K&N air filters for my 2015 Genesis 5.0

[Alfer]

Posts like above remind me of th Audio "tweak" threads in audio/video forums. Folks lift their cable on wooden blocks and suddenly their systems opens wide up and the system sounds totally "amazing!". Or they clean their cd's or dvd's with some magical cleaner and suddenly the sound "comes alive!" and is so much robust than before cleaning.

Oh I'm sure having possibly cleaner air and a bit more fresh air will help a touch, but no human will be able to perceive those tiny differences, it's all in their minds. I think it's called perceived bias?

 

[Gen127]

Posts like above remind me of th Audio "tweak" threads in audio/video forums. Folks lift their cable on wooden blocks and suddenly their systems opens wide up and the system sounds totally "amazing!"

Wooden blocks are so yesterday! Today's audiophile 'in-the-know' wouldn't settle for anything less than a set or two of dedicated 'cable towers' guaranteed to unlock all the subtle nuances hidden within your hi-end audio system!

6moons audio reviews: Dedicated Audio Cable Tower

 

[carguy75]

LOL. Hence why I will do a real test on the drag track to see if the car really moves quicker than publicized 1/4 mile times.

Numbers never lie, however like mentioned acceleration sensation can be wrong I admit.

My car still "feel" faster than when it did with the old filters, however by how much is the true question.

 

[Alfer]

Even at the track there are so many variables it will be pretty much impossible to "prove" anything. Now if you have some high tech test machines to hook up to the car and do and A vs. B test with EXACT same criteria, that MAY show what if any changes exist. But a night at the races is no different than the audio "tweaks" I mentioned earlier.

 

[carguy75]

Wooden blocks are so yesterday! Today's audiophile 'in-the-know' wouldn't settle for anything less than a set or two of dedicated 'cable towers' guaranteed to unlock all the subtle nuances hidden within your hi-end audio system!
View attachment 14400
6moons audio reviews: Dedicated Audio Cable Tower

LOL. You never know. Some ears are more sensitive to nuisances than others hence why someone will be happy with a $100 receiver and standard speakers and someone else prefer a $1000 receiver with equally expensive matching speakers.

Because you believe there is not a difference do not mean the person is wrong.

The same goes for changes in an engine performance.

However, I know that people will only feel better if they tell someone that it is a waste to do something because they just know everything. You believe it will not happen therefore what someone else perceive is not real, because you think you know for a fact that it can not happen.

 

[Alfer]

But for fun your best bet will be to have a friend swap filters while you are not anywhere in site, then you drive, swap again, drive, swap again...etc. Then you guess which filter was in use, I bet most of time you won't have a clue and will at best just be able to take a random guess.

 

[carguy75]

Even at the track there are so many variables it will be pretty much impossible to "prove" anything. Now if you have some high tech test machines to hook up to the car and do and A vs. B test with EXACT same criteria, that MAY show what if any changes exist. But a night at the races is no different than the audio "tweaks" I mentioned earlier.

Hey I get it, you do not believe that a performance filter will not generate any measurable gains.

However, I do believe that my engine is noticeably quicker with the performance filters. If you really do not think that a filter will make a different then save your money and time. However, please do not have the nerve to tell me what I can and can not perceive in my own car due to your own personal bias.

If my car does runs a time that is less than 13.4 in the quarter mile then I will be satisfied with the filter results overall.

I am not working for a magazine that will conduct extensive testing. If the car feel like it is quicker and the time reflect what have been established for the car then it good enough for me.

 

[carguy75]

But for fun your best bet will be to have a friend swap filters while you are not anywhere in site, then you drive, swap again, drive, swap again...etc. Then you guess which filter was in use, I bet most of time you won't have a clue and will at best just be able to take a random guess.

Too much trouble. Have you changed the filters in this car? Believe what you want, but the filter make a difference.

My goal is not to convince you that it does. Again believe what you want.

