How does it cost more if it will outlast the car?
Mine lists at $25, which adds up to a $46 K&N real fast.
you HAVE TO replace the paper filter..
TD air filters are NOT cheap around here, unless you want some cheap no-name, white box vato-zone, or O'reilly garbage..
my K&N filters cost $5 at u-pluck-it.. thats LESS than a brand new cheap paper filter..
my intake tract is ALWAYS spotless..
IDK dude.. they run K&N filters on rigs that run the Dakar rally, the Baja 500 and 1000, as well as plenty of other dusty races..
im gonna stand by what i said, if they are cleaned and oiled properly, they will filter almost as much dust out of the air as a paper filter, but with ALOT more flow..
im gonna say that the guy you got your truck from, was an idiot, and probably used compressed air to blow the junk out of his K&N filter, and blew the gauze apart, leaving big holes in the filter media, just letting dust RIGHT THRU..
ive run K&N filters on ALL of my ATVs and motorcycles.. they are often times ridden in VERY dusty conditions.. and ive never had a dirty intake duct, or dirty carb throat either..
(plus, another reason to run a K&N filter, is when you CANT or dont want to run an air box.. ALL of my charge/intake piping is on the same side, so i have NO ROOM to run a stock air box on my car.. i would have to re-locate too much stuff to make the TD air box work, but a K&N pod fits nicely)