Anyone had Sports Air filter problems?

[Colin]

There's a load of Air filters on the market, all claiming more BHP Etc.
But has anyone had running problems after fitting one?

[16v Matt]

I had a k&n on a car i had once. No probs , other than it idled like a dog in traffic. Due lack of cool air.  Getting enough cool air is the only prob on some as far as i know.

[davidhawkins_78]

And a lack of cool air is a pretty big thing !!!

In normal conditions you'll probably end up losing power, get a panel filter and remove the resonator pipe is the way forward on GTi's. Nice balance between noise and performance ...

If you opt for a 57i kit or something, then quite often then break - they snap the bolt on the suspension turret off where they are mounted to and drop the air mass sensor on the alternator - not ideal ...

[golfvr6]

Lack of cool air is never a problem, as when the car is in foward motion it will get plenty of it, rather than what people claim, hot air from the engine.
In the same way as a radiator doesn't get hot from the heat of an engine, it is cooled by the foward motion of the car.
Basic stuff  

[davidhawkins_78]

I'd love to see this argument settled properly !!!

I've seen rolling road graphs with cars fitted with induction kits and you can quite easily see the problems caused from heat contamination (Engineers words ...). Also, plenty of companies produce heat sheilds for their filters (Jaba sport for example).

Then the really high end filters made by the likes of BMC use carbon fibre to sheild the heat.

OK it's a problem - but i'd love for someone to prove how much it is / isn't for the average joe moddin their baby.

[Gambit]

i agree with '6

but on a rolling road the forced cold air will not be there so it will be sucking war air
unless the rolling road has one of those big fans wracked up to blow cold air on the radiator/front of the car


just one thing though on aftermarket filters. the oil you apply can cause havoc with airflow meters as the oil gets sucked thru the filter. so just do a VERY VERY light film of oil on it

[Colin]

This is my point exactly, i've seen drops in power on other cars due to heat interference, just because a car sounds throaty does not mean more power.
A lot of these so called sports exhausts do absolutely nothing until the engines screaming for mercy at it's rev limit, but at least they sound good.
Has anyone ever done a rolling road test before and after fitting things like this to prove they are getting more power, rather than it just sounding better therefore it must be better?

[golfvr6]

It does depend on the car itself.
Most gti's/vr6 have the air box right at the front in the wing. Other models ie. carb/single point injection, the airbox is behind the engine.
If the airbox is right at the front, right in the wing, then hot air isn't gonna be a problem.
Airboxs behind the engine, i would not fit an induction kit as hot air will be a problem.

[davidhawkins_78]

Yeah I suppose your right '6 .... still heat contamination or not I love the noise  

Shame my 57i ripped itself off the suspension turret - dam SPAX adjustables !!!

[golfvr6]

in all honesty , drilling the box (in the right places) and a k&n panel is just as good