looking at gettin a washable air filter for my vrs, any advice on the best make of panel air filter for it?

People say paper, people also say washable ones are normally oil based and are not good and make your engine explode (sorry exaggeration, its maf which goes and also make things sticky like turbo), but i have piperx in mine.

I personally do it for the economical reasons more than anything thing else. I also think oil based stuff is not an issue so long as its done properly (not ott). Have a search online for more in depth debates its all the same story different era really so nothing new we can add.

Just go standard performance filters don't give any benefit except let more crap in. Oem one is cheap too

It will always divide debate, not just on these cars but pretty much every other car ive ever owned and seen on public forums. For me personally! I would not run a car on anything than an aftermarket filter. As soon as ive taken delivery of a new car, BANG on goes the breathing mod! For me im currently running a pipercross and it seems very reasonable ive also used a green cotton panel filter! I wouldnt worry to much about maf failure etc.. If you silly enough to over oil a filter than I broken maf sensor is to expected. Common sense should dictate, I tend to apply my oil using an old brush very very very sparingly! Ive pretty much used all brands of aftermarket panel filter and I dont think you can go far wrong with the below.

1.BMC

2.Green

3.DNX

4.Pipercross

I would highly recommend ether the BMC or the Green. I would also recommend a DNX filter (If you can find one)

Intrestingly enough I would not recommend a K&N from bad experince from myself and friends. K&N tend to get over rated, when really there strength is in there range of applications and varied product lines..

Just my thoughts anyway haha

Edited 23 August, 201114 yr by TorqueXIsXCheap

Pipercross are the only ones that run totally dry ie not oiled so therefore are probably the best in this application

Pipercross are the only ones that run totally dry ie not oiled so therefore are probably the best in this application

Did xaosx not have problems with his turbo which turned out to be cause by the pipercross?

Also what about ITG? seem to be getting a very good name

Edited 23 August, 201114 yr by wilsy7

Pipercross are the only ones that run totally dry ie not oiled so therefore are probably the best in this application

A member on here has had a turbo damaged because of the amount of muck a Pipercross filter let through. He now uses just a standard paper one. Also the foam filter does have to be oiled to work effectively. See http://www.pipercross.net/panelfilters/cleaning.asp There was a discussion about it on here recently Pipercross panel filter servicing/cleaning?

Also strangely I've read a few bad reports about Green filters and none about K&N. I am happy with my K&N panel filter, although on a rolling road it only gained 1 BHP, I'd imaging it would be about the same with other after-market panel filters.

Edited 23 August, 201114 yr by Jim H

A member on here has had a turbo damaged because of the amount much a Pipercross filter let through.

Really? Like properly proven? Or just speculation? I`v run a pipercross for a long time, no issues at all, and i`m not the only one I know who uses them.

Matt

I have a Pipercross panel filter for my new VRS, along with a mk4 ibiza pd160 intake, I will be fitting it the weekend. Surely if they were that bad it would be common knowledge and people wouldnt use them.

Edited 23 August, 201114 yr by redcupraboy

I would be surprised if an air filter was the sole cause of a broken turbo :wonder:

As said if it was common that pipercross filters would cause this I think they would end up having plenty of law suits, for people trying to tell them that there panel filter has smashed in there turbo.

Im currently running a pipercross, I might swop it for a jabba cone in a box. Im sure it will make zero diffrence but im a sucker for a new toy

I would be surprised if an air filter was the sole cause of a broken turbo :wonder:

As said if it was common that pipercross filters would cause this I think they would end up having plenty of law suits, for people trying to tell them that there panel filter has smashed in there turbo.

Im currently running a pipercross, I might swop it for a jabba cone in a box. Im sure it will make zero diffrence but im a sucker for a new toy

Let us know how that goes cause I have been intrigued by it, wonder what it will sound like?

I changed a k&n filter on my mates BMW z4 the other day and as I lifted the k&n out of the air box, about an inch and a half of rubber tore off and fell into the housing.

If his car was turbo, that bit of rubber could have been sucked into it.

