K&N Filter

[CheshireBumpkin]

Has anyone swapped the standard Superb air filter for a K&N filter?

 

I had one in my previous vehicle and it really felt like it made a difference to the acceleration and made the (gruff) engine a lot smoother. I used to like the slight whistle sound it gave on acceleration too... :-)

 

Has anyone fitted one to their Superb? It would be good to know if the results are as positive before shelling out - the Superb's a different beast to the old and unrefined 4X4 that the last one was fitted to!

[skidpan]

I had one (panel type - simply replaced standard filter) on a Golf GTi. Saved me a fortune over 7 years, simply cleaned every 6 months instead of replacing. As for performance and sound there was no difference.

 

Would I buy another, probably not since it would possibly affect the warranty and require notifying to the insurers as a modification.

 

I do have K & N's on my track car. Bought them in 1997 and still going strong. In a moment of madness about 10 years ago I replaced them with one of the foam RamAir filters simply because I could easily get a colder air supply to the throttle bodies but after 3 years the foam was turning to dust, total crap. Refitted the K & N's and sorted a cold air supply which is what I should have done originally.

Edited 8 April, 2017 by skidpan

[CheshireBumpkin]

2 hours ago, skidpan said:

I had one (panel type - simply replaced standard filter) on a Golf GTi. Saved me a fortune over 7 years, simply cleaned every 6 months instead of replacing. As for performance and sound there was no difference.

 

Would I buy another, probably not since it would possibly affect the warranty and require notifying to the insurers as a modification.

 

I do have K & N's on my track car. Bought them in 1997 and still going strong. In a moment of madness about 10 years ago I replaced them with one of the foam RamAir filters simply because I could easily get a colder air supply to the throttle bodies but after 3 years the foam was turning to dust, total crap. Refitted the K & N's and sorted a cold air supply which is what I should have done originally.

 

Maybe it's a worthy addition to a gruff old diesel like my old car, but of no great benefit to a more modern and refined engine. It doesn't affect warranty, but I'm not sure about the insurance situation - it shouldn't, but that's not to say our low-life insurance companies wouldn't use it to make few extra quid or avoid a claim.

[Gizmo]

A decent (OE) paper filter will filter far more air than a std TDi can use,

So I change mine every service (I’m on variable so roughly every 18K miles) despite the service interval being every 60K miles!

 

They will sound a little throatier, so may sound quicker but I doubt you will find it is.

[CheshireBumpkin]

10 hours ago, Gizmo68 said:

A decent (OE) paper filter will filter far more air than a std TDi can use,

So I change mine every service (I’m on variable so roughly every 18K miles) despite the service interval being every 60K miles!

 

They will sound a little throatier, so may sound quicker but I doubt you will find it is.

 

It's interesting - the K&N in my old 2.5 Sorento did make a difference, it was smoother and felt more responsive - it could have just been perception though. I don't think I'll bother with the Superb - it's already pretty smooth and responsive and I think the £60 would be better spent on LEDs or something else....

[muddyboots]

My 2p...

 

I had a K&N in a previous car with a remapped PD130 TDI engine.

When it comes to cleaning and re-oiling it - it's difficult to know whether you've done it right. I used to worry that I'd either under-oiled it (causing it to filter even less dust) or over-oiled it (causing it to flow no better than a fresh paper filter, with the added risk of oil deposits on MAF sensors etc).

Once you add up the costs of the filter, and then the cleaning stuff & oil, I doubt there's a strong financial argument to running one in the grand scheme of running costs, unless you're trying to use man maths to persuade the Mrs it's a wise purchase.

Never really noticed any difference in performance either TBH, maybe you would more on a naturally aspirated engine, but in a typical stock/stock-ish TDI with the turbo helping to overcome flow restriction I doubt it makes much difference.

 

Now, I stick with paper, but change it every service like Gizmo does. rather than at the ridiculously long suggested interval.

It's also much quicker & easier to drop in a new paper filter than the faff of wash / dry out / re-oil.

