View Full Version : which panel filter?
my air filter needs replacing, and i was considering changing it for an aftermarket type one (not an induction kit, just an uprated air panel filter).
one of my mates has recommended a K&N type, as this is what he has and says it is good. does anyone on here have any opinions or reviews? what other types are there, and what are they like by comparison?
also, is there any noticable benefit (performance wise) to fitting an aftermarket filter? if so, am i obliged to tell my insurance company? i would be going for an induction kit, but the insurance thing is bothering me. my insurance company told me that i cannot modify my car till i am 25! for now, the panel filter will have to do.
finally, is there much change to induction noise using an aftermarket filter? i have a forge DV, so will this sound louder?
monkeynuts
31-01-2005, 22:03
Hi Russ I have ben using a Green Cotton panel filter for 3 months and contry to rumours about damaging the maf its been fine.Turbo seems to spin up a bit better and all round pick up improved but its a matter of opinion.
cordobabrendy
31-01-2005, 23:29
green here too, not noticed any difference tbh, but then my car was detuned when a new standard ecu was fitted at the same time as the filter.
Scotty_b
31-01-2005, 23:32
I ran a a K&N and my MAF died so im now getting a bmc panel, just to be different!
Running a K&N panel filter have been for well over a year, its fine, however I washed it out and then re-oiled it lightly, i periodically check my airbox too for oil buildup and give it a clean out, no problems. Excessive over oiling is the issue more than the filter type.
Scotty_b
31-01-2005, 23:36
I think i may have had a dodgy K&N as it killed a TT as well!
ibizacupra
01-02-2005, 08:25
I ran a a K&N and my MAF died so im now getting a bmc panel, just to be different!
explain why so many std cars have failed MAF's..... can't be their paper filters can it.
as supplied they're all pretty good, but worth checking. If in doubt blot them out before fitting with kitchen towel. (same goes when re-oiling them after cleaning)
You will find oil in your intake pipes, some of which may be on the back of the MAF, but this is oil breather mist, which is blown back to the MAF on DV venting. Intake side of MAF housing will be oil and dust free..
Watch out for your breather systems folks... the 1.8T's chuff pretty hard from the cylinder head and block breather vents.
Scotty_b
01-02-2005, 08:49
yeah i never blotted the filter (my own fault) i got the filter before i joined here and took it off as soon as i stsrted to read the threads. The MAF could have been anything i just find it strange that one filter on two differnt cars and they both had maf faliure
There was a fair bit of oil in my I/C and intake pipework but my car has never used anything but a stock paper filter. I'm inclined to agree with Bill that the risk to MAFs from oiled filters is overstated.
ibizacupra
01-02-2005, 12:38
There was a fair bit of oil in my I/C and intake pipework but my car has never used anything but a stock paper filter. I'm inclined to agree with Bill that the risk to MAFs from oiled filters is overstated.
Oil contamination is engine oil contamination and caused by the breather system its vent location on intake pipe, and proximity to DV vent.
I am convinced of this from what I see on my own motor. I have had oil literally dripping off the end of the MAF sensor on the engine side.. engine oil. Dynatwist side dry as a bone and dust free as you would expect. MAF worked fine however despite this.. Amazingly.
some people who coat their own filters can get carried away and this will allow excess coating to be drawn thru the filter, with the MAF being next in line to get coated. MAF's do not like being knocked, banged or any vibration. This is a killer for them in my experience.
Luck of the draw seems to be a factor also, along with dare I say it some service exchange MAF's which I am dubious of. New? recycled? Hmmmm.
If in doubt blot it out.. :D
You will find oil in your intake pipes, some of which may be on the back of the MAF, but this is oil breather mist, which is blown back to the MAF on DV venting. Intake side of MAF housing will be oil and dust free..
Watch out for your breather systems folks... the 1.8T's chuff pretty hard from the cylinder head and block breather vents.[/QUOTE]
This is the reason bosch have given for failing sensors.The mist comes up intake when engines hot and been switched off. They said it was worse if the engine was switched off then restarted after 5 mins.
Some mercs/vauxhalls use same sensors with not as much trouble they say it's down to breather pipe position. I've put a catch tank on to try and avoid this problem:)
ibizacupra
01-02-2005, 15:53
This is the reason bosch have given for failing sensors.The mist comes up intake when engines hot and been switched off. They said it was worse if the engine was switched off then restarted after 5 mins.
Some mercs/vauxhalls use same sensors with not as much trouble they say it's down to breather pipe position. I've put a catch tank on to try and avoid this problem:)
Hmmm.
You heard this from Bosch or someone associated with Bosch?
Not heard this one.
Looking at the breathers they are close to the MAF and on Ibiza's are adjacent to the DV vent..
I know a lot of oil comes out of the cylinder head breather system to be blown about by the DV..
You will find oil in your intake pipes, some of which may be on the back of the MAF, but this is oil breather mist, which is blown back to the MAF on DV venting. Intake side of MAF housing will be oil and dust free..
Watch out for your breather systems folks... the 1.8T's chuff pretty hard from the cylinder head and block breather vents.
This is the reason bosch have given for failing sensors.The mist comes up intake when engines hot and been switched off. They said it was worse if the engine was switched off then restarted after 5 mins.
Some mercs/vauxhalls use same sensors with not as much trouble they say it's down to breather pipe position. I've put a catch tank on to try and avoid this problem:)
Interesting .... BOSCH maf (Very similar in design to that of the 1.8t) on my old car was fine (Fiat Coupe Turbo) and never read about a single failure all the time I was on their forum either.
A
Hmmm.
You heard this from Bosch or someone associated with Bosch?
Not heard this one.
Looking at the breathers they are close to the MAF and on Ibiza's are adjacent to the DV vent..
I know a lot of oil comes out of the cylinder head breather system to be blown about by the DV..
Bosch technical,Dave Tempest he works with bosch germany(head quarters)he does aftermarket training for bosch systems. He never said any thing about DV. I could only imagine a very small amount of oil coming thru DV as it would only be the slight leakage from the turbo seals.Bosch seemed more bothered how close breather pipe to MAF.
ibizacupra
01-02-2005, 18:42
Bosch technical,Dave Tempest he works with bosch germany(head quarters)he does aftermarket training for bosch systems. He never said any thing about DV. I could only imagine a very small amount of oil coming thru DV as it would only be the slight leakage from the turbo seals.Bosch seemed more bothered how close breather pipe to MAF.
Very interesting Dan..
Nice to hear confirmation of my own theories re oil breather system and MAF's.
I mention DV not from oil pass thru from DV but from the way it blows back into inlet tract right next to the oil breather vent... blows the breather oil mist back across MAF outlet. Exaggerated on higher boosted cars with more pressure to vent etc.
Nice info.
My own car is going external catch tank & breather system as I have gone baffled sump now which has additional oil return line for catch tank system drain.
I would be interested to know Dave Tempest's thoughts on the DV blowing back the crankcase oil breather vent fumes... its a motive force blowing an oily resdue around the intake pipe where the MAF lives. I sure know mine suffered it big time, literally dripping with oil, upstream of the vent and DV... it blew there somehow. :hide:
(MAF did'nt fail however..)
:cheers: