K&N Air Filters on Cummins Diesel(not an add)LOL
Thumbs,
I read an independent research paper on the K&N filter. It traps smaller particles than paper filters. When in is loaded with dirt it passes more air than a new paper filter. That should answer your questions about it being safe for your engine. Yes it is safe and effective.
Will it help the power output? That depends. As you probably know an internal combustion engine is an air pump. Anything that restricts air flow will inhibit power production. BUT....all the things that restrict air flow are in series. In your case it is the air cleaner snorkle, the air filter, the turbocharger, maybe an intercooler, the intake manifold, the valves and the turbocharger (again) and the exhaust system. Because the air must go through each element in order it will only flow as much as the most restrictive item in the chain. If Cummins specified the air cleaner correctly it is matched to the rest of the intake and exhaust system and changing to a bigger/more efficient air filter will not improve air flow because something else is the limiting factor. I suspect that you will not see a noticeable improvement in power out by just changing the filter element.
Note that many after market power packages include K&N filters. This is because the package improves the air flow in other areas to the point that the filter element becomes the limiting factor. Banks would not give you a $100 filter element if they could meet their advertised power without it!
So you may not get any more horses but you it will still work good when it is dirty and you can clean it and reuse it for the life of your truck. For some of us that is reason enough!
;-)
Larry
