I think Skoda have got this wrong yet again , IIRC the frequency for the air filter replacement is every 4 years or 60,000 miles , I noticed when my VRS octy got to around the 35k point the performance felt a bit down , well a lot down and the fuel consumption increased so I checked the air filter , it was pretty similar to this one , I've since replaced it with a K&N which works better for longer and I just clean it every couple of years

Looks like the Superb is suffering as well , this is the element from my 29k CR170, needless to say I'll be changing it myself , I wondered why the car was doing less mpg of late

So top tip , if the car feels a bit flat or starts using more fuel then check the air filter for what they cost you may as well replace every service imo

Not bad at all. My Megane 1.9dci has to be cleaned every 10000km( paper filter was really bad so I got a JR filter)

Here the original filter costs 20€ and like your foto shows it has the MANN FILTER number that should cost around 12€ I think.

Or get one like this

Running an air filter longer than 20k is false economy imo, for what they cost it's better to give the engine's lungs the best chance you can, and huffing through a clogged filter isn't the best way to do it.GSF sell Mann filter's, half VW cost and the same dam filter less the logo.

Edited 18 April, 201115 yr by Supurbia

Not bad at all. My Megane 1.9dci has to be cleaned every 10000km( paper filter was really bad so I got a JR filter)

Here the original filter costs 20€ and like your foto shows it has the MANN FILTER number that should cost around 12€ I think.

Or get one like this

Its not good when you think Skoda consider this to be not even half worn

I'll put a K&N in like the Octy , same part number and only costs £30 and will last forever just needing a clean every 20k or so

Its not good when you think Skoda consider this to be not even half worn

I'll put a K&N in like the Octy , same part number and only costs £30 and will last forever just needing a clean every 20k or so

I was comparing to my Megane.

At 17K I took out my paper filter on my Octavia and put a panel one.

That´s why I know the prices.

My paper filter was not bad at all but have a friend with a Fabia Tdi and he also thought strange why the air filter was not changed at 30K when it when in for oil change.

Since was similar to yours in dirtiness he went out and got a new one off dealer.

And like yours they will only change at 60K.

I have the 2010 Superb Estate 170 2.0l diesel, what K&N air filter would you recommend for this car. I have looked at the following ones K&N Panel Filter For Skoda Superb Mk2 2.0 Diesel (2008+) - 33-2865 or to go for the full induction kit K&N 57s Air Induction Kit For Skoda Superb 2.0 (Diesel) (2008+) - 57s-9501. As i am not sure how this will affect the warranty i would appreciate any input / recommendations on the matter

I wouldnt fit an induction kit as the noise can be a little obtrusive from those, just a panel filter should be fine , as for warranty i dunno its not an original spec part so if a subsequent failure could be traced to it i guess they wouldnt honour it but its only an air filter, if in doubt just fit a replacement factory one on a more regular schedule

I have a couple of comments. Firstly these filters work on an adsorption process (not absortion). They do not work like a sieve where every hole is smaller than the smallest particle. Adsorption works by catching most of the particles as they try to weave their way through the labyrinth of fibres. The first particle may be caught in the last fibre so it is difficult to make a judgement by how dirty the filter appears. The finer particles tend to have a better run through the fibres before they get adsorbed whereas the larger particles tend to crash into the fibres at an earlier stage because they are less agile. Even a Hepa filter only catches 99.997% of particles, the rest get through - even on day one.

Secondly 2010 was an execptionally bad year for airborn contamination due to Icelandic volcanic activity. This level of contamination may not have been forseen by Skoda designers (and also the airline/aircraft industry!). Until last Autumn my caravan was parked outdoors in Wales. When I went to it in Spring 2010 it was filthy and the farmer said that this was due to the dry Spring and the dust from the farm tracks. I hoped that the first heavy shower would wash it off but eventuially I had to go on top with a bucket and mop and the muck took some shifting. The residue left in the bucket was clearly grey, gritty pumice. Like many of us I wondered what all the fuss was about last year especially as my holiday to the Canaries was delayed by 5 days. Now I know different!

Personally I would put complete faith in the designer's choice of filter. When contamination is exceptional I would increase the frequency of filter changes. Best Regards Carloski

I found both on my 56 plate Octavia some years ago and now the 09 Superb that with or without volcanic activity the service intervals are too long for the filter , both mpg and performance is affected and starts to deteriorate after 20-25,000 miles, the benefit of the K&N is that a quick clean every 18 months keeps everything running well as an aside the the average mpg has improved by 1mpg since fitting the K&N* but the downside is the induction noise has increased

For what they cost and the time taken to change them I think this is a false economy from Skoda and they should be changed every 30k or two years imo

*mirrors the improvement seen on our Octavia VRS