Amsoil. The refill oil is
cheaper as well.
Interesting, because you can get deals on used cars these days that are
really phenomenal. And just as the Amsoil is a better deal for me, saving up
the cash to buy a used car that is just at the point where its no longer
financeable (it was 100,000 miles for the Lincoln - financing is hard to get
for that car. But it you've saved the cash, you get a used $45,000 car for
less than 10% of its original value. There's something to say about that in
terms of financing a new car that's nowhere in the same class as the used,
but costs a minimum of 4x what the used does, plus interest.
It costs me $100/mo to save for my next car, with low insurance payments on
this one because it's used and not being financed. It's also expendable - I
don't expect to resell it, but toss it.
It's about expendability these days because the technology is constantly and
rapidly changing.
Next one will be an Amsoil - it's a slightly better deal all around, but
won't last a lot of years. I guess you could say that K&N's warranty is
"old school."
David Reid said:
Michael,
The Amsoil Air Filters are typically half the price of K&N Air
Filters. You made some valid points about Cummins' motivation for its
reccomendations against the K&N filter, thanks for the feed back.
Regards,
David
Not recommending something is not the same thing as coming out against
something. Coming out against something would be to warn aginst its use and
actually recommend against it. That's not what's being said here.
"Does DaimlerChrysler authorize the use of high-flow aftermarket air filters
such as K&N with my Cummins engine?
No. DaimlerChrysler and Cummins do not recommend the use of increased flow
air filters such as K&N, because they can allow contaminants into the intake
that can ruin an engine (scoring the sides of the pistons, etc.)
(That doesn't just mean K&N - it means ANY high-flow filters.)
Indeed it is - but we live in a world where companies have to PAY
supermarket chains for competitive shelf space locations for their
products. Is it possible that those engine companies, who have their own
deals with filter companies, are playing a similar game with aftermarket
products that are in competition with the filter companies they alreay have
deals with?
I can only speak of my own experience with K&N, but I don't drive anything
with a Cummins diesel in it. The K&N air filters I use don't void engine
warranties for the cars they're built as exact fit substitutes for.
I wonder if Cummins would refuse to authorize a unit that used 2 of their
standard filters in one unit for the particular engine that filter was
designed for - it would be a high flow filter.
In my own experience with K&Ns, what they use as an excuse for not
authorizing filters like K&N has never happened. You'll note that they say
contamination >>can<< take place. That doesn't mean it >>does<<.
Standard filters >>can<< also allow contaminants in -
I don't see any mileage warranties for clean, contaminant free air on ANY
filter from ANY company. Period.
They do tests with new filters - all of them - they don't give results after
driving 10,000 miles. They NEVER warranty filters against passing
contaminants, do they?
They say something about a percentage of contaminants filtered, but that's
using a brand spanking new filter - not one that's been "rode hard and put
away wet." But then, those people who DO ride their filters hard and put
them away wet, people in racing, swear by K&N all over the world. People
like those who race in the Paris-Dakar rally.
Kind of makes one think twice about endorsements and non-authorizations from
manufacturers who have vested interests, like Cummins.
It's all smoke and mirrors as far as I see - my liking of K&N comes from
using them, and I wouldn't be the least bit hesitant about using an Amsoil
filter either, except for the price difference.
OH (M D)
[/QUOTE]
http://www.cummins.com/na/pages/en/....cfm?uuid=00060D72-0093-1B8D-BCF080C4A8F00000
