By Sean J on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 10:14 am: Edit

I don't know if anyone else has experienced something similar, but I recently replaced the OEM air filter with a K&N on my 99 Disco II and the acceleration increase has been astonishing. It performs almost as if it is in "Sport" mode (the button on the back of the gear selector)or whatever you call it when its not. These things are supposed to increase gas mileage as well but I haven't made it all the way through the new tank yet. Just thought I'd let everyone know.

By Steve (Steve2) on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 01:14 pm: Edit

my experience with them have been power up - mpg down (slightly) - if you really want a boost in power - change your fuel filter! mine had 40k on it and the change was amazing. it's now going to be on the every 10k list

steve

By John Lee on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 01:19 pm: Edit

Sean,

It's likely that your paper air filter was clogged when you replaced it. The D2 sucks in air from the wheel well and the air filter clogs very quickly.

If you had replaced a clean paper filter with a clean K&N air filter, you probably wouldn't notice that much of a difference. K&N air filters do flow more than paper, but I don't think the difference is too dramatic. Rather, the primary advantage of a K&N air filter over paper is that you can clean and re-use the K&N air filter when it gets dirty, which is very often on the D2.

By J584btgoat (J584btgoat) on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 01:32 pm: Edit

Anyone notice any difference on a D1? I haven't switched as of yet. Just looking for my 10 cents worth!

By Kyle on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 01:33 pm: Edit

Yes , your truck will be a little faster because of the power to wieght ratio. Its a complex equation . Bottom line is , your wallet will be lighter so your truck will be faster...

Kyle

By J584btgoat (J584btgoat) on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 01:37 pm: Edit

Complex math equations! Help!
Just need a little more get-up-and-go! I've tried pushing, solar power, and sails.

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 01:50 pm: Edit

try cutting holes in front floorboards and paddling a la Fred & Barney.

By Steve (Steve2) on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 02:37 pm: Edit

if you wore no clothes, only a monacle, cane and a top hat. and were as light as - oh let's say a peanut? your car would go faster too....

steve

By J584btgoat (J584btgoat) on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 02:42 pm: Edit

I've tried dressing up like Prince but...er nevermind! Nothing...Forget it...

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 04:18 pm: Edit

The biggest performance gain I received was when I replaced my clutch fan with an electric fan setup. Now my truck behaves like it might actually have the 182 horsepower it says it does (okay, well the ancillaries still sap power, but that's a relatively small amount compared to that high bypass ratio turbofan the engine used to have to spin around) Okay well I'm sounding too much like work now so I'll go...

P.S. I like my K&N filter, too

By Herk Papadakis (Hpapad01) on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 04:42 pm: Edit

John,

Which MFG did you use for the electric fan?

Was it an easy process to do? - DYI?

What was your cost?

Thanx
Herk

By Moe on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 07:29 pm: Edit

I think John Lee is right about the change from a dirty paper to open K&N will be very noticeable, but otherwise there is no 'scientific' evidence indicating more power when using the K&N. Most of what you hear are anecdotes of how much power some individual gained.

Sean, if you run the K&N carry a paper for dusty situations. Running this filter, I had fine dust pass toward the plenum chamber--something you want to avoid.

By Murray (Cdnrvr) on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 07:31 pm: Edit

I was thinking about donating my K&N to prop up Kyle's window ... increased performance was negliable but increased gas consumption was noticeable. Just my 2 cents ... other people have had good luck with them.

Murray

By p m on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 08:51 pm: Edit

kyle doesn't know jack about k&n filters. it's a cutting edge of technology.
depending on the state of tune of your rover, the power and gas mileage can increase up to 12.7-13.5%.

i put one in my jeep, and my gas mileage increased from 8 to 8.5 mpg. with another k&n in my disco, i am getting close to similar figures.

peter

p.s. did i say kyle's against any innovations in technology?

By Barry on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 08:55 pm: Edit

The K&N filter did nothing for my DSII...except allow dust to pass through to the plenum.

The K&N is worthless on a DSII which is used off-road.

The stock air intake location, inside the left fender, sucks up trail dust like a Hoover.

