K&N Air Filter Advice

[VX Appeal]

Hey guys, I recently bought my 2002 VX II S-Pack, it came with a fully installed K&N Air Filter, I don't know much about the air filters but after a bit of research I became familiar with the red cone shaped K&N air filter.

So I wanted to see what my "K&N" air filter was like and if it looked anything like the red cone.. I opened the bonnet and noticed the big black box with a K&N sticker on it, had a look inside and it's not as impressive looking as the red cone, in fact it's silver and flat..

So I was wondering if you guys know much about this;
- Is it really a K&N Air Filter?
- Is it a good quality one?
- Any other advice on it.

Here are some photos of it:

Sticker:


Whole Setup:


Inside of Box (1):

Inside of Box (2):


Intake:

[Macca86]

Its not a K&N Filter for a start, as K&N filters are red. Secondly, there are 2 different types of air filters. A pod filter (which is the 'cone' filter you speak of) and a flat panel filter (which is what you have). A panel filter fits inside you factory air box but lets a higher flow of air through. A pod filter is usually put on to replace you entire factory air box & filter, and is also illegal for road use and can get you defected should you draw the attention of a cop and he looks under the bonnet.

[VX Appeal]

Its not a K&N Filter for a start, as K&N filters are red. Secondly, there are 2 different types of air filters. A pod filter (which is the 'cone' filter you speak of) and a flat panel filter (which is what you have). A panel filter fits inside you factory air box but lets a higher flow of air through. A pod filter is usually put on to replace you entire factory air box & filter, and is also illegal for road use and can get you defected should you draw the attention of a cop and he looks under the bonnet.

Thanks for your reply, so it seems that the previous owner has just stuck the sticker on the air box? and is my current setup decent?

[Macca86]

Yep they have just wacked a K&N sticker on. I cant tell from the pic but it could be the equivilent of a K&N just in another brand, as its not a factory standard air filter. Your current set up is fine, looks like they have hacked away at the front air intake pipe in order to let some more air in which if it was me I would tidy up a bit so it doesnt look like a dog had a chew on it. lol. Unless you are planning some extreme engine mods you current air intake setup is about as good as you can do

[JSTCOZ]

Thanks for your reply, so it seems that the previous owner has just stuck the sticker on the air box? and is my current setup decent?

My bet would be that he has bought the K&N Filter, got a sticker, then when he sold it to you, he removed it and put back in the standard. I'll do the same with mine, not giving away a $100 air filter with my car LOL

[VX Appeal]

Yep they have just wacked a K&N sticker on. I cant tell from the pic but it could be the equivilent of a K&N just in another brand, as its not a factory standard air filter. Your current set up is fine, looks like they have hacked away at the front air intake pipe in order to let some more air in which if it was me I would tidy up a bit so it doesnt look like a dog had a chew on it. lol. Unless you are planning some extreme engine mods you current air intake setup is about as good as you can do

Hmm alright thanks mate for your advice, very informative .
I'll get that intake pipe tidied up - just round/straighten the edges or cut it deeper or anything?

Thanks mate.

My bet would be that he has bought the K&N Filter, got a sticker, then when he sold it to you, he removed it and put back in the standard. I'll do the same with mine, not giving away a $100 air filter with my car LOL

Hey, this is possible but Macca86 says that it's not the standard air filter, my guess is - he bought a decent air filter but to make it look better, bought a K&N sticker and stuck it on the top haha. But this doesn't worry me as Macca86 has ensured me that it's a decent air filter.

Thanks guys.

[Macca86]

Dont hold me to that, lol, its hard to tell from the pics so it may still possibly be just a standard air filter. And JSTCOZ's reasoning is pretty logical, he prob took the k&n out. personally I'd just go buy a K&N filter anyways and put it in & then you know right from the start . Also yeah just tidy up the edges of the intake, dont cut anymore out.

[VX Appeal]

Dont hold me to that, lol, its hard to tell from the pics so it may still possibly be just a standard air filter. And JSTCOZ's reasoning is pretty logical, he prob took the k&n out. personally I'd just go buy a K&N filter anyways and put it in & then you know right from the start . Also yeah just tidy up the edges of the intake, dont cut anymore out.

Alright mate, thanks again.. may upgrade the intake while I'm at it.

[VX Appeal]

Does anyone have a pic of the insides of a standard VX II S-Pack air filter?

