The Amazing Shrinking Air Filters

[Walt]

I find this all the time...

Wrong:


Right:


The E3450 you get from Van's is not the same as the E3450 from Spruce or other sources, the smaller ones lack the 'B" suffix seen here:


I've not found another source other than Van's for the correct filter.

[TX7A]

See message #4 thru #6
http://www.matronics.com/digest/rv10....html#MESSAGE4

[Walt]

That's my point, the A077A6 is not the same as the A077A6-B but both are listed under the same E3450 PN.

[sprucemoose]

The K&N filters are known to shrink over time, whether from heat or some other reason. How old/ how many hours on the one in the first pic?

I've bought E-3450 from Autozone and it's the same as the one from Vans. Same K&N part #, stands to reason it's the same unit.

[Walt]

I guess I'll just have to go buy one at AZ and then compare it to the ones I get from Van's.

I've seen this at least half dozen times, perhaps they all shrunk exactly the same amount

[sprucemoose]

Are you saying you've never seen these filters shrink over time? Also, I'm still curious how many hours were on the smaller one. We could be talking about two completely separate issues here.

[Kyle Boatright]

Originally Posted by sprucemoose

The K&N filters are known to shrink over time, whether from heat or some other reason. How old/ how many hours on the one in the first pic?

I've bought E-3450 from Autozone and it's the same as the one from Vans. Same K&N part #, stands to reason it's the same unit.

Same here.

[GLPalinkas]

Originally Posted by Kyle Boatright

Same here.

+3 I just bought one for my recent condition inspection (240 hrs). Amazon ($32 IIRC) and it fit perfectly (E-3450). Yes, I cleaned the old one last year per K&N but didn't want to mess with it this year. The new ones come oiled and ready to go.

Walt,
do you have any connections at K&N so that you could check with them and settle this once and for all and have it made into an VAF engine sticky. Comes up all the time. Especially, when well respected AP guys, like yourself, have issues with the E-3450.

As and additional note, I read somewhere (probably here on VAF) that K&N was contacted and stated that the mold had not changed and the "Oil before Use" caution on the molded part was outdated. They come pre-oil'd.

[AlexPeterson]

They do indeed shrink. I believe I'm on my 3rd filter in 12 years. The latest one doesn't seem to be shrinking as much, but the first two looked like the OP pic after about 4 or 5 years.

[Walt]

Ok maybe they do shrink that much over time, I know they shrink a little when you wash them but I had no idea they would shrink this much!

This particular aircraft only has about 450 hrs on it and is about 5 yrs old.

Maybe someone can post the ID/OD of the replacement filter they bought (with no 'B' suffix) and I'll get the same on the new Van's filter.