k&n vs. uni

[JACK STRAW]

Curtis Sparks racing told me that my K&N air filter with a Outers Wrap will do little for dirt protection.Mine fits inside the air horn.They recommend their K&N that fits over the airbox horn with their foam wrap over it He said that would give better dirt protection.So is a UNI better than a K&N that is wrapped for dirt protection?

[on the rocks]

UNI is best. simple at that.

[JOHNDOE83]

In my opinion yes the uni is better.

With the filter "inside" the air horn, your actually losing airflow and power.

The best thing about UNI is you can wash it out with soap and water, dry it and re- use it until it falls apart.

[DragonGunner]

This has been beat to death since I've been a member here. Some swear by UNI an some swear by K&N....I have run K&N on 2 machines since 2000 and 2004 with a ton of hours in alot of conditions. Easy to clean, easy to maintain, and so far they are still like new. Run a outer wear over them.

[Longdong]

I am sure if you add a foam filter over a k&n it we be just as good if not better than a uni. But you don't have to add anything too a uni but oil!

[jman7290]

UNI is the only way to go. Everyone I know runs them. A big group,of us go to the Hattfield McCoy Trails once or twice a year. The first time we went four of us had K&N's, and all four of our quads were smoking when we got home. Since that ride we been running UNI's and have had no problems. An expensive lesson learned. They don't cost that much so buy two if you ride a lot or go on riding trips, that way you can clean one when you get back from riding and let it dry while you,are running the other one.

[Stickman400]

I've also ran a K&N with an outerwear since I bought my 400 brand new and it never gave me any problems. And when I put a new top end on it 6 years later it didn't have a speck of dirt in the intake or anywhere inside the engine. I'll agree that K&Ns are junk and garbage without a outerwear, but with an outerwear it's just as good as a UNI. Maintainance is the key, if you take care and maintain it, then it will work just fine. Jman did you or your budies have an outerwear on that K&N when you ran it?

[jman7290]

No we didn't, but why spend $80.00 for a K&N filter that are meant for the street, and another $20 or $30 bucks for an outerwear when you can get a UNI for just $30.00? You could almost get four of them for the price of the K&N, and the outerwear. I do run an Outerwear over my aluminum air box to help keep water out because I cut two big square holes in the top of the lid under the air scoop to help it breath.

[Stickman400]

I only paid $40 for the K&N and then $10 for an outerwear back in the day. I know the price is insane for one nowadays, I'd deff. get a UNI if I was going to buy an aftermarket filter today. Pretty much the only reason I bought one WAYYY back then is because it's easier to maintain then a foam filter(atleast for me it is).

[jman7290]

Yeah, I had a K&N on my Mustang and my RC truck so I got one for the ole 400 also. It just did not work out as well on the quad!!!

[JACK STRAW]

do you need to run a inner cage with a UNI. or are they strong enought not to collpse

[dxcody]

I actually rode mine on accident today without the cage and it didn't affect it at all.

[on the rocks]

My uni is straight foam and its fine. No cage needed.

[jman7290]

I run mine with the cage, but I cut a little off of it so it would fit in my air box better.

[CJM]

I prefer the uni. I honestly do not feel the Kn filters tiny particles as well. Maybe with an outwears but still.

I do ride in the sand, so filtering is critical.

[Stickman400]

Since this thread is here I got a quick question for you UNI guys. WHAT THE **** IS WRONG WITH YOU........lol I'm kiddin'. Had to do it. Anyway, does the UNI filter go OVER the intake tube or inside it? I'm assuming it goes outside and the cage goes inside pinching the intake between it and sealing it, like the stock setup. My K&N I have now goes inside it but Sparks makes a kit that goes OVER it claiming it makes MOORE POWEEERRR. So I'm debating on getting a new UNI or get the Sparks kit (Since my K&N has about had it after nearly 7 years) that has the foam cover that goes over the K&N.

[JACK STRAW]

Uni goes over. Sparks racing's statement to me was the reason I asked the question, which was better. They make a ring that goes inside and use what I think is a 450r filter that would fit on the outside. I am going to go with a Uni, their aluminum flow ring and no cage

[MtnEX]

I've posted some pics here somewhere that tell the tale of K&N filters and fine particulate dust.

They don't stop it, not even with Bel Ray's super tacky aerosol oil you can use on gauze or foam.

I have tried ever filter known to man besides the S&B type 8 ply gauze and can tell you that anything that will pass the outerwears will walk right through the filter media and into your motor.

Oiled foam stops the fine stuff in it's tracks.

[dougyunker]

Since we are on the filter topic, what oil do you guys use? I tried the green No Toil stuff this summer, but it is ridiculously sticky and hard to clean!

[Stickman400]

I think most the guys on here use PJ1 spray on filter oil.

[NacsMXer]

Originally posted by Stickman400
I think most the guys on here use PJ1 spray on filter oil.

X2, that's my fav oil to use on my UNI.

Sprays on nicely and sets up ultra tacky. Minimal bleeding of oil from the filter. No Toil was pretty bad for oil bleeding for me.

[CJM]

I wont use anything else besides the spray on PJ1. I tried the oil that comes in a bottle and all it does it make a mess.

[cheater13]

My vote goes for UNI. I switched from a K@N setup awhile ago. I also use PJ1 oil.

[Stickman400]

Well I finally decided to give in. Was shopping around getting a few odds and ends on RM and decided to get my self a few christmas presents. I also like how the color of the filter matches my color scheme on the quad. It was like it was meant to be, lol.

http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/Stickman400/Quad%20Pics/20121214_225139.jpg
http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/Stickman400/Quad%20Pics/20121214_232214.jpg

Also got the new 2013 Metal Mulisha graphics to see what they look like on my 400. I'll post a pic of them just taped on over the old ones and see what you guys think. I'm not sure I like the look of them over the old ones.
http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/Stickman400/Quad%20Pics/20121214_225116.jpg

[MtnEX]

Is that the uni with the metal coming out the end that the tube clamps down on? Or does it have an adapter ring to clamp in the tube and clamp the filter on?

[Stickman400]

It's got a metal cage that goes on the inside of the filter and it slips inside the intake tube, then the filter slides over the cage and on the outisde of the intake tube.