[Macca86]

Air filter / cleaner VT VX VY Holden Commodore Genuine. : Trick Shift Performance, The Commodore Specialist.
I think thats a genuine GM Air Filter element

[FC50]

Good selection of K&N, K&N Knock offs and supposed genuine service kits here

Air Filter Commodore VT, Cars, Bikes, Boats, Holden, Filters items at low prices on eBay.com.au

Genuine filter looks like this


Genuine Holden VT Commodore Service Kit - Air Fuel Oil - eBay Air, Filters, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 23-Sep-10 16:47:04 AEST)

[VX Appeal]

Air filter / cleaner VT VX VY Holden Commodore Genuine. : Trick Shift Performance, The Commodore Specialist.
I think thats a genuine GM Air Filter element

Thanks, so a standard/stock holden air filter - that would have been in mine when it was brand new - is yellow? I'm just trying to differentiate mine from the standard.

Good selection of K&N, K&N Knock offs and supposed genuine service kits here

Air Filter Commodore VT, Cars, Bikes, Boats, Holden, Filters items at low prices on eBay.com.au

Genuine filter looks like this


Genuine Holden VT Commodore Service Kit - Air Fuel Oil - eBay Air, Filters, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 23-Sep-10 16:47:04 AEST)

Thanks for that mate.

[Macca86]

I believe the genuine ones are yellow yes (from what I remember, been a long time since Ive seen one. lol)

[VX Appeal]

I believe the genuine ones are yellow yes (from what I remember, been a long time since Ive seen one. lol)

Alright, if that is true then it's safe to say that mine is not the stock air filter haha.. Just filed up the intake and it's looking a lot neater .

Thanks a lot mate.

[mummbles]

I have a K&N on my VT, and to tell you the truth that looks like a K&N that's been cleaned and never re-oiled - its the oil that's red, the filter is white.
The black rubber on the ends of the fins gives it away as an oiled type filter.
It even looks like it still has a bit of a pink/red tinge on the fins.

Either way, it's not doing any good. Replace it with a paper filter, or get a K&N recharge kit and re-oil it, and as soon as possible.

[VX Appeal]

I have a K&N on my VT, and to tell you the truth that looks like a K&N that's been cleaned and never re-oiled - its the oil that's red, the filter is white.
The black rubber on the ends of the fins gives it away as an oiled type filter.
It even looks like it still has a bit of a pink/red tinge on the fins.

Either way, it's not doing any good. Replace it with a paper filter, or get a K&N recharge kit and re-oil it, and as soon as possible.

Thanks very much mummbles, will check it out tomorrow.

Cheers

[v8s&2wheels]

Thanks very much mummbles, will check it out tomorrow.

Cheers

Dont listen to these guys telling you its not a genuine K&N filter. It most definately is a genuine one. Like previous poster said it could do with a recharge kit.

A K&N filter like yours that isnt well oiled will still out-perform any standard air filter or aftermarket based on a standard one ie ryco filters.

Buy a recharge kit for about $20 from supercheap and follow the instructions and enjoy having the best replacement oem fitting filter.

[VX Appeal]

Dont listen to these guys telling you its not a genuine K&N filter. It most definately is a genuine one. Like previous poster said it could do with a recharge kit.

A K&N filter like yours that isnt well oiled will still out-perform any standard air filter or aftermarket based on a standard one ie ryco filters.

Buy a recharge kit for about $20 from supercheap and follow the instructions and enjoy having the best replacement oem fitting filter.

Hey mate, I took it out today and it has the K&N imprint on the side of it and I can notice the red tinge much more now, going to buy the recharge kit sometime this week.

Thanks

[DLFHUB666]

Hey mate, I took it out today and it has the K&N imprint on the side of it and I can notice the red tinge much more now, going to buy the recharge kit sometime this week.

Thanks

Hey mate i would get the recharge kit asap as its the oill that filters the crap getting into your engine. No oil means it is not filtering

[VX Appeal]

Hey mate i would get the recharge kit asap as its the oill that filters the crap getting into your engine. No oil means it is not filtering

Yeah, picking one up tonight and will recharge it straight away, thanks mate.

[NIIIIIK]

do you actually notice much of a difference for $100 or should i just keep the standard one in?

[Macca86]

do you actually notice much of a difference for $100 or should i just keep the standard one in?

In my personal experience no, its not like you get in after fitting a K&N and go whoarrrrr, that go's heaps faster!!. But the technology is sound and they are worthwhile IMO

[VX Appeal]

Hey guys, just recharged the filter, it's nice and red now . Letting it sit overnight and will put it back in tomorrow.. When I get home I'll let you know if I notice any difference.

Cheers

[old mate]

what is the go with the recharge, is it just filter oil which is all sticky?

[mummbles]

Sit it upside down on newspaper overnight, you don't want too much oil being sucked up into the TB via the air sensors...