Are all K&N filters & housings ok as flame arrestors.
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Are all K&N filters & housings ok as flame arrestors.
I am planning on replacing the carburetors on my 7.4 litres with Holleys and also was considering replacing the factory flame arrestors because they seem restrictive. Some friends tell me that all K&N filters & housings are all OK for marine use but I noticed that K&N sells a marine line but they cost 3-4 times as much as their automotive line. Can anybody shed any light on this? Thanks.
#3
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Will they all function effectively as flame arrestors??? Maybe - maybe not: it really doesn't matter from a legal perspective cause if it doesn't have the USCG approval stamp on it then it isn't legal and your insurance will balk if you have a fire issue and they are able to discover the use of non approved parts.
My guess - since K&N fabric elements all contain a wire supporting mesh within the fabric I would expect them to be effective flame arrestors.
I have even heard, though, that USCG approved K&N's will catch fire under the right conditions (be aware, though, that flame arrestors do NOT have to be "unburnable", they just have to be able to stop a flamefront due to backfire).
My guess - since K&N fabric elements all contain a wire supporting mesh within the fabric I would expect them to be effective flame arrestors.
I have even heard, though, that USCG approved K&N's will catch fire under the right conditions (be aware, though, that flame arrestors do NOT have to be "unburnable", they just have to be able to stop a flamefront due to backfire).
#4
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The K&N marine filter element is exactly the same as the regular elements. You're paying the extra money for a SS enclosure with is stamped with the approval number. And yes, I've actually had one of their elements catch on fire. Apparently fire is not covered under the million mile warantee.
#5
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The filter is not exactly the same. I have two and one is marine, one isnt. Both the same size. The marine version has a more heavy duty stainles steel mesh inside the filter than the auto which just has a thin wire mesh. The thing I dont like about the marine is that it is short. I run a K&N stub stack under mine and the top of the stack is just below the lid. Thats why I bought a taller auto one to try. Didnt make a difference anyhow.
#6
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I just bought a 5 inch tall K&N marine flame arrester from CP performance. Part number is 59-3370. Total height is 61/4 inch. My stock merc was 2 inches tall and 3 inch total. Also the merc is 8 inch diam. and the K&N is 9 inch. I don't expect any performance gain, but I can use more air to my engine, so I figured it couldn't hurt. Plus it looks real nice
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So, let me play a little devil's advocate. With the very little amount of "mileage" that a boat engine actaully sees compared to an auto and the very little amount of "crap" that needs to truly be filtered while on the water, the onlything a K&N may give you is increased flow.
So, why not just use a larger flame arrestor? I made a double height flame arrestor from two Merc stock arrestors and I gotta believe it will outflow any K&N filter.
So, why not just use a larger flame arrestor? I made a double height flame arrestor from two Merc stock arrestors and I gotta believe it will outflow any K&N filter.
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Thanks for the input from everybody. The local speed shop quoted me $75 for the regular and $290 for the marine version. They looked the same and I wasn't sure. It sounds like there are some better deals on the web.