Do you think Replacement panel Filters are worth it?

[Anonymous]

Just wondering what peoples opinions are of replacement Panel Filters are, in terms of performance vs how well they actually filter out the rubbish (long term health of engine) .....

Post our opinion and be sure to put your answer in the poll...

[OPL-20T]

i got one my self and it works good.
and better in every way compared to a standard air filter...

[enj014]

I have had one in my Swift GTi
& now in my Barina SRi

haven't had a problem with crap getting into the engine.

Performance wise,
PAC Performance used to look after my GTi,
& they recommended the K&N Panel Filter over a pod for just street use,
as long as the required Air Box mod's are done to get more cold air to it........
& it wasn't a monetary thing as they could have stitched me up alot more with a Pod & heat shield set up........................

[anicorsa]

I think as long as you keep it in good condition (i.e. Clean it when you should, and reapplying oil) Then its fine. :wink:

I noticed a huge difference over the stock paper filter. :D

[FLY-SRi]

how ofter is the KN panel filter ment to be washed? just between services?

[sunny]

how ofter is the KN panel filter ment to be washed? just between services?

depends how dirty it is ie all depends where you drive ....

check like every 5000km

[anicorsa]

I think around every service is about right.

But some people have told me every 50,000Km.

[Anonymous]

whoever said "no", explain yourself!!!

i'd like to hear the pros and cons!

[Vinnie320]

I have heard they don't filter as well as stock ones. On a stock engine, for street use, they do SFA.. you won't get any extra induction noise from a panel filter and you will not get any power gains.

The only advantage I see in aftermarket panel filters opposed to stock ones is that you can clean them rather than replace them, thus saving a bit of money in the long term. But then again, whats a stock filter worth? $15? $20?

[Rhino]

I've got custom intake with a pod so I can only comment on what I've been told...

They filter the air better but allow more air through. Can't be bad.

If you want induction noise, strip your stock piping and get custom. I've had heaps of comments on the sound of mine (turbo spool up) that you just couldn't hear with the stock intake.

He he all that time and money invested to reduce noise and I go and rip it out!

[Anonymous]

They filter the air better but allow more air through. Can't be bad.



i've been reminded of the physics of that..... " How can something filter air better, but allow more air through?" think about it....
thats what made me start the poll....

[anicorsa]

Its the oil in the foam i believe... Dirt clings to it or something. :?

[anicorsa]

Here's what it says on the K&N box.

Thousands of microscopic cotton threads absorb our specifically formulated oil to create a powerful filtering media, that protects your motor from harmful contaminants. As part of our ongoing commitment to protect your engine, we verify our filtering efficiency through independent tests on a regular basis.

You be the judge... :?

[rjastra]

The facts are that aftermarket panel filters do NOT filter as well as an OEM paper filter and they provide little or no benefit in flow rates.


From Autospeed.

Oh, you might also be contemplating dropping an aftermarket filter insert into your airbox. Chances are you won't gain a thing; based on our previous intake testing, the standard filter element in an un-touched intake system is responsible for only around 3 percent of the total restriction. A drop-in replacement won't make any noticeable difference.

Again, though, the 'advantage' of a washable aftermarket filter might be attractive to you - it depends on the cost of new OE filter replacements versus the initial cost of the aftermarket filter and any necessary washing chemicals. Keep in mind filtration performance as well



We should point out the abovementioned filtering problem can be major. You can be certain car manufacturers extensively test the dust filtration effectiveness of their standard air filter; who knows how effective the filtration of an aftermarket product is? The chances are that if it flows better, it lets bigger particles through to the engine. For this reason, it's dangerous to pay attention to 'filter tests' that have been performed solely on a dyno - the filter that makes the best power is unlikely to be the best filter overall.

[anicorsa]

Performance wise, i think its all about airbox size and how restrictive the airbox and intake piping is.

[Anonymous]

The chances are that if it flows better, it lets bigger particles through to the engine.

Bingo

[Jass]

Isnt there only like 4k gain or something from a pod filter??

[DoomTrooper]

to see the difference all you have to do is take out your K&N and put in stock and watch when you go over 5000 rpm, it feels like crap, this is even more noticable when you take out a pod filter and put in the stock filter, i should know i did this and the box was de-restricted and it still felt very restricted compared to the pod, pretty much a pod that is reasonably shielded or a k&n panel are fairly similar, one gives you slightly better up top-the pod, and the panel gives you slightly more torque down low cause of less hot air, for city driving my fav is the k&n panel and believe me i've had like every type of filter in and this is my preference

just my 2cents from my experience

[FLY-SRi]

how much did u guys pay for ur panel filters? and wot model numba was it?