Annoying thing is, he still replaced with a new k&n???

Let us know how that goes cause I have been intrigued by it, wonder what it will sound like?

No problem mate, although when I showed my old man what I was wanting to buy he was like "WTF?? £68 for that?? I could make them easy!!" (His an Engineer lol) So I will give a write up once ive got one

I changed a k&n filter on my mates BMW z4 the other day and as I lifted the k&n out of the air box, about an inch and a half of rubber tore off and fell into the housing.

If his car was turbo, that bit of rubber could have been sucked into it.

Annoying thing is, he still replaced with a new k&n???

replaced with ANOTHER??? K&N??? :no: lol

No problem mate, although when I showed my old man what I was wanting to buy he was like "WTF?? £68 for that?? I could make them easy!!" (His an Engineer lol) So I will give a write up once ive got one

replaced with ANOTHER??? K&N??? :no: lol

There was a member on here who had made some up and was selling for £50 I believe, if ya do a search ya might track him down and he might make one up for ya other than that let your dad plough away lol

There was a member on here who had made some up and was selling for £50 I believe, if ya do a search ya might track him down and he might make one up for ya other than that let your dad plough away lol

I thats the plan mate, ill let him have a look at it, im sure he will laugh at me for buying it. I reckon he will knock something up tho.

I would always use a panel filter which has been slightly oiled, I'm currently running a Green Cotton filter in mine with no issues.

I even checked on my air box last night as I de flapped the intake and the filter is sitting where is should be and there was no crap in my airbox at all.

I would always use a panel filter which has been slightly oiled, I'm currently running a Green Cotton filter in mine with no issues.

I even checked on my air box last night as I de flapped the intake and the filter is sitting where is should be and there was no crap in my airbox at all.

My green air filter has rotted away :-(

K&N for me.

Used to be well into tuning the old 'a' series engine (Mini, Morris, etc), and a little of the VW flat 4. David Vizzard (?) released a book, and he did proper benchmarked tests with many makes of air filters & exhausts & things. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tuning-A-Series-Engine-Definitive-Performance/dp/1859606202/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332177009&sr=1-1)

A standard paper element would flow the same as the same sized K&N panel which had 1.5" of dust on it!!! I've always run K&N on my cars (elements & whole units) and never once have had an issue - I've prob covered 200,000 miles in total so far in my life (ouch).

Very interesting, scientific based reading, no speculation, only hard factual evidence. Taught me a lot about motors. Not sure if all of it translates into modern diesel engines though..

So which panel air Filter to buy?

Green Filter. (taken from PastyBoy's Thread)

VS

Pipercross Foam (from Jack B's thread)

VS

OEM paper filter

sorry no pics of that :p

Of course there is K&N filters, which I've never seen anyone have any problems with and is what I have in my car.

Or

and its not the christmas tree :p

Paper filter, with lots more surface space oh and I can get this for £20.... woohoo!

Edited 19 March, 201214 yr by T. Spark

Convicing argument ...... paper filterI've come across the discussion before and yet again, this is inevitably still the best choice for me

So which panel air Filter to buy?

Green Filter. (taken from PastyBoy's Thread)

VS

Pipercross Foam (from Jack B's thread)My green filter is like the 1above:(

VS

OEM paper filter

sorry no pics of that :p

Of course there is K&N filters, which I've never seen anyone have any problems with and is what I have in my car.

My green filter has done the same as above

Read these...

http://autospeed.com/cms/title_PoweringUp-the-19-litre-TDI-Part-1/A_112210/article.html

http://autospeed.com/cms/title_PoweringUp-the-19-litre-TDI-Part-2/A_112211/article.html

Then unless you're running a hybrid or bigger turbo, go and buy an OEM Skoda/VAG filter. it's not a significant restriction.

J.

Read these...

http://autospeed.com...10/article.html

http://autospeed.com...11/article.html

Then unless you're running a hybrid or bigger turbo, go and buy an OEM Skoda/VAG filter. it's not a significant restriction.

J.

Interesting read