I was browsing Whsmiths this week and saw one of the 'tuning' magazines was doing a test on various air filters. I think it might have been redline but cant remember. I thought i'd check it out as depending on what you read and where they can almost supercharge your car with the extra performance!

Anyway, they were testing the amount of air flow through them for a CTR including the stock filter but didnt state numbers only a percentage but what surprised me was that aftermarket filters were only a few percent greater than the stock one and then they only varied by 1-2%.

Is the CTR filter known for being quite restrictive or free flowing? Comparing to my vrs with the stock air filter and K & N in it i would not have said just a few percent difference!

ctr has excelent breathing as standard,it has to with the power it can produce,a turbo car will usually gain a bit more,but it does depend a lot on airbox design

A performance filter won't gain you anything over regularly changing the paper filter IMHO.

what surprised me was that aftermarket filters were only a few percent greater than the stock one and then they only varied by 1-2%.

The big difference is that the aftermarket ones will maintain this air flow as they become dirty, whereas a stock paper one will tail off dramatically (especially with 40k replacement intervals)....

Chris

Out and out power gains from changing the filter to a 'performance' one is not the only benefit but they also tend to improve throttle response and have the added bonus of changing the engine note to a more pleasurable 'throaty' noise, two things that would be difficult to quantify in a magazine.

Out and out power gains from changing the filter to a 'performance' one is not the only benefit but they also tend to improve throttle response and have the added bonus of changing the engine note to a more pleasurable 'throaty' noise, two things that would be difficult to quantify in a magazine.

And factor in the fact that you don't need to replace them generally for the life of the vehicle so in some circumstances they can work out to be more cost effective for high mileage performance "users"

Yes, they do need cleaning and in cases re-oiling, but this is a simple and inexpensive task in most cases.

Oh god... someones mentioned a CTR, snoopie will be along soon :P

i saw a similar test in total vauxhall too. they did panel filters all the way up to pipercross vortex ones. i think the most expensive ones were best (surprise surprise) but even they were minimal gains.

i put a k and n panel in mine as im too lazy to change it lol!

:feedtrol:

Oh god... someones mentioned a CTR, snoopie will be along soon :P

Is this Snoopies CT R CT Rectal Marker :gay: :smrbow:

Is this Snoopies CT R CT Rectal Marker :gay: :smrbow:

Been having a look for the weekend is it...........Pervboy:P