Question about modifying my air filter...

Nasher · 9 Mar 2015 at 19:47

Normaly the K&N filters only make a difference on tuned cars that will make use of the extra air intake. E.g. the Ford STs with the Mountune kit fitted.

The best you will see on a standard car is a few more mpg. Because the engine on a modern car will only use the extra air for efficiency, unless it's been remapped and told otherwise.

ADT · 9 Mar 2015 at 19:53

Please don't waste your money on something like this, it will make no difference!

Akagi · 9 Mar 2015 at 20:24

Rybo89 said:
Another day, another acme question

I try my best.

Diddums said:
I'd love to see someone give Acme a pack of cable ties, a few rolls of duct tape, some basic tools and a weekend with his car.

I reckon he'd turn it into a Phaeton

You're damn right!

acemastr said:
Not likely, have you seen his wiring job?

Hey! I fixed that! :eek:

I'll just buy a new paper one then. Gosh, you people are such spoilsports.

Begbie · 9 Mar 2015 at 20:31

Paper filters are better than foam anyway. Foam lasts longer, but paper filters are so cheap why bother.

www.cliosport.net/threads/fastcar-clio-172-air-filter-test.445339/

1.3bhp increase on a 172, so yeah pointless unless you want it.

Akagi · 9 Mar 2015 at 20:40

I am torn between buying a paper air filter, and doing it anyway and reporting back about how disappointed I was.

shauncr91 · 9 Mar 2015 at 20:41

Go spend £100+ on a K&N kit then report back about how mint is in when in reality it's **** and made no difference. That's what most people do

Rybo89 · 9 Mar 2015 at 20:56

Was pretty awesome for my old Fiesta ST.

Duke · 9 Mar 2015 at 21:11

Begbie said:
www.cliosport.net/threads/fastcar-clio-172-air-filter-test.445339/

1.3bhp increase on a 172, so yeah pointless unless you want it.

All of those tests were well within an error of margin you'd expect on the rollers as well.

shauncr91 · 9 Mar 2015 at 21:14

Rybo89 said:
Was pretty awesome for my old Fiesta ST.

Because the ST's stock system was intentionally designed to reduce power

mx0range · 9 Mar 2015 at 21:50

shauncr91 said:
Because the ST's stock system was intentionally designed to reduce power

something i intend to fix in the future! (are you on stoc.com?)

Akagi · 9 Mar 2015 at 22:05

shauncr91 said:
Go spend £100+ on a K&N kit then report back about how mint is in when in reality it's **** and made no difference. That's what most people do

I have no intention to do that, all I would do is spend £30 on a K&N panel filter and thingamabobby it to the whatsamajig.

shauncr91 · 9 Mar 2015 at 22:28

mx0range said:
something i intend to fix in the future! (are you on stoc.com?)

yes mate, same username

Freefaller · 10 Mar 2015 at 07:42

Save your money.

Frozennova · 10 Mar 2015 at 09:21

Pointless IMO.

VWs can also be quite finicky with aftermarket panel filters that are oiled too as it tends to cover the MAF sensor in crap

InvaderGIR · 10 Mar 2015 at 09:55

Acme said:
With the 'induction roar' I can be marginally happier as I get overtaken by lorries.

A panel filter won't give you any extra noise either anyway as the whole air induction system is still the same as original, just the filter material has changed. You'd only gain noise from a cone filter kit and then only when in wide open throttle applications...so not when lorries are overtaking you.

This is the stock filter in my mk2:

And this is a chav cone:

The cone makes extra induction noise on WOT which is all chavvy and stuff, but I didn't fit it for noise or power as often they actually lose you power and the noise is just silly. I fitted as you can just about see in the first pic, the old air filter was fouling on my custom head lamps due to the length of them, so I needed some space and the cone was the only way to go.
As a side note, I also have since changed the awful rusty slam panel.

Basically this:

Howard said:
I wouldn't waste your time (and money), it won't make a blind bit of difference. Just save up for the better car that you keep saying you want!

Josh · 10 Mar 2015 at 10:05

Back in 2005ish, my mate spent around £90 on a K&N filter kit, for his Fiesta Pop +.

Did nothing other than make the car sound more ropey than it did.

He then went on a mad spening spree, blue hoses, neons, stickers, Ford racing sunscreen the works.

Looked lovely when it caught fire on the A331.

xs2man · 10 Mar 2015 at 11:00

I used a Pipercross panel on an old golf gti (1.8T) and it ruined a MAF. Changed it out for a Green cotton one, and it was fine. Don't know if it actually made much difference mind you, but that car did have other mods anyway.

I did, however, drill the airbox for more noise. It worked well.

Of course, I was young and stupid then, and have since confirmed I will never again do anything more than a remap on any car in the future. Maybe, if I was pushed, a new back-box to release some note if the car had a suitable engine.

Freefaller · 10 Mar 2015 at 11:11

There are very few aftermarket induction kits that actually add power - a few do, but they tend to cost a lot of money.

bledd · 10 Mar 2015 at 11:22

Freefaller said:
There are very few aftermarket induction kits that actually add power - a few do, but they tend to cost a lot of money.

This.

They tend to be made by the racing tuning company for that manufacturer.

eg..

Nizmo
Mugen
TRD

etc.

Better off spending your money replacing the the following.. (a service)

oil
oil filter
air filter
plugs
fuel filter

Removing your spare wheel would probably do more than a K&N filter alone.

fastwunz · 10 Mar 2015 at 11:35

I had a green cotton one on my old clio Williams. It genuinely sounded fantastic. Didn't make the blind bit of difference to the pace but my god it sounded good