I got tired of ruining perfectly good air filters ten minutes into a trail. Found it is cheaper to keep a "used" stock filter for those off-road travels. That way I have a clean air filter for the 75 MPH ride back home.

By p m on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 09:03 pm: Edit

c'mon Barry, now you're gonna say Tornado's worthless?

every little bit counts.

peter

By Barry on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 - 09:30 pm: Edit

Peter,

Every little bit counts, toward that next tank of premium unleaded. About the amount I tossed away on the K&N w/cleaner kit*.


*Your mileage may vary

By Murray (Cdnrvr) on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 10:09 am: Edit

I have used K&N products before, in my bike it worked great .... I could tell the difference in performance but the bike had been jetted out, air box drilled, and had a 4 in 1 header. In a stock Disco with a Borla cat back, there was a bit more bag off the line but that was it ... not worth the 2 - 3 mpg I lost.

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 10:14 am: Edit

Herk-
The manufacturer of my fans is Kenlowe (www.kenlowe.com). My kit was twin 13" electric fans with the wiring harness including their thermo switches and relays and a mounting frame that fit around my radiator and bolted to the front bulkhead of my truck and had a rubber boot to make a good seal to the radiator around the fan shrouds. Very easy to install and wire-in, and had all the hardware I needed (except for things like a drill, etc.). Cost was about $265 delivered (Kenlowe is in England, and the Pound was exchanging for about US$1.40 at the time). Not necessarily a "cheap fix," but the Kenlowe warranty and the improvement in my truck's performance (and fuel economy) is justification enough for me.

pm-
Astronomical 6% increase in gas mileage on your Jeep there, buddy. 12.7-13.5% is a far cry (math error).

With a K&N filter and electric fans, my average economy has increased by about 3 mpg (about 15%). Kenlowe alone claims an 8.5% increase in gas mileage. That may be true, but I think it's conservative; I've had a K&N filter in my truck for a couple years now, and only got marginal improvement in gas mileage (somewhat like the .5 mpg increase pm observed). Reguarly renewing my fuel filter and keeping my truck tuned-up has always helped maintain consistent mileage and performance (anywhere from 12mpg city to 20mpg highway). But the only significant way to increase gas mileage on a Disco would be the facility for it to run in 2WD. That might be good for a 5 mpg improvement (considering comparably-weighted and sized vehicles like Exploders and Troopers; even though they acheive their best mileage using belaboured V6s, the engines are of similar displacement and power). But then you'd have a Series Rover.

The only things I've ever experienced a significant increase in gas mileage and power output in from a K&N filter are cars. I've easily gotten the claimed 23% increase in mileage and may or may not have gotten the claimed added 15 horsepower. But they were 2WD, of course. Considering that a 4500-lb Discovery has a not-so-hot small V8 driving both axles all the time (through 90W gear oil, nonetheless), economy like 14-17mpg really shouldn't be that unexpected. Unfortunatley, a K&N filter is not going to be your "cheap fix" for improving gas mileage.

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 10:51 am: Edit

For what it's worth, I discussed permanent 4wd vs. 2wd with the dealership. They said that Land Rover conducted a study on merits of selectable 4wd and determined that it amounted to less than a 1 mpg difference. Like I said, for what it's worth...my dealer is full of all sorts of wild tales...

By jay caragay (Jcaragay) on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 10:52 am: Edit

I've been experimenting with the K&N factory replacement filter since 116K miles. I am now at 145K miles on my 1995 Disco1 and I'm not sure about any of those claims.

A couple months and a couple thousand miles after putting the K&N in I was having all sorts of engine inconsistencies. Bogging down of the engine - especially at highway speeds was one of the most irritating. I tried shooting cleaner and fire juice up the plenum and nothing helped.

Until I tossed the K&N and put the OEM filter back in. Then things worked as expected.

Then the OEM filter got dirty and in went the K&N. For the past 15K miles I have not had those problems but the gas mileage has plummeted these last 30K or so. From a high of 320 miles per tank now to an average of 250-270 miles per tank. Frickin' sucks.