 

[Alfer]

Well you just spent $50+ on some new "performance" filters, of course you're going to perceive that your car is quicker, it's human nature to do so.

You're brain doesn't have the ability to memorize the exact feel of the car with old filters compared to new. It's just you're brain saying "these are performance filters, so I get the sense they are working". Odds are if a friend secretly swapped out your filters you'd get in the car and still claim how "quick" the car is, even when it's just the old filters. The human brain is a tricky and amazing thing.

Not really faulting you for it.

 

[carguy75]

Well you just spent $50+ on some new "performance" filters, of course you're going to perceive that your car is quicker, it's human nature to do so.

You're brain doesn't have the ability to memorize the exact feel of the car with old filters compared to new. It's just you're brain saying "these are performance filters, so I get the sense they are working". Odds are if a friend secretly swapped out your filters you'd get in the car and still claim how "quick" the car is, even when it's just the old filters. The human brain is a tricky and amazing thing.

Not really faulting you for it.

Again, wrong. I personally will complain if i do not feel that a product works. Just because I purchased a product does not mean I am not obligated to feel anything positive about it. I could actually return the filters to Amazon.com if I really is not happy with them.

My car actually feel quicker, which is what I want so I am happy with the results.

The question is why are you so determined to disprove my observations about the filter performance? Did you actually do any of the back to back testing of the filters on the 5.0 engine to reinforce your claims that the filter does not work? Hell, did you even install the K&N filters in your engine at all?

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[Gen127]

Because you believe there is not a difference do not mean the person is wrong. The same goes for changes in an engine performance.

I've spent years testing and listening to what is considered 'audiophile quality' equipment to recognize 'snake oil' material so yes, I'm quite skeptical of certain pricey 'add-ons' that yield results that are often not verifiable.
With regards to engine performance, I'm anxious to see your results with the k&n filters. Call me skeptical, but I've seen reviews that span both sides (pro/contrary) from many users of these filters.

 

[carguy75]

I've spent years testing and listening to what is considered 'audiophile quality' equipment to recognize 'snake oil' material so yes, I'm quite skeptical of certain pricey 'add-ons' that yield results that are often not verifiable.
With regards to engine performance, I'm anxious to see your results with the k&n filters. Call me skeptical, but I've seen reviews that span both sides (pro/contrary) from many users of these filters.

Truth be told; I am not sold on the need for audiophile equipment, but I do notice a difference between low end speakers with low grade crossovers and speakers with very good quality crossovers. However, I would not say that a "add-on" is useful or not until I try it myself. Could make a difference or could not.

My point is that I will never tell anyone that it does not make a difference as a fact until I try it myself. I will state that I do not believe that it would make a difference, but not tell anyone it is a waste of time and money if I really have not tried it.

This thread purpose is only to detail my experience with the K&N air filters on the 2015 5.0 engine.

If anyone believes that my observation false, they they can also buy the filters and judge for themselves if the filters make any noticeable difference to them and log it.

Yet, the problem is that many members will give their opinions without even using the filter in this engine. Or do not provide any proof that they used it even if they say they have. People stretch the truth on forums to get their point across sometimes.

I provide proof that I use the filters and eventually time slips to show the results.

Now, if anyone has proof that the filters do not provide any useful gain on this 5.0 engine then I am open to see it.

 

[inmanlanier]

Gen 127 and Alfer - you're missing the point. He's happy. That's great. It was a small investment of his that has brought him great joy. Let him love his new filters.

 

[dareckibmw]

I had the K&N air filter installed in my BMW e39 540i/6 MT... it was the only car that I could tell the engine was breathing better, little louder (you could actually hear it) and the car felt faster. I just loved it. But it didn't really feel like that on my '13 Rspec 5.0 or '15 5.0

If you really think that your car is that much quicker/faster now, prove it, show me dyno sheet before and after K&N air filters installed. I bet, it won't gain more than 4-7hp.

