KN-204 Oil Filter

Hey guys, I am not affiliated with K&N. I just love there oil filters for the fact that they have a nut welded on the end. And are well constructed. I have a 07 CBR1000RR that uses the same filter as the VFR which makes my oil changes a little easier. Many moons ago, I ran across people complaining about the K&N oil filter leaking. I thought this was odd because I had never had a problem with this same oil filter on my CBR. Referenced thread here:

http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthre...lter-crapped-out?highlight=K&N+Oil+Filter

Well, low and behold, the first time I used a K&N on the VFR, after about 2k miles, it leaked!!!! So I took off the proper body work and tightened it. This solved the problem but made me nervous. Once I did my oil change at 3k miles I took the filter off and inspected it. It looks as though the OD of the O-ring on the filter is just larger than the ID of the flange of the mount. This made the o-ring "slip-in" and leak.

Well I contacted K&N on this because, who else would let them know? I mean I have two bikes that have the same filter but one has problems. They took a while to get back to me but when they did. They are REALLY interested. That oil filter I had is long gone and I couldn't report to them what the serial number was. Because of this they are sending me a new filter anyways, even though I couldn't report the number.

If you are running K&N and have this problem. Please report this to them. PLEASE! I would like to get it fixed. They are a good company and make a good product.

I am still running a K&N oil filter on both my bikes. Hopefully I don't see this again, but if I do. I will report it.

tl:dr K&N doesn't know about 204 filter leak on VFR's if you have one, let them know the serial number of the oil filter.

 

I have a question for you.

I have a K&N air filter on my bike and to be honest with you, soon as the cleaning and oiling supplies run out, the filter will become landfill. Had I known what the maintenance of these filters was like, I would never have bought it. I find this air filter to be a nuisance and a task I care not to deal with. When this K&N filter gets dirty enough to deal with, my bike is down for hours if I follow the instructions for cleaning and oiling of the filter. I don't know if the performance is better or not. It certainly is not noticeable. I am sure it does a fine job of filtering and cleaning the air as the bike has had this filter running on it for an extremely long time and no issues with the engine. Very high mileage on the engine. So I am satisfied that way. But I am sure the paper filter would have been the same. And with the paper filter, or whatever they are made of, you pull off the old, put on the new, and away you go. No hassle.

So what about these oil filters? What is involved with cleaning them at an oil change? If it just a matter or removal and swishing some K&N specific cleaner through it then putting it back on and away you go, I might consider that.

 

K+N are a outstanding company-they replaced the whole air intake on my car for Free! 99.9% of company's don't do this. Real Lifetime war. Also Koni shocks have lifetime war another Gold star for them too. Michelin tire -another gold star company. Not too many like these.:bluesbros:

 

There is no cleaning of oil filters. They are no different than any other oil filter (disposable). Only the air filters are serviceable.

As for K&N oil filter quality, I had 2 different 204 filters leak at the welded nut (not at the O-ring) over the course of 2 years on my 6th gen VFR. After the 2nd one started leaking, I went in search of a new option. I ended up with HiFlo. Same part number of 204, similar price, and very well made. You can get a special wrench that fits those filters (as well as any other 204 equivalent) that is basically a giant socket, with a square hole for your 3/8" ratchet. So far, in 2-3 years, I've never had a problem with a HiFlo oil filter.

 

Hmmmm. Same part number? Makes me think it is made by the same manufacturer. I wonder what K&N would have said about the leak if you had contacted them.

Either way. This could be an option. Because not only does my VFR use this filter, so does my wife's and son's Honda Civics. This could be and idea to follow though with.

But something still remains. What about the crap that your filter catches? I suspect that some how, this filter has to be cleaned before re-used.

 

Randy, there is no re-using the K&N oil filter. After your service interval for your oil you remove it, throw it away, and replace it. Just like any other oil filter. If your worried about ease of maintenance for the air filter, yea, paper is the way to go. It does not flow as well and if you don't see a performance difference between the two then don't worry about it. It just costs more in the end.

 

I use a napa platinum oil filter and a piper cross reusable air filter, My info say they are the two best for a vfr. If take a close look at the napa PL filter you can see its the Best. pipercross is oem on British bikes-you do get more air in, I also like the Castrol racing RT 10-40 and a dash of the 10-50 Castrol rt. They also make 05-40 w racing Castrol oil for use in cold weather-most likely makes the most power. I stick with 89 gas even though 87 might be enough. add techron cleaner. The bike runs super-checking the oil level is a pain in butt-I bought a big mirror to see that window. :sleeping:

 

I just assumed because it was K&N, it was reusable. Guess my assumption was south of correct. Thanks for setting me straight. I think I will stick with my Bosch filters. They have treated me well.

