I have used K&N filters in my last 2 cars and I am about to buy one for my Volvo 850. The price of the "recharge kit" is getting higher these days and it makes me wonder if the "oil" and "cleaner" they use in the recharge kit is a commonly available fluid/oil that can be purchased cheaper somewhere else?

Any ideas, money savings, or experience with this?
Thanks a bunch.
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-woodsytf '95 850 wagon 157k

I used K&N on my 850 and a few months after install my MAF was broken. Expensive and frustrating problem because your car will stall and be an unruly beast till you replace it. Can't say for sure the oil on filter ruined the MAF, but it's so close to the filter and others have had the same problem. It's probably not worth hassle or money. Stick with good old Volvo or Mann filters.

I just buy the red colored stuff that K&N sells for my Suburban but I don't run a K&N on the Volvo. The oil, when the filter is new or after a "recharge" has a tendency to foul the MAF sensor. I guess if you buy the oil buy a can of MAF cleaner as well.

...Lee

wow! you know... i wonder if K&N is supported by the air parts manufacturers?

with my last two cars i did a full tune-up that included the hi-flow red air filter and it improved the way they ran and almost eliminated knocking. after a while the knocking returned. i'd clean the air filter and sometimes pull the air sensor and clean the wires... it was a cycle.

i only bought the red filter because i thought id save a few nickels over time, no so much for the "performance"

my local store was out of the K&N's so i was gonna wait. tommorow i'll buy the regular filter. thanks a bunch.
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-woodsytf '95 850 wagon 157k

I've been running a K&N for almost 60,000 mi. with no troubles. I read that the sensors get clogged with dirt. If you clean and recharge your filter properly, no oil should be coming off of it.
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'97 855na, Mobil 1, K&N, various IPD's and eBay's