I don't know 100% that this is all due to the K&N but I do not see the incredible performance promises. Lower fuel economy, sluggish acceleration are not hallmarks of performance.

I can't say that I would be one to recommend that others buy a replacement K&N.

Want more power? Get a supercharger.

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 11:40 am: Edit

its just a frickin air filter!

only benefit (for me) is the fact that I paid $35 or whatever for it and $10 for the "kit". I was spending $24 ~ every 4k for new paper filters (all shops in the area gotta get bent over by the dealer). Now I'm spending less. No power gain, no mileage gain, my wedding tackle is not any bigger, no hair magically growing back on my head, and I haven't dropped 3 dress sizes in 30 days. But I did get a cool sticker for the bottom of my toolbox.

I have some oceanfront property here to sell you...

By p m on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 12:10 pm: Edit

Blue,

i have a bit of experience on 2wd vs 4wd. When i got my jeep, the DSPO converted it to part time 4wd. The t-case chain gave in shortly after, so i put in a stock full-time case. The mileage difference was about 2 mpg - but it is comparing the un-lifted truck with 31" tires and 16% overdrive, and 3" lifted with 33" tires and no overdrive. So, apples-to-apples, it would have been about 1 mpg or less.

About a year ago, i banged the front driveshaft near Big Bear, and had to pull it off on my way home (good to have a CDL!). Noticed the difference in handling immediately - it started to wander all over the road, to a point when i thought something else was wrong. Once the fixed driveshaft was in, back to perfect handling!

peter

By John Lee on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 12:30 pm: Edit

I agree with Blue. The primary advantage of the K&N air filter is that you can clean it and re-use it instead of discarding it for another air filter. When I first installed my K&N air filter, I replaced a very dirty and clogged paper filter, and I did seem to notice a little more pep from the engine. It could have been in my mind; I don't know. I doubt I would feel that pep if I replaced a new paper filter with a K&N. I never noticed any difference in mileage with the K&N air filter.

By pjkbrit on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 03:15 pm: Edit

My 02 cents....my 94 Disco was improved with the K&N...definite pick up improvement...BUT I also did loads of other mods which compliment the filter...magnacor wires, rpi ignition amp, piper camshaft and the rpi chip....all in all about $900 worth of mods....now my 3.9 flies and mpg is about the same...15mpg average. Don't forget winter gas is out there now too....so that's another 2 mpg off right there!!!

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 03:38 pm: Edit

I like the K&N more so because here in LA, the air in general is so dirty that stock filters get gummed up after only a few months of freeway driving. With the K&N, I can clean it versus scrapping it. Now I just need a similar option for my lungs...

Otherwise, I have not noticed any positive or negative performance gains.

The K&N was a big deal on my IIA though. Huge air flow increase versus the oil bath.

By p m on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 03:42 pm: Edit

k&n rocks. where's my tornado?

really, i've been looking for an air filter for my disco after my wife subjected it to some mud bath, and the only place i could get _any_ was off road warehouse with the k&n, at a price much lower than the dealer wanted for a stock piece!

peter

By curtis on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 11:57 pm: Edit

I have seen several ATV and motorcycle engines trashed due to K&N use. I think they now have something called a "Precharger" that is used in combination with the standard K&N POS. Most ATV/MC folks are using to help with dust, but that pretty much reduces airflow to that of stock...or worse. On a Disco I would have a hard time seeing any preformance gain since it is only one small part of a more comlicated puzzle involving emission controls.

I have a new solution that provides better airflow and equal filtration. It is cheap and reusable also: Fit a standard wire screen coated in Aunt Jemimas over the plenum. Kyle will be happy that the weight will be reduced also

Curtis

By Horness Spencer (Horness) on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 10:29 pm: Edit

I'm running a K&N air filter on my TDi - noticed only a marginal increase in performance, and MPG is up by 1 at best.

Steve - what Fuel Filter are you using? K&N don't do Fuel Filters here in the UK. Especially not for a TDi.

The "feeling" of the extra horses kinda makes your right foot a little bit heavier.

HRNESS