Hello,

Just a quick question out of Curiosity, I ordered a K&N Panel filter for my fabia 1.4 16V, My question is, do they really make a difference? or is it just the noise that makes u feel ur goin faster when ur actually not? I read somewhere that they're an improvment for cars that have their air filters under the engine cover like the 1.4 16V engine... so what do u all think?

i doubt if it will make any difference really.... worth a try tho i suppose...

Imhe, they don't make any noticeable difference over a clean paper filter, aside from the noise. Other people claim 5-7bhp gains from them which I think is a bit ambitious!

Chris

It depends how much air your planning on putting through the engine. When your running 170bhp Vrs it does reduce the restriction on the intake a little meaning less smoke and a rpms come easier. Power gains are not going to happen realistically, it's going to be more about where you get the power.

On a 1.4 16v I don't see much of an advantage TBH.

It depends how much air your planning on putting through the engine. When your running 170bhp Vrs it does reduce the restriction on the intake a little meaning less smoke and a rpms come easier.

It made negligible difference on my 251bhp Scooby

Chris

It made negligible difference on my 251bhp Scooby

Chris

It does in 170bhp Vrs, you do know they run on diesel, right ?

Yes.

You will feel a difference I bet my bottom doller

Especially as it is a 16v - they love the high revs/lots of air.

in my 1.2 12v I can hear the car sucking air through when I give it high revs, I guess this is where a performance filter would give an advantage?

Purely based on personal experience and after fitting a K&N (or similar) on the 10+ cars I've owned, I've found its different on each different car I've owned to be honest.... the best and most noticable difference I've had have both been on petrols, a 1.4 16v Renault Megane and a 2.0t Saab 9-3.

When I've fitted them to diesels I haven't noticed that much and I certainly haven't noticed any difference in sound via increased intake noise, but I have seen a slight increase in mpg.

All in all for the cost I think its worth the money

Thanks alot everyone, I'll be gettin it tomorrow, I hope it'll make a slight difference in performance though, if not then its worth it for the noise!

Er.. Just to add. Panel Filters don't make a different noise to a standard filter. I'm on my 4th panel filter now between different cars, and never once has it made a difference to the sound.

It does in 170bhp Vrs, you do know they run on diesel, right ?

You felt a difference? I'm amazed??????

Well, on miltons 2.0 fabia with K&N panel filter the noise was pretty cool, it was anything like the noise a standard filter makes

Doesn't make much of a difference if your exhaust is stock...when i cleaned mine out i put back in the original and noticed the noise became more 'tinny' as opposed to the fuller, rounder sound i'm used to.

I'd heard that if you buy an oil based filter, it's likely to break the MAF sensor on some Fabia engines and that is expensive to replace.

Does anyone know about this?

It's only going to be a problem if it's overoiled. When you clean it, just dab the surface with kitchen paper and it'll be fine

Chris

Just remeber the words "adaptive ecu" if you put a different filter in you will not notice any difference straight away it may take weeks take effect

Just remeber the words "adaptive ecu" if you put a different filter in you will not notice any difference straight away it may take weeks take effect

Not if you disconect the battery for half an hour or so, then take the car out on a 15-20 brisk drive..... get the benefits straight away

On the topic of change in sound the only car I've ever had a noticable sound difference on was the Saab 2.0t.... put a JR filter in that and along with a real noticable difference with performance there was a change in sound.... almost like a DV

I don't think they improve engine power as such, but they make the engine rev more cleanly and as you say, increase induction noise.

Not if you disconect the battery for half an hour or so, then take the car out on a 15-20 brisk drive..... get the benefits straight away

On the topic of change in sound the only car I've ever had a noticable sound difference on was the Saab 2.0t.... put a JR filter in that and along with a real noticable difference with performance there was a change in sound.... almost like a DV

Won't work..... the ecu still has to adapt to the inputs.....this can take weeks...or at least a 1,000 miles

if you want a morew aggresive sound drill some holes in the bottom of the air box

if you want a morew aggresive sound drill some holes in the bottom of the air box

Octygone - is that right, not that I doubt you or anything. Its just that I'd been informed that the battery disconection thing wiped all existing settings and allowed any new "additions" or changes in driving style to be accounted for instantly so to speak?

i can take ages to re-learn the saved settings.... normally about 2 hours in my experience.... but it can take longer depending on driving conditions

Normally an ECU reset will wipe out all saved settings so the car has to relearn the values in a rapid-learn style (in about 5 mins of driving).....

Chris

Octygone - is that right, not that I doubt you or anything. Its just that I'd been informed that the battery disconection thing wiped all existing settings and allowed any new "additions" or changes in driving style to be accounted for instantly so to speak?

the Ecu still has to learn, wether the memory is empty or not....it still takes time.......with a new map that is slightly different as it will have more power to start with.....and then it will adapt ....i would love to put a digital tuning box on a car and have it rolling roaded on the same machine before, after and after two weeks as I am sure they would all be different..........same goes for the filter, the ecu will adapt all the other fuctions to take account of the new readings