K&N Engineering
The company that invented the reusable high-flow air filter in 1969 is still the benchmark. K&N cold air intakes, drop-in filters, and oil filters are on thousands of track cars, daily drivers, and dedicated builds — because the product does what it says.
Shop K&N at Track Ready ProductsAbout K&N Engineering
K&N Engineering was founded in 1969 in Riverside, California by two motorcycle racers looking for an air filter that could survive dusty, high-demand off-road conditions without killing power. Their answer was an oiled cotton gauze design — a filter that could trap contaminants efficiently while allowing significantly more airflow than the dense paper elements of the era. That filter became the K&N High-Flow Air Filter, and it changed how the performance industry thinks about intake filtration.
More than 50 years later, K&N still develops and tests all filter designs at their Riverside headquarters in an ISO 5011-compliant laboratory. Their cold air intake systems are manufactured primarily in Grand Prairie, Texas. The product line has expanded to cover over 12,000 applications across cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, and marine engines — but the core principle hasn't changed: less restriction, better filtration, longer service life.
For track and HPDE use specifically, K&N's reusable filter design is a practical advantage. One filter, cleaned after each event, replaces an ongoing stream of disposable paper elements. And the airflow gains are most meaningful exactly where you need them — at wide-open throttle on a hot lap.
What K&N Makes
Cold Air Intake Systems
Full intake systems that replace the factory airbox and tubing. Aerodynamically engineered to route cooler, denser air to the throttle body with reduced restriction. Dyno-tested horsepower and torque gains backed by documentation in every box.
Shop IntakesHigh-Flow Drop-In Filters
Washable, reusable replacement filters that install directly into the factory airbox in minutes. Oiled cotton gauze media flows up to 50% more air than a paper element, with a service life measured in the hundreds of thousands of miles.
Shop Air FiltersPerformance Oil Filters
High-flow oil filters with a pleated synthetic-blend media for superior oil filtration and consistent flow rate. Built to the same engineering standards as K&N's air filters, with a welded one-inch nut for easy removal. Compatible with synthetic, conventional, and blended oils.
Shop Oil FiltersFilter Recharge Kits & Accessories
K&N's recharge kits include the filter cleaner and correct red filter oil to maintain peak performance. Proper servicing is what makes the reusable design work — K&N's kits take the guesswork out of the process.
Shop AccessoriesK&N on Track: What Actually Matters
At an HPDE or endurance event, you're running at wide-open throttle through corners, hard on brakes, and at the limit of what your street car setup allows. The factory airbox was not designed for this. It pulls warm underhood air through a restrictive paper element and delivers it through a convoluted path that prioritizes noise suppression over flow.
A K&N cold air intake addresses the whole intake path — better filter media, smoother tubing, and cooler air source. The gains show up where you're working hardest, and the reusable filter holds up through event after event without the ongoing cost of replacement elements. If your car is going to the track regularly, a K&N intake is one of the cleaner early investments you can make.
Common Questions
What does K&N Engineering make?
K&N manufactures high-flow air filters, cold air intake systems, short ram intakes, oil filters, cabin air filters, fuel filters, and intake accessories. They cover over 12,000 vehicle applications across cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, and marine engines.
Are K&N cold air intakes good for track use?
Yes. The gains are most pronounced at wide-open throttle — which is exactly where you're operating hardest on track. The reusable filter design also holds up through event after event without ongoing replacement costs, and repositioning the filter away from hot underhood air helps manage intake temperatures across longer sessions.
How long do K&N filters last?
K&N High-Flow Air Filters are designed to last the life of the vehicle. Under normal highway driving conditions, cleaning is only needed around every 100,000 miles. Track use in dusty environments requires more frequent inspection — check after each event. The filter itself is backed by a No-Hassle Lifetime Limited Warranty.
Will K&N products void my factory warranty?
No. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prevents manufacturers from voiding a warranty solely because an aftermarket part was installed. K&N products are designed to work within factory ECU parameters and don't require modifications to other powertrain components. Most K&N intake systems are also CARB-approved for all 50 states.
Where is K&N Engineering based?
K&N Engineering is headquartered in Riverside, California, where all filter designs are tested in an ISO 5011-compliant laboratory. Their primary manufacturing and distribution facility is in Grand Prairie, Texas. The brand was founded in 1969 and remains one of the most recognized names in performance filtration worldwide.
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