[shaohaok]

i think changing the air filter ultimately changes the power/torque curve rather than peak figures. i noticed a difference in throttle response and a slightly freeier rev near the top. hope u guys know what i mean :|

[anicorsa]

how much did u guys pay for ur panel filters? and wot model numba was it?

I got a K&N replacement panel model number 33-2212. For the Barina 1.4L. :)

All model numbers are listed on the K&N site. I cant remember what it is though, google it. :wink:

[FLY-SRi]

i ordered my filter for my SRI-T and the model number is KN33-2787 does any1 esle who's got one for there sri-t know if thats the same numba? i spoke to the guy at autobahn and he reckon its rite

[imay]

I've always been told by people I can trust: "more air, more dirt." So I won't use them, unless proven otherwise.
Many "performance" additions are detrimental to every-day city driving. Considering the average guy wouldn't even look under the bonnet more than once a week (lots can go wrong in that time). How many times do you open your air box and CHECK your filter now? Never, I bet! I think you are better off leaving the performance gear to the performance guys. You know, the ones who work on an engine after EVERY outing.
And . . . many performance "shops" are only there to make a buck from suckers. When your engine goes bang, there is always something/someone else they blame. It would never be anything that they sold you! Yeah, right.
Would you ever buy a second-hand car from a young person that has performance mods done to it? Might look nice and sound nice . . . but for how long?
Speaking from experience of course. I've been on both sides of this fence. I've modded engines, and bought cars that have been modded. I've learnt my lessons the hard way.

My two bobs worth!

Ian

[Anonymous]

We had the discussion on the MSN Site Last Year.
After long Heated Battles it was PROVED that Aftermarket Filters are Crap.
Turblue even found a site that show comparisons of Stock,K&N and some other Brand, On this site the Bloke made a Flow Test Bench to test each one and to see how Grit and Dust gets in the Engine.
The Stock one won hands down in all aspects except air into the Engine,
K&N let in small Grains of Grit and Let too much air in.
And the Other Brand was just Crap.

I've had Bad experience with K&N Gemini Turbo.
K&N Pod let in a few Tiny Weeny little pebbles into the Turbo and the rest is all she wrote.
A Letter was written to K&N and Australian Distributor, They told too Basically whistle dixie Because there Product don't do what happened.
But it happened to a Few People I know, 2 WRX and 200SX.

So in closing, Wanna Gamble with ya Car
Goto the Casino :)

[Anonymous]

it was a gemini..... the pebble was doing you a favour!!!!
j/k, i know ur gemini was a beast :twisted:

hopefully, people will read the cons about after market filters and re-think their purchase....

[DoomTrooper]

but i'm telling you now that the stock box makes a huge difference at the top end as compared to a pod filter and ihave felt this and i swear on my life that if you compare them you to will notice it

[Anonymous]

I'm basing my argument on my own personal experience.

Put K&N in, felt a POSITIVE increase, not just noise. Car pulled better, especially after 3500-4000 rpm. De-resticted box and made a custom cold-air intake, THEN I REALLY felt a difference. Car pulled much harder. Just to get comparisons, i put the old one back in, and the car felt crap.

I can see the point in saying "more air, more dirt", but the mollecules of dirt are so friggen tiny, then wont do anything to your engine.
I've had my Panel in there for about 40k kms, and yes it needs to be cleaned, but the car goes much better than the stock paper filter.

[sunny]

k&n panel filter 8)

[tofo]

I can see the point in saying "more air, more dirt", but the mollecules of dirt are so friggen tiny, then wont do anything to your engine.
I've had my Panel in there for about 40k kms, and yes it needs to be cleaned, but the car goes much better than the stock paper filter.

Ahh yes, but look what it did to your clutch :lol:

[Anonymous]

AHAHAHAHAHA nice one! I would pay you that one, however it has nothing to do with my clutch... :)
The clutches in Corsa B's are crap and weak and didn't handle my hard driving style, but to keep on the topic, engine-wise, i haven't had a problem because of the filter.

[anicorsa]

AHAHAHAHAHA nice one! I would pay you that one, however it has nothing to do with my clutch... :)
The clutches in Corsa B's are crap and weak and didn't handle my hard driving style, but to keep on the topic, engine-wise, i haven't had a problem because of the filter.

How many years you had that car?? How many km's it done??

Just to get a bit of a perspective..

[Anonymous]

Bought the car when it had 10K km on it almost 3 years ago. Now it is just about to hit 90k.

[anicorsa]

well 80K of hard driving, isn't too bad for a weak clutch.

Ok, maybe we should get back onto the topic. :wink:

[Anonymous]

FYI this is my 3rd clutch...
I bought the car from some little sh!t that thrashed it, because at 20K i had to have it changed, so this one lasted me 70K... not bad but not good.

[anicorsa]

ok, fair enough... :wink: