K&N vs Stock Air Filter

The air filter in your vehicle’s engine is one of the most important parts. If you don’t have a clean and well-maintained air filter, it can cause serious damage to your engine and affect how it operates. This article will discuss the differences between K&N filters and stock filters so that you can decide which is right for you!

K&N vs Stock Table

Some noticeable differences between K&N and Stock air filter are mentioned below-

Stock Air Filter	K&N Air Filter
Filter material: Special grade of paper	Filter material: Cotton Gauze
Stock air filter has lower longevity and air supply capacity than K&N air filter	K&N air filter have larger pores that supply more air into the combustion chamber
Stock air filter are very easy to install and also very cheap	Installation can be completed in a matter of minutes & fit easily.
Circle shaped	Air filter shape: Round
Most of the stock air filter function well for about 12000- 15000 miles	Most of the stock air filter function well for about 50000 miles
Widely used all over the world for its average service almost in all types of cars	Best for specialized car with to scope with high horsepower.
Small pores	Large pores
Check the Price on Amazon	Check the Price on Amazon

Why Compare?

The main difference between K&N and Stock Air Filter is that the stock air filter is made up of paper which blocks dirt but restricts airflow. K&N Air Filter on other hand does not restrict airflow, but it does not affect dirt. To make things simple, a K&N air filter is better than a stock air filter.

Car engine gains energy from the combustion process. Pure air is the main element for combustion. That means the continuous supply of air in the combustion chamber is necessary. Contaminated air can interfere in burning fuel and thus can cause temporary or permanent engine failure.

There are different types of air filters manufactured by various companies. Sometimes, the difference between two air filters is very significant. Sometimes, it’s not so. That’s why it is necessary to understand the specification’s variation within air filters. It helps to get an idea about the appropriate air filter for a particular car.

Functionality:

As the engine requires fresh air for burning fuel in the combustion chamber, the air filter removes impurity of the air. But making an air filter is a tricky task. The pore size of the air filter determines the perfection of the cleaning process. The smaller the pores, the fresher the air will be.

But having small pores can reduce the air supply to the engine thus decreasing fuel burning. On the other hand, a large pored air filter can supply more air but can’t filter dust and other impurities. These impurities are stored in the engine and consequently cause engine failure.

Filter Material:

The most noticeable difference between K&N and Stock air filters is the filter material. Material of filter determines filtration capacity of an air filter. The stock air filter is composed of a superior grade of the paper which is totally different from writing papers. This paper comprises large pores but can stuck dirt effectively. It may look flimsy. Its effectiveness actually remains unchanged if we keep changing it regularly.

On the contrary, K&N air filters are composed of gauze cotton. This filter is more porous than a Stock air filter. Thus, the K&N air filter can provide more air to the combustion chamber and increase the energy supply to the engine. But these large pores are less effective in filtering dust and particulate matters from the air.

Cost:

As a Stock air filter is a paper filter, it has a very simple configuration. So, the Stock air filter costs not much. The average price of a Stock air filter ranges from 10 to 30 dollars. It’s very reasonable and affordable.

K&N air filter has been designed with cotton gauze to provide more air to the combustion engine. The price of a K&N air filter starts from 40 dollars. Its upper range of price can be too expensive to afford. The stock air filter is widely used for its cheapness. Moreover, it is easy to install in the vehicle.

Longevity:

Generally, a car or car part’s longevity is measured in years or miles driven. K&N air filter lasts much longer than a stock air filter. For having a specialized structure, the K&N air filter lasts for 50000 miles. So, just install a K&N air filter and then you don’t need to worry about its replacement for a long time.

On the contrary, the Stock air filter lacks behind in its longevity compared with the K&N air filter. Most of the stock air filters function well for about 12000- 15000 miles. But it has an advantage. It’s very easy to install in the vehicle. Anyone can install it anytime which also saves labor costs. Check out another article on Spectre vs k&n Air Filter here.

Which Air Filter Is Better?

It’s a million dollars question. But there is no obvious answer to this question. It actually depends on the car’s capacity and energy capability. Moreover, it also depends on the buyer’s affordability.

K&N air filters have larger pores that supply more air into the combustion chamber. A higher supply of air increases the engine’s power thus creating more torque and horsepower. But if the car is not specialized to scope with high horsepower, the K&N air filter will not be useful.

In that case, excessive power will deposit more dust and debris in the combustion chamber instead of increasing power. That will eventually result in engine failure temporarily or permanently. The stock air filter has lower longevity and air supply capacity than the K&N air filter. Still, it’s widely used all over the world for its average service almost in all types of cars.

Moreover, Stock air filter are very easy to install and also very cheap. As the majority of people have simple conditioned cars, the stock air filter is chosen by them. So, if you don’t have a high-functioning car then K&N is of no use. Just install a stock air filter.

But installing a K&N air filter in a sports car can give you an extraordinary experience of speed and power. This article reflects clearly that there is no large difference between K&N and Stock air filters. So, just be sure which one you want to install and appropriate for your car, grab that one and enjoy your ride.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)