UNI Air filters

[ribbert]

I immediately knew something was different with both the language, and my old girl`s delivery of it. I knew then, I wanted what he was having with her! (Basted....she was an innocent sweet thing!  )

How could you not love a forum with talent like this. It's as if Shakespeare himself had taken to riding and discovered the rapture of induction roar.

Noel

[Mark Olson]

Wow what a thread.

I have used both the K&N singles and the unipods on my fj.

Currently I run the Unipods due to the superior filtering ability.

The K&N singles required more maint as they would dry out , resulting in more carb work.
The uni's get a once a year cleaning and oiling and work well. less carb work.

If you are a redliner, pinning it , 2nd gear popping kind of rider, use the K&N's cause you're gonna be rebuilding the engine anyway.   

Both make noise that is awesome and resonates thru your very soul.

[FJools]

Confused now, can't make my mind up - I knew I should have just left it.........................but great thread, great bunch!!!

[Mark Olson]

Confused now, can't make my mind up - I knew I should have just left it.........................but great thread, great bunch!!!

Just go buy the uni,s ..

There ya go , now you are all set.

usually you don't have to mess with the jetting unless you have a 4-1 exhaust.

[~JM~]

Have any of you hung out at "Joe Is The Oil Guy" web-site?

There are several threads about various air filters & the amount of silica found in the oil samples. Whenever someone changed from a paper filter to a mesh & gauze K&N type of filter, the silica numbers went up substantially. Supposedly paper still offers the best filtration, but less flow. I like having a washable re-useable filter vs. buying a new paper one every time a new filter is needed. In my personal experience over roughly twenty plus years, the oiled foam filters are far superior at trapping dirt than the mesh & gauze K&N filters. The exception is the AFE mesh & gauze filters. These filters are superior to the K&N in every respect. Check them out if you can't use an oiled foam filter for whatever reason. http://afepower.com/technology_detail.php?tech_id=6

[TexasDave]

The most efficient air cleaners are oil impregnated foam type period. How do I know this? All the moto X and professional dirt bike racers use them. These bikes are subjected to the harshest conditions in racing continuously in the dirt, mud and crud. I have Randy's unipods on my FJ.  Dave

[ribbert]

The most efficient air cleaners are oil impregnated foam type period. How do I know this? All the moto X and professional dirt bike racers use them. These bikes are subjected to the harshest conditions in racing continuously in the dirt, mud and crud. I have Randy's unipods on my FJ.  Dave

Dave, that is exactly what I said, foam filters are for just this very environment. Those guys use them for the very reason you describe, they are continuously covered in dirt, mud and crud, they have no choice.

That is the same as saying knobby tyres are the best because the moto X and professional dirt bike racers use them.

Nothing to do with riding on the road on a street machine.

You can't cite one as proof of merit for the other, totally different application.

Noel

[ribbert]

The most efficient air cleaners are oil impregnated foam type period.

If you believe this to be the case, why don't manufacturers of internal combustion everything use them?

Noel

[TexasDave]

The most efficient air cleaners are oil impregnated foam type period. How do I know this? All the moto X and professional dirt bike racers use them. These bikes are subjected to the harshest conditions in racing continuously in the dirt, mud and crud. I have Randy's unipods on my FJ.  Dave

Dave, that is exactly what I said, foam filters are for just this very environment. Those guys use them for the very reason you describe, they are continuously covered in dirt, mud and crud, they have no choice.

That is the same as saying knobby tyres are the best because the moto X and professional dirt bike racers use them.

Nothing to do with riding on the road on a street machine.

You can't cite one as proof of merit for the other, totally different application.

Noel

I don't see it as a totally different application. Yes the dirt bikes are in a harsher environment but the application is the same. The most efficient filtering of the air.  Dave

[TexasDave]

The most efficient air cleaners are oil impregnated foam type period.

If you believe this to be the case, why don't manufacturers of internal combustion everything use them?

