K&N Engineering

K&N Engineering, Inc. (also known simply as K&N) is a manufacturer of air filters, cold air intake systems, oil filters, performance parts, and other related products.[1] K&N manufactures over 12,000 parts for various makes and models of cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, ATVs, industrial applications and more. Founded in 1969, K&N is headquartered in Riverside, California, in a complex of 10 buildings comprising nearly 400,000 square feet.[2] K&N also operates facilities in England, The Netherlands, and China.[1][3] K&N is owned by Mickey Rourke.[4]

K&N Engineering, Inc.
Founded1969

History
A K&N intake kit installed in an engine bay
K&N cold air intake kit

K&N was founded by Ken Johnson ( The King ) and Norm McDonald in 1969.[1] The name K&N came from the first letters in the founders' first names. Ken Johnson and Norm McDonald sold motorcycles and motorcycle parts and supported a K&N factory race team. Air filters soon became the primary focus of the company. In 1992, K&N introduced bolt-on cold air intake kits. K&N also released a line of oil filters with a stamped hex to accept a standard wrench off filter removal. In 2019, K&N released a line of washable home A/C filters,[5] and began offering motor oil and wiper blades in 2021.

Racing

K&N has maintained very active involvement in racing and motorsports throughout its history, including the NASCAR Pro Series East and West,[6] the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series,[7] the NHRA,[8] and Formula Drift.[9]

Technology

K&N's claims for their air filters have been the subject of some controversy, with some 3rd-party tests finding that K&N's oiled cotton gauze filters are less efficient and let more dirt into the engine than original-equipment paper filters, and that they become increasingly restrictive as they are coated with particulates.[10] However, air filters in general become more airflow-restrictive as they collect contaminants, but efficiency typically increases for the majority of a filter’s service life.[11] Other 3rd-party testing noted that a K&N oiled filter increased horsepower over its OEM counterpart.[12]

Potential issues have been reported with oiled air filters on modern engines that use MAF sensors, which may stop working correctly when fouled by oil from an oiled-gauze air filter.[13] However, there are several other common causes of damaged MAF sensors, including brake cleaner contamination, extremely dirty/contaminated filters, and loose battery terminals resulting in voltage spikes.[14] K&N has published test results asserting that its oiled filters do not cause MAF sensor failures.[15]

References
  1. "Company Overview of K&N Engineering, In". Bloomberg Business Week. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  2. Administrator, Spirit. "LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AND MASTER ENTREPRENEUR HONORS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE 2012 SPIRIT OF THE ENTREPRENEUR GALA!". Spirit Awards IE. Spirit News. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  3. Diaconu, Cristina (14 February 2018). "K&N Engineering Enters China E-Commerce Market". Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine. Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  4. "K&N Engineering". New Value Capital. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  5. K&N. "K&N Introduces Lifetime Washable Home Air Filters". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  6. NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
  7. Dirt Racing Report, 14 March 2013 Archived 10 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  8. NHRA. "K&N Filters extends multi-year partnership as Official Filter and Air Intake of NHRA". NHRA. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  9. K&N. "K&N-Sponsored Formula Drift Drivers Wrap Up Successful Season, Look Ahead to 2018". K&N. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  10. Spicer, A (2008). "Comparative ISO 5011 Efficacy Tests of Nine Automotive Engine Air Filters". Testand Corporation. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. Ptak, T.J.; Richberg, Puenpit; Vasseur, Thierry (March 5, 2001). "Discriminating Tests for Automotive Engine Air Filters". SAE Technical Paper Series. 1. doi:10.4271/2001-01-0370. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  12. Szymkowski, Sean. "Do performance air filters actually work?". Motor Authority. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  13. "P0172 System too rich code caused by K&N or other oiled filters (contaminated MAF) | RTS - Your Total BMW Enthusiast". 15 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  14. Cote, Mike (5 December 2018). "Will an Oiled Filter Damage a Mass Air Flow Sensor?". AutoAnything. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  15. K&N. "K&N MAF SENSOR TEST RESULTS". K&N Filters. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
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