Has anyone put one of these in and noticed any increase in performance?

I put one on our 496 mag but not for performance but to get real filtration.  The mesh screen that Merc uses isn't going to filter fiine particulant.  Turns out, it was a great move as I had a belt shred one summer and the K & N saved me from sucking all that rubber dust into the intake.  It was bad but a quick wash of the K & N and it was like new.  I doubt if the mesh screen is too restrictive so it's my belief that the K & N won't really give you a boost in performance.  I didn't get any.

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O'
"Little Mascara 3"
2003 266BR,496 MAG w/Bravo III

My family races/rides quads. Our quads:

Me 2007 Raptor 700 R Special Edition with mods

wife 2006 Honda 250 EX with mods

10 year old Sone 2006 Honda 250 EX with mods

7 year old daughter 2007 Honda 90 EX no mods

 I can tell you from experience and testing K&N filters breath better than stock filters but at the expense of grit and dirty intake. However in our boats we dont' exactly have an air filter. So in this case a K &N may be more restrictive than what we have now.

BTW, I tested my theory by using a stock air filter and K&N in both our 250s. After a two day ride at an ATV park I changed the oil on both units. The unit with the K&N was tons worse!

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Limited Edition 230BR 8.2Liter/502CI (GSI Volo Penta) DP-S

LAKATION

Project(s) Completed:
2000 Watt Stereo Systerm
Swimplatforms.com

Coming Soon:
Wakeboard Tower and Speaker Setup
Custom Graphics

I could be wrong, but on boats it's call a flame arrestor and I don't think you can change it out for a paper/cloth media type filter. I do believe the Coast Guard mandates a flame arrestor and a regular filter won't meet the guidelines.  There is very little airborne debris that you need to worry about when out on the water, plus the engine is covered.  Anyone else?

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Mark
2004 235CCR

Mark R Martin:

I could be wrong, but on boats it's call a flame arrestor and I don't think you can change it out for a paper/cloth media type filter. I do believe the Coast Guard mandates a flame arrestor and a regular filter won't meet the guidelines.  There is very little airborne debris that you need to worry about when out on the water, plus the engine is covered.  Anyone else?

Do believe you are correct. But I have seen a few boats with aftermarket goodies. Guess they are taking a chance.

 

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Limited Edition 230BR 8.2Liter/502CI (GSI Volo Penta) DP-S

LAKATION

Project(s) Completed:
2000 Watt Stereo Systerm
Swimplatforms.com

Coming Soon:
Wakeboard Tower and Speaker Setup
Custom Graphics

Mark R Martin:

I could be wrong, but on boats it's call a flame arrestor and I don't think you can change it out for a paper/cloth media type filter. I do believe the Coast Guard mandates a flame arrestor and a regular filter won't meet the guidelines.  There is very little airborne debris that you need to worry about when out on the water, plus the engine is covered.  Anyone else?

K&N does manufacture a few different air filters which are USGC approved for marine applications and are marked with "SAE J1928" to indicate the USCG approval.  Like O'man, I have a K&N on my Merc 8.1L/496 Mag engine and previously had one on my Volvo 5.7L engine. Both were USGC approved and were installed for the purpose of improved air filtration only. No performance gains were realized (or expected) on either engine.

True, there is not much dust to get sucked into the engine while out on the water, but the K&N's have prevented a bunch of carpet fibers from getting sucked in on the Volvo engine. As well as a bunch or rubber dust coming off the serpentine belt on the Merc 496.

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Phil Belcher
2003 266CCR
496 MAG, Bravo 3

I as well have one on our 496 mag and again for true filtration. It is USCG approved.

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2001 266 LTD 496 Mag W/ BIII
" More Nauti Medicine "

Now I know. I'm always learning something on this website. I've wrestled with the air filter thing for my cars for years. I've heard some say that the oil from the filter can coat the mass air flow sensor and screw it up. So on my new 06 Tacoma I left the original filter in there. Some say the hp gains are minimal and not worth the extra price. I guess it's a personal preference kind of thing. Thanks for the info.

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Mark
2004 235CCR