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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: takethefifth on 27 October 2006, 17:50

Title: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: takethefifth on 27 October 2006, 17:50
Well mine doesn't anyway!  :laugh:

I had to remove my 57i induction kit last weekend as one of the mounting brackets decided to fall off. I thought i would give it a week to get an idea of the difference.

Replaced it with the standard airbox (no drilling, trumpet intact) and a bog standard MANN airfilter and the car is definately faster! Noticably so!

It doesn't sound as raucous, if anything it sounds like the engine is being restricted a little but.... its quicker! No question.

This thread was really just to say, yep i've tried it and what everyone says is right, standard airbox is best, the germans knew what they were doing! If only i'd listened to people sooner......  :rolleyes:

This is on a standard 8v Digi GTI with a Milltek exhaust. Results may differ on other cars....
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Mk1Mad J - 16v on 27 October 2006, 17:55
 :grin: 57i's or any "induction kit" are a total waste of time - get yourself a K&N panel for your standard box and forget about air filters for life  :smiley:
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: jaybv6 on 27 October 2006, 18:19
:grin: 57i's or any "induction kit" are a total waste of time - get yourself a K&N panel for your standard box and forget about air filters for life  :smiley:
Induction kits do the trick and when they don't work properly it usually down to them not being fitted correctly.  I don't just mean fitted with a disregard for the instructions but if you fit them with the supplied "Cold air Feed" it's not going to work as well as it should if you used a bit of ingenuity.

I've used K&N induction kits on my last 3 cars (Cavalier GSi with 180bhp, Calibra V6 with 194bhp and my current Vectra V6 with 195bhp) and they've all helped in the horsepower stakes and thottle response.  So what's the difference when I fit them?  Well the standard cold air feed is junked and I build my own enclosure for the induction kit (much like the Viper induction kits).  The enclosure is treated to heat wrap and if I feel flush carbon fibre to finish it off.  The enclosure then has a dedicated cold air feed from the front of the car, the more direct the better, and is attached to the sealed enclosure.  The results are outstanding, especially on the V6.  Below are a few pics of the inbetween stages of my Calibra V6.

Here's one of the Towing Eye converted to a functional NACA Duct and also how I made it.
(http://www.jason.burgess.btinternet.co.uk/images/induction/induction_04.jpg)
(http://www.jason.burgess.btinternet.co.uk/images/induction/induction_03.jpg)
(http://www.jason.burgess.btinternet.co.uk/images/induction/induction_05.jpg)
(http://www.jason.burgess.btinternet.co.uk/images/induction/induction_06.jpg)

And the tin that I used as the enclosure (before it got finished and sealed off.
(http://www.jason.burgess.btinternet.co.uk/images/induction/induction_01.jpg)



Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Mk1Mad J - 16v on 27 October 2006, 18:22
How well does that work when its freezing cold and the air box would normally be taking its feed off the exhaust manifold?
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Neaty on 27 October 2006, 18:25
i have only ever had one on my 8v, which was already there. I just liked the noise tbh   :laugh:

i like the inginuity there jaybv6.
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: ...joe on 27 October 2006, 18:29
yeah good ingenuity but the simple fact is no-one realy fits them like that and what you've made is an enclosed induction kit with a cold air feed......... much like a standard airbox with a decent panel filter! viper kits etc do work but as a general rule, bolt on induction kits do sweet fanny adams!
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: mk2mark on 27 October 2006, 18:34
Yeah, airboxes are not just restrictive to dampen sound, like what has been said an upgraded standard filter will still take advantage of the standard airbox's resonating properties etc.
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: jaybv6 on 27 October 2006, 18:37
How well does that work when its freezing cold and the air box would normally be taking its feed off the exhaust manifold?
Which cars are set up to take hot air from the exhaust manifold.  No car I've owned  ever has unless the Golf is different.  Even if the weather is freezing the induction temps being low is a good thing as the charge will be alot denser.

And yes, out of the box they certainly don't always work as people expect  but with a bit of creativity and less than £20 you can build your own enclosure.  Me, I used a Nescafe Coffee tin  :grin:.
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Neaty on 27 October 2006, 18:45
this reminds me I need to get a new airbox for my valver, I put too many holes in mine!  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: keithyboy on 27 October 2006, 21:55
They work on 2.0 DOHC Sierras.
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: takethefifth on 27 October 2006, 23:59
Haha! The title was only a joke, I know on lots of other applications they work well.  :grin:

On this car, fitted as K&N specify and with a cold air feed from behind the grill, they don't.  But the noise is cool.  :cool:

This airbox has a hot air feed from the manifold that opens and closes on a vacuum line for cold starts.
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Thom89 on 29 October 2006, 15:50
Most these things are placebo effect only.. you take the pill, therefore it will go faster :huh: you tend to drive your car harder, just to acheive that noise that you crave!
You cant beat a cold damp evening for that little extra HP :drool:..
Tom
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Neaty on 29 October 2006, 16:54
true but be honest, the noise is pretty good though  :laugh:
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Simpson on 29 October 2006, 17:44
biggest load of toss ever an induction kit imo, unless you have a highly tuned engine it does sweet fa.
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Stu.750 on 29 October 2006, 17:47
Does sound dead cool tho , i had a standered exhaust on my old 8v and the KnN sounded ace all on its own , tho it was desighned for a skyline GTS i just erm modified it to fit
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Neaty on 29 October 2006, 18:32
 :laugh: a guy I used to know had a subuaru impreza big filter thing on his 1.3 colt, he was a proper tool though tbh
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: kniterider on 29 October 2006, 18:40
got a 57i on the vr6, was on it when i got it, yeah sounds nice but i couldnt tell you if there were any gains or not, im making at work a alloy surround for it to try and stop the heat from the engine being drawn in even though it has a cold air feed... would like a standard vr6 airbox to try as the airbox always beat the induction kits on my mk4 gti and the many mk2's ive owned  :tongue:


 :smiley:
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Neaty on 29 October 2006, 18:42
I am just going to get a un touched airbox for my valver and but a k&n panel filter in.

should i drill some holes in it, but only on the outside of it?
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: Mk1Mad J - 16v on 31 October 2006, 17:09

Which cars are set up to take hot air from the exhaust manifold.  No car I've owned  ever has unless the Golf is different.  can build your own enclosure.  Me, I used a Nescafe Coffee tin  :grin:.

This airbox has a hot air feed from the manifold that opens and closes on a vacuum line for cold starts.

what he said  :nerd:
Title: Re: K&N's don't work - It's Official!
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 31 October 2006, 17:53

Which cars are set up to take hot air from the exhaust manifold.  No car I've owned  ever has unless the Golf is different.  can build your own enclosure.  Me, I used a Nescafe Coffee tin  :grin:.

This airbox has a hot air feed from the manifold that opens and closes on a vacuum line for cold starts.

what he said  :nerd:

Thats not actually correct. If there is a hot air feed fitted it isn't for cold starts, the system operates when the air inlet temperature goes below a certain level to prevent fuel icing. Unless you have a carb or SPI then i wouldn't worry about it.