K&N Air Filter Causeing CEL!
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
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2006 C230 & 2002 C230
K&N Air Filter Causeing CEL!
Yep.
As soon as I installed a pair of K&N reusuable (drop-in-type) air filters in my 06 C230 a bunch of different Check Engine Lights started to come on:
> Too lean
> Misfiring
> Cat related
I don't believe it's the oil on the K&N filter causing the CELs. Maybe too much airflow or something that my MB doesn't like. I reinstalled back the oem paper filters and NO MORE CEL ever! I didn't do anything else (like cleaning MAF sensor).
I'm sure other members have posted similar experience with K&N here.
Does anybody want to buy a pair of almost new K&N air filters at a real good price?
As soon as I installed a pair of K&N reusuable (drop-in-type) air filters in my 06 C230 a bunch of different Check Engine Lights started to come on:
> Too lean
> Misfiring
> Cat related
I don't believe it's the oil on the K&N filter causing the CELs. Maybe too much airflow or something that my MB doesn't like. I reinstalled back the oem paper filters and NO MORE CEL ever! I didn't do anything else (like cleaning MAF sensor).
I'm sure other members have posted similar experience with K&N here.
Does anybody want to buy a pair of almost new K&N air filters at a real good price?
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
People have had mixed results. I've been fine with mine for several years now.
Sh*it happens. At least you were able to get it back to running normally afterwards.
Sh*it happens. At least you were able to get it back to running normally afterwards.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2011
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2006 C230 & 2002 C230
I'm sure different engines/cars react differently...
Our family have 3 other cars (Mustang GT, Escalade & Celica GTS) which all have had the same type drop-in style K&N filter for years and none of them has experienced the Check Engine Light. Then my 06 C230 started acting up in less than a week from having the K&N filters!
Our family have 3 other cars (Mustang GT, Escalade & Celica GTS) which all have had the same type drop-in style K&N filter for years and none of them has experienced the Check Engine Light. Then my 06 C230 started acting up in less than a week from having the K&N filters!
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I don't like K&N air filters but how far did you drive after you fitted them. It takes a while for the MAF et al to settle down to lower air flow restriction which is why you are showing lean. The differential across the media of a pleated paper filter vs. a K&N is quite substantial. The car is designed to run with a high efficiency paper filter.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jan 4, 2014 at 10:46 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2011
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2006 C230 & 2002 C230
The CEL came on during the first week but I kept resetting it for next 3 weeks hoping it would stop by itself. But it never did. What really made me to go back to the paper filter was that the car lost substantial power going up a slight hill on highway. I didn't want to lose too much vehicle speed (because there were other cars behind me), so I stepped on the gas pedal harder to maintain the current speed(65 mph). Then the A/T downshifted by itself (which is normal) and the engine rpm almost shot up close to the red line! I went up the same hill many many times before and something like that never happened before when the paper filters were in. Oh, the Check Engine Light was actually flashing for several seconds when the power loss occurred (but never remained on).
When you say differential, meaning volume of air passing through?
Paper filter has higher efficiency (than K&N filter) in what?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
The problem I observe with K&N is that the seal around the edge is not as puffy as the Mann+Hummel product. It does not fit well and allows unfiltered air to pass through. That is a bit like sandblasting the platinum off the MAF pellet.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
About a month or 1,200 miles. I think that's more than a while...
The CEL came on during the first week but I kept resetting it for next 3 weeks hoping it would stop by itself. But it never did. What really made me to go back to the paper filter was that the car lost substantial power going up a slight hill on highway. I didn't want to lose too much vehicle speed (because there were other cars behind me), so I stepped on the gas pedal harder to maintain the current speed(65 mph). Then the A/T downshifted by itself (which is normal) and the engine rpm almost shot up close to the red line! I went up the same hill many many times before and something like that never happened before when the paper filters were in. Oh, the Check Engine Light was actually flashing for several seconds when the power loss occurred (but never remained on).
