Smoking problem fixed!

Now that is a new one; glad it is fixed and good to hear the experience.

As far as my experience with K&N: I have used one for 15+ years on a turbocharged rally car; the air cleaner canister has openings to help flow and so the filter sees the direct air with all the dust that crops up from time to time; rally competition is a VERY dirty environment at times. I have not found any dirt anywhere: in the turbo compressor area, the intercooler or connecting hard pipes and silicon lines, or in the injection throttle body. I have found no evidence of dirt getting into the cylinders.

I do keep it well cleaned an oiled, and it gets more attention than a standard car. So perhaps any real issues that may have occurred come from poor installation or maintenance. Also, the filter is large for the engine size: 2.6L Mitsubishi Starion. Perhaps the lower air velocity per square inch of a large filter element helps.

I do have to add that I felt no real performance difference with either the K&N or a good paper element.