 

Bosch does make some great oil filters for the vfr but the high end ones are expensive like $9 a Purolator pure one PL14610 is like $7 excellent filter, but I know the napa full syn Platinum-designed for syn oil- $13 flows better than both and also filters better and holds a lot of dirt.-paper/syn doesn't have those exactly filtering. Seeing how expensive a vfr engine is I would not worry too much about how much a oil filter costs-just what is the best. napa has sales a lot so get filters when they are on sale. Napa is one best part stores, auto zones good too. oh first thing I did was get rid of the carbon canister-helps a lot putting the biggest oil filter on.

 

I have a spin on canister adapter on my VFR which holds a full roll of toilet paper. Non scented white... of course.

 

Nonscented white as opposed to scented yellow-brown?

 

the carbon canister is a good toilet dispenser-this is true:frog:

 

I had a K&N filter leak out most of my engine oil on a road trip (alone), leaving me stranded on the shoulder of a rural stretch of highway at night, 300 miles from home. That soured me on their oil filters, so I iust ponied up $90 to buy a reusable steel one.

 

kind of stupid to run a k+n filter they have leaked AND RUINED MANY. Buy the best oil filter like bosch. napa-ones with excellent reports./ those steel things don't filter.

 

kind of stupid to run a k+n filter they have leaked AND RUINED MANY. Buy the best oil filter like bosch. napa-ones with excellent reports./ those steel things don't filter.

 

So interestingly enough. I had one of these filters failed on my CBR now. During a track day. I got meatballed off the track. Dang near slid out and high sided. Looked down and had oil on my right boot. So I contacted K&N about this again. They had me return it and sent all my filters back and refunded them. I also took the one off my VFR at the same time and sent it in. I no longer trust that brand. They paid me for both used and new oil filters I had on hand, 6 of them. I marked the two used ones and they tested them. They found somehow that the rubber gasket had been cut. It couldn't have been me. I do not use a knife to open these things. Personally I think it was the gasket seam or manufacturing.

For the CBR, final report from K&N
X FAILED

Oil filter held 80 psi air pressure for 20 minutes with no observed leakage. Oil filter seal is split. Cause: Unknown.

http://youtu.be/xNTyDQo6G6c

For the VFR (glad I removed it before it started leaking)
X FAILED

Oil filter held 80 psi air pressure for 20 minutes with no observed leakage. Oil filter seal is split. Cause: Unknown.

http://youtu.be/1sFH8z0DZAI

 

The other day, I came home and noticed a burnt oil smell when I parked the bike. I took off the ferring and the KN filter was a quarter turn loose. I changed the filter 3500 miles ago with no issues. I tightened it back up and then rode today to work. Arriving at work smoke was billowing out of engine compartment. Took the ferry off again and saw oil everywhere. Filter was tight but still lots of oil. I started the engine with the ferring off to see and oil poured out like a faucet. Thankfully I had someone that loaned me their car and I got a new filter and oil. This time I went with a Napa gold. Has this ever happened to you? Maybe I over tightened and ripped a hole in the end of the filter. Is that possible? Crazy.

 

just say no to K+N oil filters-one bad filter-one blown engine

 

Aboot 130 Pesos (USP) gets a Scotts filter. All metal, even the seal + a nifty strap wrench. The filtration specs are on the Scott's website.

What the heck happened to all that Honda forever shit when it comes to genuine Honda oil filters. Did someone find oot they came from the same place that made the beloved OEM regulator/rectifiers? Or, maybe even one of those outfits that will put a custom label on anything as long as ya buy so many..

The TP for those TP type filters is single ply that to my knowledge come only in white. Probably from the Koch Bros, big cheese Republican rich dudes who if they weren't so old would probably be harleydoods.

The filtration system using TP was not specifically designed for automotive use, nor is the fitment metric. The hookups and lines are all stainless steel AN fittings. The canister is also stainless steel. The trick for using is to increase the oil capacity of the engine or engines another quart. This allows for the TP roll to become saturated.

The original concept was for use on what are called Horsehead pumps. Seen all over the US and Canada wherever crude is being taken. These pumps run 24/7/365. The look big and clumsy but the innards are aircraft quality.

Got one of the filters on a Mercedes I bought from a guy in the early 1970s. He was the National distributor. I bought the car from him because he had three others the last being a new one for his wife. I got her old one. The tranny went south on me later. Fixable but getting parts was a nightmare. Stuffed a small block Chevvy and a B&M hydro into the beastie and hooked up the filter to boot.

My oil looks like ya could put it on a nice salad or use it to baste some kitties on the barbeque.

 

I had 2 of the K&N 204 take a crap on me in my 6th gen. I went back to the OEM Honda part.