OK ~ That should have been more than enough for the system to adjust
Bit confused.
When you say differential, meaning volume of air passing through?
The pressure drop across the filter media (think of it as restriction to airflow)
Paper filter has higher efficiency (than K&N filter) in what?
It filters better than the K&N while being a low restriction filter as paper element filters go.
The CEL came on during the first week but I kept resetting it for next 3 weeks hoping it would stop by itself. But it never did. What really made me to go back to the paper filter was that the car lost substantial power going up a slight hill on highway. I didn't want to lose too much vehicle speed (because there were other cars behind me), so I stepped on the gas pedal harder to maintain the current speed(65 mph). Then the A/T downshifted by itself (which is normal) and the engine rpm almost shot up close to the red line! I went up the same hill many many times before and something like that never happened before when the paper filters were in. Oh, the Check Engine Light was actually flashing for several seconds when the power loss occurred (but never remained on).
OK ~ That should have been more than enough for the system to adjust
Bit confused.
When you say differential, meaning volume of air passing through?
The pressure drop across the filter media (think of it as restriction to airflow)
Paper filter has higher efficiency (than K&N filter) in what?
It filters better than the K&N while being a low restriction filter as paper element filters go.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Unless serviced very regularly the K&N filters spend much of their life filtering sub optimally.
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2006 CL203 C160 Sport
K&N should only be used on old cars with the Vane Meter type if its a daily driver.
K&N + Hot wire = no go. Even if you removed it, check your intake tubing for oil residue, it will eventually find the way into your MAF and possibly/probably kill it.
I have done it myself - twice (BMW 520 and Volvo 240 turbo)
Funny thing is K&N is still trying to deny this issue..
Even if you run it and your MAF survives, be aware of their limited efficiency when it comes down to filtration.
http://home.roadrunner.com/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm
K&N + Hot wire = no go. Even if you removed it, check your intake tubing for oil residue, it will eventually find the way into your MAF and possibly/probably kill it.
I have done it myself - twice (BMW 520 and Volvo 240 turbo)
Funny thing is K&N is still trying to deny this issue..
Even if you run it and your MAF survives, be aware of their limited efficiency when it comes down to filtration.
http://home.roadrunner.com/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Thanks for posting those test results. The awful results I have are proprietary to the Donaldson company so I can't post them on an open forum.
Remember it only takes approx 1 heaped teaspoon of dirt to ruin an engine. (Cummins research film "The Hourglass")
Remember it only takes approx 1 heaped teaspoon of dirt to ruin an engine. (Cummins research film "The Hourglass")
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From: Toronto, ON
2012 C300 Sport 4MATIC (current) 2006 C280 Elegance 4MATIC (sold)
I used K&N on my old Maxima and eventually the MAF sensor codes were triggered along with a code saying it's running too lean (P0171 I think). Upon using cheap Motomaster air filters from Crappy tire and cleaning the MAF I never had the problem for as long as I had the car after that issue. How tightly do the K&N fit as opposed to the Mann filters? I recently replaced my air filters with Mann filters and they fit nice and snug inside the air boxes.
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From: Austin, TX
2005 C230K(sold), Mk7 Jetta
Is it this one? Does anybody have a copy somewhere? Would be interesting to watch.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Yes. Thats's the one. Called "The Hourglass" on some copies & "Operation Hourglass" on others.
In fact the copy in our research library is called "Operation Hourglass". I've seen both.
It might be old but it is as valid today as it was then. I have no idea where you would find a copy. We were allowed by Cummins to cut it to UMatic format for training.
Cummins might have cut copies to DVD. You would have to call them.
In fact the copy in our research library is called "Operation Hourglass". I've seen both.
It might be old but it is as valid today as it was then. I have no idea where you would find a copy. We were allowed by Cummins to cut it to UMatic format for training.
Cummins might have cut copies to DVD. You would have to call them.
