I originally went with K&N because of the hype, and seeing the display in action really opened my eyes.. and I was 18 and didn't know squat.
Well I'd like to see that test again with the paper element filter "coked". Even if the K&N shot more air thru, it's also pushing more silicon too.
I ran a K&N air filter on my Ranger for probably 175k. I was cleaning the filter every 3 years, no notice in anything.
I switched back to a paper element when my stock airbox finally cracked a little, and would've failed my smog check. so i put a replacement airbox in and decided to put a Wix in place. the K&N is sitting in the wix box, very dirty. I have run the wix for about 2000 miles. I have noticed a small hit in gas mileage. I don't believe the filter is coked enough yet to acheive maximum air flow. However my oil does not look like tar!
with the K&N I'd have black oil around 500 miles on new Synpower. I figured for years the engine was dirty. The 4.0 has been fed Synpower 5w40 since 48k. I'm now at 240k. I know Valvoline doesnt have a high detergency package.
So I'm now convinced, the K&N will stay in the box.
I had a K&N rep come visit me last month, the guy pushed every benefit imaginable, even stating they modified the oil so it doesn't seep off like it used to. Well that's actually old news. it's the overoilers that get this issue usualy.
What's strange is in my '89 Firebird, it had a circular standup filter, I ran a K&N in that from 12k, my oil didn't get dirty like it did in my Ranger. I'm wondering if it's due to the placement of the airbox and intake hole. It wasn't easy for dirt to get in there.