Noel

Initial mfg cost and owners ease of maintenance. Most owners replace the paper air filters with regular oil changes and this is alot easier than cleaning and reoiling their foam oil filters. Dave

[ribbert]

The most efficient air cleaners are oil impregnated foam type period.

If you believe this to be the case, why don't manufacturers of internal combustion everything use them?

Noel

Initial mfg cost and owners ease of maintenance. Most owners replace the paper air filters with regular oil changes and this is alot easier than cleaning and reoiling their foam oil filters. Dave

.

The additional maintenance of foam filters is irrelevant when it comes to special purpose engines where performance, economy or longevity are critical. Adding foam filter maintenance to a Ferrari  service would be a drop in the bucket. Likewise for long haul trucks or heavy plant. They use paper because they do the best job.

How many here have converted their daily drivers to foam filters? Those engines are worth a lot more than the FJ mill. About the same number that have converted their rubber brake hoses I imagine.

And, who changes their paper air filter with every oil change anyway?

When you've got a half million dollar engine in a commercial application you are only interested in one thing, whatever is best for the motor.

I've already exceeded my usual number of posts on one subject, that's it from me.

Noel

[giantkiller]

Yes paper is the best for filtering. And also when it gets too dirty it will let you know by cutting performance to the point that you will know. But if you want the convenience and economy of being able to clean and replace. The foam is next in line for  filtering. Followed by AFE and some others. Then k& n. Then open velocity stacks.

Paper is also used because it generates a LOT of income for the manufacturers. And I suspect that is the main reason for them not using cleanable foam filters.(any more)

I too am done. I just wanted too share my personal experience with major loss due to use of k&n filters. So others could decide if they want to take the chance.

[TexasDave]

The most efficient air cleaners are oil impregnated foam type period.

If you believe this to be the case, why don't manufacturers of internal combustion everything use them?

Noel

Initial mfg cost and owners ease of maintenance. Most owners replace the paper air filters with regular oil changes and this is alot easier than cleaning and reoiling their foam oil filters. Dave

.

The additional maintenance of foam filters is irrelevant when it comes to special purpose engines where performance, economy or longevity are critical. Adding foam filter maintenance to a Ferrari  service would be a drop in the bucket. Likewise for long haul trucks or heavy plant. They use paper because they do the best job.

How many here have converted their daily drivers to foam filters? Those engines are worth a lot more than the FJ mill. About the same number that have converted their rubber brake hoses I imagine.

And, who changes their paper air filter with every oil change anyway?

When you've got a half million dollar engine in a commercial application you are only interested in one thing, whatever is best for the motor.

I've already exceeded my usual number of posts on one subject, that's it from me.

Noel

I agree with everything except "they use paper because they do the best job".  Even K&N recommends their heavy duty filters for Heavy duty truck and industrial engine applications. These filters are non oiled washable composed of a "hybrid filter medium comprised of a thick lofted 3D non woven synthetic media." Sounds like and looks like foam to me. They claim better filtering with a thicker filtering area.  Dave

[~JM~]

The most efficient air cleaners are oil impregnated foam type period.

If you believe this to be the case, why don't manufacturers of internal combustion everything use them?

Noel

How old are you Noel?

I'm 51 & I can recall older trucks with an oiled foam filter from the factory. Many engine manufacturers used to use, or still do use, an oiled foam filter. Especially in the small engine arena. It has only been since the end of the 50's or so, that the paper filters started becoming the norm. Paper is the most convenient & probably easier to manufacture. Paper also has an edge on any filter that requires oil. The paper filters don't gunk up your mass air flow sensors like an oiled filter can.

I think I've expressed myself the best that I'm able. I'm a believer in oiled foam.

[FJools]

The paper type would also have to have a greater surface area from their design compared to an equivalent foam type (not pods)

I wouldn't expect the dirt bike guys would be wanting to change paper filters every race so oiled foam is more a convenience/maintenance/cost thing.

And so with that in mind and the milkeage and terrain I ride in I will probably stick with the paper type.

Having said that, I should check what is already fitted first......