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OEM air filter question

1887 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  SirKeats
I changed my original air filter at 15k and put in a fram filter from walmart. I had so much trouble getting the air box to fit back correctly that i swore i would only use a Nissan filter next time. the original one with the black gasket would go back in perfectly but the fram with the orange gasket was a big pain. well, it is next time so i ordered a new OEM filter from courtesy parts. got it today and damned if it doesn't have an orange gasket with white paper. the original one had a black gasket with pinkish paper. it has the correct part number (16546-7S000) printed on it along with "made in mexico." No box, it is in a plastic bag with no markings. So did i get another fram or did Nissan change something, or both?
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Yes you have the correct filter. I took out my 08 filter and installed a K&N filter. The oem filter is an orange w/white paper with same part#'s. I still have the oem filter.
ecmeyla said:
Yes you have the correct filter. I took out my 08 filter and installed a K&N filter. The oem filter is an orange w/white paper with same part#'s. I still have the oem filter.
Thank you.
I had to replace my air box because of this issue. The plastic cracked on 2 of the 3 hold down points.

How much is a K & N and where is the best place to get it?
The K&N will run you about $60, most parts stores should carry them.
Dorsey said:
I changed my original air filter at 15k and put in a fram filter from walmart. I had so much trouble getting the air box to fit back correctly that i swore i would only use a Nissan filter next time. the original one with the black gasket would go back in perfectly but the fram with the orange gasket was a big pain. well, it is next time so i ordered a new OEM filter from courtesy parts. got it today and damned if it doesn't have an orange gasket with white paper. the original one had a black gasket with pinkish paper. it has the correct part number (16546-7S000) printed on it along with "made in mexico." No box, it is in a plastic bag with no markings. So did i get another fram or did Nissan change something, or both?
i had the same problem with a purolator filter, returned it for a Fram, went in like it should.
dss90c said:
The K&N will run you about $60, most parts stores should carry them.
I ordered mine from autopartswhorehouse.com for $37.57 plus $5.50 shipping.

I have the same problem with the air cleaner by the way. It just doesn't seem to fit right. And it took several minutes of fiddling with it to get the two bottom tabs to stay in when the clips were snapped. POS.
i just pulled what i believe to be the orig filter that came with the truck and replaced with a fram temporarily while i wait for the oem one to be delivered. my original was, too, a black gasket with orange paper. my fram is orange gasket with white paper. it also appeared to me that the filter i pulled was lightly oiled... though it could just be because the thing was filthy and the idiots on the lot didn't ever think to change it.

at any rate, i was fully expecting the OEM replacement to be the black gasket with orange paper... possibly pre-oiled. sounds like this isn't going to be the case.

i'd be very curious to know if, perhaps, fram is making the oem one now? or even more interested to know if there's any difference between the two (filtration wise) since it now appears as though they're the same filter (appearance wise anyway).

also, i know i'm a noob here... but i've been reading as much as i can on these boards and it sounds like you'll get better fuel economy with a stock filter. the K&N will give you a couple more horses under the hood perhaps, but you'll see a bit of a drop in your millage (i don't know that it's significant, but it'll drop nonetheless). more air = more fuel = more power & less fuel economy. less air = less fuel = less power & more fuel economy.

since i'm not in any particular need of more power than comes with the truck stock, i'm sticking with the oem filter so that i maximize my fuel economy. obviously the needs of the individual will vary though.
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SirKeats said:
i just pulled what i believe to be the orig filter that came with the truck and replaced with a fram temporarily while i wait for the oem one to be delivered. my original was, too, a black gasket with orange paper. my fram is orange gasket with white paper. it also appeared to me that the filter i pulled was lightly oiled... though it could just be because the thing was filthy and the idiots on the lot didn't ever think to change it.

at any rate, i was fully expecting the OEM replacement to be the black gasket with orange paper... possibly pre-oiled. sounds like this isn't going to be the case.

i'd be very curious to know if, perhaps, fram is making the oem one now? or even more interested to know if there's any difference between the two (filtration wise) since it now appears as though they're the same filter (appearance wise anyway).

also, i know i'm a noob here... but i've been reading as much as i can on these boards and it sounds like you'll get better fuel economy with a stock filter. the K&N will give you a couple more horses under the hood perhaps, but you'll see a bit of a drop in your millage (i don't know that it's significant, but it'll drop nonetheless). more air = more fuel = more power & less fuel economy. less air = less fuel = less power & more fuel economy.

since i'm not in any particular need of more power than comes with the truck stock, i'm sticking with the oem filter so that i maximize my fuel economy. obviously the needs of the individual will vary though.
I just bought a K&N at my local Autozone for $36.99. I went for a Fram, but upon seeing I could get the K&N for only $20.00 more, it was a no-brainer for me.

The K&N is actually supposed to provide better airflow (efficiency) and all else the same it should provide slightly better gas mileage. I have less than 8 miles on mine so I can't comment on real world results.
matt33 said:
I just bought a K&N at my local Autozone for $36.99. I went for a Fram, but upon seeing I could get the K&N for only $20.00 more, it was a no-brainer for me.

The K&N is actually supposed to provide better airflow (efficiency) and all else the same it should provide slightly better gas mileage. I have less than 8 miles on mine so I can't comment on real world results.
i've read here the opposite. the injection system on our engines is computer controlled to maintain a specific fuel to air mix. when the trucks computer senses the increased air going in = it's going to increase the fuel going in as well which is going to = reduced economy BUT more horse power.

if you (we) were able to retain the same fuel input while increasing the air input, then yes, the higher air-flow would help with economy. but without computer equipment, i'm not aware that any of us can do that.

this is my understanding of things based on what i've read here on the board anyway. i could be wrong. definitely track it and let me know though because if i'm wrong and the K&N does provide better economy... i'll be picking one up.
I will keep records and report back. However, I just got my Titan (used) last weekend so I don't yet have a firm handle on OEM filter MPG. All today I had the dealer flush and fill the ATF, had new Revo's aligned/balanced, and I changed the rear diff fluid w/ M1 75-145. With all those variables it may be difficult for me to measure the K&N results.

I hadn't given any thought to the computer sending extra fuel to compensate for the additional air from the K&N. I'm new here, but if that's the case, wouldn't a well used OEM filter provide the highest MPG?
correct. at least that's what i've concluded based on what i've read here. not that k&n is bad at all... indeed, it should give you some more spunk under the hood. just gonna eat into your mpg a little is all, so it all depends on what you're after.

i too am new to the titan (had mine for a week now) so i can't say from direct experience, but i've read a bunch here on the boards about fuel economy and based on the information i've seen about the k&n's it's what i said about the computer compensating with extra fuel in order to achieve the preset mix ratio that the computer calls for.

maybe someone with more experience though can verify?
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