After all, it's your car. Do what you like with it

 

[carguy75]

I had the K&N air filter installed in my BMW e39 540i/6 MT... it was the only car that I could tell the engine was breathing better, little louder (you could actually hear it) and the car felt faster. I just loved it. But it didn't really feel like that on my '13 Rspec 5.0 or '15 5.0

If you really think that your car is that much quicker/faster now, prove it, show me dyno sheet before and after K&N air filters installed. I bet, it won't gain more than 4-7hp.

After all, it's your car. Do what you like with it

I will not spend money on a dyno test just to prove that I feel that my engine is running better with a performance filter. However, I will do a few runs at the local drag track to see if the published 1/4 mile times improve.

I will not even attempt to say what you should have felt or not on your cars, but I know what it feels like for my car.

All said and done is that my 2015 does feels like it runs stronger with the K&N filters in my car. Could you show me some proof that you installed the filter in your car. Did you have a thread on the old cars that highlighted the install and lack of results? Possibly with dyno numbers?

 

[dareckibmw]

I'm pretty sure I posted it already somewhere, but it was easier for me, to find and post the picture of it.

No, I didn't bother with the dyno numbers, as I already knew the gain of HP might be so small to none, not worth it to spend 100-200 bucks to prove it, just like you said.

 

[carguy75]

I'm pretty sure I posted it already somewhere, but it was easier for me, to find and post the picture of it.

No, I didn't bother with the dyno numbers, as I already knew the gain of HP might be so small to none, not worth it to spend 100-200 bucks to prove it, just like you said.

Thank you. I like to see some proof that someone actually installed a product before taking them too seriously. The pic is good enough for me.

We may have different experiences with the filter performance depending on how old/dirty our filters were when we changed them. My stock filters were about three years old and very dirty as per the pictures I posted, therefore my engine was probably not running at it best before the K&N filters were installed hence more perceptible gains in my engine.

I assume that your filters were not as dirty since it seems like you traded both of your previous Genesis cars after about two years of owning them, so your engines were most likely running better than mine when you swapped the filters.

A 10 or 20hp flywheel gain will not be a huge leap in performance for a 420hp engine, however it would be more responsive to throttle input which is very noticeable if the engine was not running at it best to begin with.

Hence why I will test my car performance at the track. If my car still do a 1/4 time of about 13.6 or 13.5 then engine performance with K&N would be negligible besides a better throttle response.

If this car can break 13.4 or quicker then the performance filters most differently help. 10 to 20hp flywheel gains with only net about a 1/10th or so reduction in time in the 1/4 mile.

 

[dareckibmw]

I always take good care of my cars, even though I don't keep them longer than 2-3 years, both Genesis had about 20k on the clock when I trade them for a new one.
You're correct - OEM air filters were pretty much like new, not dirty when I switched to K&N, hence I wasn't able to see much of the difference in performance.

I snapped a few pics since I still have those old air filters from '13 and '15, lol

 

[carguy75]

I always take good care of my cars, even though I don't keep them longer than 2-3 years, both Genesis had about 20k on the clock when I trade them for a new one.
You're correct - OEM air filters were pretty much like new, not dirty when I switched to K&N, hence I wasn't able to see much of the difference in performance.

I snapped a few pics since I still have those old air filters from '13 and '15, lol
View attachment 14413View attachment 14414View attachment 14415

Damn, those are some clean filters almost like new. Well, that would explain why the K&N made should a noticeable difference in my car and not yours.

LOL. I also keep my old filters and parts from cars I do not own anymore stashed in the basement. I am a auto part hoarder.

 

[sidewinder1]

i have k&n in the 15 v6 previous owner installed. i'm debating if i should replace it with stock filter after reading this.

K&N Air Filter Review - Debunking the Myths (and why OEM is better)

"Compared to the AC, the K&N “plugged up” nearly 3 times faster, passed 18 times more dirt and captured 37% less dirt. "