Where is the foam adhesive strip supposed to go? I thought you just drop the filter in the box. I don't remember seeing a foam adhesive strip come with a K&N air filter.

 

The foam should stay in the auto parts store with the filter -- not a good idea.

 

The oil in the K&N can contaminate your MAF, especially if you get a bit carried away when re-oiling after cleaning.

This fouled MAF condition will cause you a lot of headaches, and is not worth it for a very questionable 2-3 extra HP.

As was said, the strip goes back in the box, then the box goes in your car, then the entire assembly goes back to the parts store or post office for return shipping to wherever you purchased it from.
Vector

 

If you use it, I don't recall a strip of adhesive.

My XJR came with one. Got a nice dinner paid for when I ebayed it. the design, when properly oiled should not cause maf issues. That said, MOST people overoil it and doing it even once is an expensive and annoying maf sold. I prefer paper filters changed every 6-12k miles; but the K&N car work for you. Check with them as they should be able to answer your question.

I've said it before that I believe K&N, Bosch and Denso have some sort of secret deal going on as K&N sells a lot of MAFS!

 

You guys are tossing your MAF's after filter oil contamination? You don't know how to clean the thing properly? Run K&Ns on all my cars, always have. Cleaned the MAF three times on my XJR due to a little oil fouling, no biggie, works perfect after a cleaning. If you haven't cleaned yours in a while even after running paper filters you might want to try it and see if there isn't a difference.

 

I've used K&N air filters on my Jaguar XJ40, Mazda 3, and Nissan 350Z and never had any problems with them. I usually replaced them with new ones instead of cleaning them.

 

Isn't part of the selling point of the K&N's that they will last forever?

If you have to replace them instead of cleaning and re-oiling them then YOU don't trust the basic design of the filter against your MAF.

Paper filters are simple, cheap and reliable. They also consistently filter smaller particles out of the intake air.

I ask again - Why the risk and cost for a nebulous 2-3 gain in HP, if any?
Vector

 

If placing a cheap filter would do all that K&A said they do .. don't you think Jaguar would have done it?

They don't filter as well ... run it without a filter .. that't even better.