K&N oil filter.... PSA

[dart1963]

wow, this is... just scary....


TrackDay Junkies Facebook Group post:

"
Public service announcement.

K&N oil filters d*** near killed me. I had the oil seal on K&N filters blow out on me TWICE Monday at VIR. The first time the belly pan caught most of the oil. The second time I made a major error in leaving the pan off to see if it was good to go. This was AFTER running the s*** out of it in the paddock to make sure it was good and then riding tame. The result was me d*** near in orbit and a 1/4 mile of oiled down track. (Insert name jokes here....) A buddy drove 3 hours Monday evening to bring me two Suzuki brand filters, and upon close inspection, it is obvious that there are major differences in the seal retention area of the body of the filter. After installing the Suzuki branded filter, I was good to go for the next three days, resulting in my best lap times every at VIR North.

My recommendation? "JUST SAY NO" to K&N oil filters!"

 

[leem00]

wow, this is... just scary....


TrackDay Junkies Facebook Group post:

"
Public service announcement.

K&N oil filters d*** near killed me. I had the oil seal on K&N filters blow out on me TWICE Monday at VIR. The first time the belly pan caught most of the oil. The second time I made a major error in leaving the pan off to see if it was good to go. This was AFTER running the s*** out of it in the paddock to make sure it was good and then riding tame. The result was me d*** near in orbit and a 1/4 mile of oiled down track. (Insert name jokes here....) A buddy drove 3 hours Monday evening to bring me two Suzuki brand filters, and upon close inspection, it is obvious that there are major differences in the seal retention area of the body of the filter. After installing the Suzuki branded filter, I was good to go for the next three days, resulting in my best lap times every at VIR North.

My recommendation? "JUST SAY NO" to K&N oil filters!"

:needpics:

 

[JSP]

Hmm... pretty crazy. First I have ever heard of this happening... Probably just a fluke, but twice? Scary indeed.

 

[cezell09]

Well thanks... I just installed a K&N filter on my bike two weeks ago... Now to change it or not to change it.

 

[Alex6]

what model?

 

[JSP]

Well thanks... I just installed a K&N filter on my bike two weeks ago... Now to change it or not to change it.

I personally would not worry about it. Can't know for sure. Maybe there was something on his engine that was blocking the gasket from sealing.. or stuck gasket on the engine and doubled up? Since it has a nut on the end maybe they were being way over tightened? The leak was indeed at the gasket or the nut weld area? Still should not have happened though. But hard to say what was actually causing it.

No product will be 100% absolute success. Everything will have a failure at some point for someone...

 

[dart1963]

just passing it along.... this guy was at a track day or race on a GSXR, so, def. pushing the bike hard for a long time

I know a lot of members use the K&N and have never had this issue.... but like anything, something to look for, and probably for every single manufacture filter out there, this guy just happened to have K&N and have two fail back-back


ahahaha... not two back-back.... :jerk:
and yeah, he's catching a lot of "wrong part?" / "too tight" / etc.. questions right now

"

• et me also clarify... I pulled the bonehead move of the day and reinstalled the SAME filter. After inspecting it, along with a couple other people, we decided to reinstall with tighter specs to retain the seal better. and the same filter blew a second time. I SHOULD NOT HAVE INSTALLED IT A SECOND TIME. I also should not have gone back out without the belly pan. I was absolutely "That guy" and felt like a complete tool about it. I held the school schedule up due to this. I also have used K&N filters for years, but the cartridge type, in my Aprilia's. This was the first time for my on a canister filter, and it did not end well. I understand that many run them without issue, but I will never run one again.
  I am just relating what happened to me, and the observations of multiple people were that the seal retention was lacking. Maybe it had a bad check valve. Who knows? I was working as head cornerworker for teh school, and screwed alot of people in the process."
  
  
  
  

"

 

[linkgt]

So can anyone here recommend another brand of filters? would be much appreciated... :thumbup:

 

[bmw675]

I use k&n filters. I've had two that leaked at the seal. Nothing major like the above scenario, but I had to wipe the pan off after each session until I was able to change them out. Oddly enough, I bought both at the same time, so maybe a bad batch?

I've used them since without issue.
I do safety wire them, after tightening like normal, so I know they were not backing off.

 

[dart1963]

So can anyone here recommend another brand of filters? would be much appreciated... :thumbup:

that's like asking what oil to use.... lol... you will get ten answers and have no better knowledge than you started with...

personally, I've ran OEM Yami, hiflo and the "do not use this on motorcycles" purolator pure (currently on the bike). All a matter of personal choice

 

[SurfJunkie]

Everyone does know the oil filter is supposed to be about hand tight right ?
Any more and you deform the gasket causing leaks. The nut is on the end to assist with REMOVAL.

Also, i usually lube the o-ring with fresh oil before installation. Ive never had any issues or a drop leak from my bike.

 

[DragonBlu]

Thanks for the PSA Don. I use K&N and have never had a problem. There are many factors that would cause a filter to blow out, including using the wrong weight oil. Different brands have different seals. Some are o-rings,some are square seals. I would take a close look at the installation or the bike itself if mine blew off.

 

[Nastybutler]

I've heard of issues before with K&N oil filters. But that was due to the propensity of the paper filter to collapse making it worthless as a filter, and you wouldn't know it until the next time you did an oil & filter change. For this reason I never use K&N filters on any of my vehicles. I stick to Purolator Pure 1 filters.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[SurfJunkie]

I've heard of issues before with K&N oil filters. But that was due to the propensity of the paper filter to collapse making it worthless as a filter, and you wouldn't know it until the next time you did an oil & filter change. For this reason I never use K&N filters on any of my vehicles. I stick to Purolator Pure 1 filters.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Again, I saw an instance where Yamaha refused repair on an R1 with engine damage due to the owner using a Purolator oil filter, claiming it was intended for CARS. just FYI.

 

[CrazyCawi]

i use k&n filters. I've had two that leaked at the seal. Nothing major like the above scenario, but i had to wipe the pan off after each session until i was able to change them out. Oddly enough, i bought both at the same time, so maybe a bad batch?

I've used them since without issue.
I do safety wire them, after tightening like normal, so i know they were not backing off.

safety wire them? Please elaborate

 

[dart1963]

safety wire them? Please elaborate

Drill a hole in the bolt and wire it to a hard point so it can't back out... just make sure the wire is on the right side to keep it tightened.... Marthy had a car in where the guy wired it backwards.... as in... on the side to loosen it

 

[bmw675]

safety wire them? Please elaborate

Dart nailed it. The bolt is even pre drilled on k&n filters, so it is even easier. Just make sure it's wired the correct way to keep it from loosening. I've wired my oil filter, drain, and fill plugs, as well as the Radiator cap.

 

[mikebaileyvienna]

went synthetic today

after 8900mi, i shifted to Repsol and K&N filter. I will watch like a hawk for leaks

 

[Scott_Thomas]

Dart nailed it. The bolt is even pre drilled on k&n filters, so it is even easier. Just make sure it's wired the correct way to keep it from loosening. I've wired my oil filter, drain, and fill plugs, as well as the Radiator cap.

I am still confused as well, anyone have a pic for an example?

 

[Alex6]

I am still confused as well, anyone have a pic for an example?

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