[CheshireBumpkin]

35 minutes ago, muddyboots said:

When it comes to cleaning and re-oiling it - it's difficult to know whether you've done it right. I used to worry that I'd either under-oiled it (causing it to filter even less dust) or over-oiled it (causing it to flow no better than a fresh paper filter, with the added risk of oil deposits on MAF sensors etc).

 

It's also much quicker & easier to drop in a new paper filter than the faff of wash / dry out / re-oil.

 

Totally agree with this - the one I had was a nightmare to clean and re-oil.

[Ootohere]

K&N Filters have their uses, in certain types of use and environmental conditions, 

Plant, HGV's, Offroaders, Motorsport / Rallying etc etc.  

Clean Paper filters are what most need for road vehicles in the UK,

but if you have a vehicle that is going into H20, Dust etc etc then you do want a filter that will not self destruct at a hint of water getting to it.

 

Performance might seem OK with a fresh new K&N but one that starts strangling an engine is just extra expense and a PITA,

If you get wading wrong and your waterproofing / snorkle / intake on an offroad vehicle they can sometimes just about save you destroying an engine if the water does not get past the filter. (Hydroing it. / Hydraulicing.)

Edited 11 April, 2017 by Awayoffski

[penguin17]

REVO offer a performance filter that isn't paper and thus doesn't need as much maintenance.  I routine bang and hoover was all I did every few months.   

 

http://www.revotechnik.com/product-details/air-filter-intake-kits/propanel-air-filter-element-mqb-audi-a3-s3-seat-leon-skoda-octavia-vw-golf-7&engineid=239

 

Did it actually make any difference to performance?  Hard to tell as I got a ~50bhp remap the same day I had it fitted.  REVO *claim* that their tests showed a typical 2-3bhp power gain when used.  

[sapf0]

Just stuck on min my Superb 3 1.6 DSG. Immediately smoother, along with smoother gear changes. Mind you the old filter was fecked!

[drewellis]

I’ve got R600 now but the Ramair panel filter is what I had before. K&N filters are oiled and I wouldn’t go near them ever again especially on a diesel, they mess with EGR/DPF/MAF. I had an Insignia 2 cars ago and I got rid of it because the oiled filter had sludged everything up, another few thousand miles I’d have had a huge bill.

 

I didn’t over-oil it before anyone suggests that 🙂

Edited 8 July, 2020 by drewellis

[ajcireland]

I have one fitted for about 1 year. Immediately noticed the increase in performance (approx. 15%) and increase in mpg (however it is a company car and I don't pay for fuel)

Regarding the cleaning, it can be done overnight after looking at the YouTube video to get it right.

 

Overall, the car has become a lot better to drive, smoother and punchier.

 

hope this helps.

[MarkyG82]

1 hour ago, ajcireland said:

Immediately noticed the increase in performance (approx. 15%) and increase in mpg

 

15%? Really? On a 245 that's 36ps. On a 1.5 150 that's 22.5ps. 1.5% maybe but definitely not 15% just from a filter. A TDI would see no gains at all either.

[ajcireland]

2 minutes ago, MarkyG82 said:

 

15%? Really? On a 245 that's 36ps. On a 1.5 150 that's 22.5ps. 1.5% maybe but definitely not 15% just from a filter. A TDI would see no gains at all either.

I drive a 2.0 TDi. only reporting what I have experienced.

[MarkyG82]

3 hours ago, ajcireland said:

I drive a 2.0 TDi. only reporting what I have experienced.

 

Do you have Dyno outputs? I'm not disagreeing that you may feel a difference, but it is physically impossible to get that much from changing a filter especially from a diesel that is not controlled by air flow. The stock air box and filter is good for well over 200hp on the 2.0 tdi 150.

[drewellis]

Placebo effect?

[shyVRS245]

My next mod then should take me over 400bhp with a 15% gain. That's good value.

[numskull]

Wow! You’re going to pump the tyres up to 45psi, aren’t you?  

[drewellis]

My Racingline R600 is available now if anyone is interested, 75% gains!

 

Sorry I’m just messing 😁

 

Pm me if you’re interested in the R600 tho, I’ve only had it since 1st June