New air filter = bigger smiles!

skidude · 16-04-2006, 17:28

My vRS has done 15,000 miles now and recently it seemed to have lost some power. I checked the air filter and it looked surprisingly dirty so I got a standard new one from German and Swedish for a bargain £8.50 and the car flies along now!

Just thought I'd post this as it's made quite a big difference to my car and the service schedule doesn't mention a filter change until 40k!!

Dave_Fox · 16-04-2006, 17:45

I agree

Having just fit a K&N panel filter, (thanks Johnwg

) the car pulls harder and feels smoother. Its made much more of a difference than I thought it would.

rainbow-walker · 16-04-2006, 18:02

Oooohh, this sounds interesting, a couple of questions about the K&N ...

<dumbass mode>

Is the K&N filter a straight swop for the OEM filter ?
Is this disposable ? e.g. do you clean it, or just replace it after a while ?

</dumbass mode>

Dont fancy the green panel filter...

Cheers

RBW

Bigw2069 · 16-04-2006, 18:05

K&N or green it doesnt really matter IMHO, some people will say different, but a high flow panel filter is a high flow panel filter at the end of the day,

and yep you just clean it, you get the cleaning kits at most retailers that sell the filters (Halfrauds etc)

EDIT: Green and the K&N panel filter will just be a straight swop also

Dave_Fox · 16-04-2006, 18:10

Sorry Matt, ive turned it into a K&N thread

Yes its a straight swap. You dont bin it, you clean it, then oil lightly. It has a million mile guarantee!! lol. The engine sounds slightly deeper when the turbo kicks in aswell. (This is without the bigger air intake. I dont have one...yet)

Chris GB · 16-04-2006, 20:05

Hi

I found a big difference replacing the standard filter at 22000 miles. Makes me think that a high flow filter would be a good idea. Probably going Jetex myself.

Chris

skidude · 16-04-2006, 20:11

Haha! I knew the subject of performance air filters would come up in this thread!!

For such a small outlay it's an amazing improvement I've got, makes me wonder how bad the car would've been at 40K with the original filter still in place?!

I guess my mpg will improve too... £8.50... bargain!!

robzer · 21-04-2006, 16:26

Can anyone give me type/serial number of replacement filter as mine has done 30000 and I would like to change to see if any difference is achieved

SteVRs · 21-04-2006, 16:32

Which is cheapest and where from?
Also, anyone know a way to sneak it out without removing the strut brace?

devonutopia · 21-04-2006, 16:32

I think the standard services where the air filter is changed is 20k, 40k, 60k, and so on. So you'd better make sure they don't do it at 20k, and you just make a note to change it at 30k, if it seems to cack up by 15k. I clean my green filter every 5k now. I think its due a clean pretty soon actually.... Hmmmm.

robzer · 21-04-2006, 16:35

What do you clean them with?

devonutopia · 21-04-2006, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by robzer

What do you clean them with?

There is an official cleaning kit with an oil, but I just clean with luke warm water (soapy) - However I've also found brake and clutch cleaning fluid to be a mild but decent cleaning fluid, but at home I opt for the fairy - as long as its rinsed, allowed to thoroughly dry, then oiled (not too much) and allowed to dry again before being put back in the airbox.

My filter cost me £35ish about 2 years ago, and I've done around 50,000 miles since then. I'm probably at break even point for buying new filters every 20k, and the green filter is cleaned a lot more regularly which I hope is better for the engine in the long run.

robzer · 21-04-2006, 16:51

Cheers Dev

.Craig. · 21-04-2006, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by devonutopia

There is an official cleaning kit with an oil, but I just clean with luke warm water (soapy) - However I've also found brake and clutch cleaning fluid to be a mild but decent cleaning fluid, but at home I opt for the fairy - as long as its rinsed, allowed to thoroughly dry, then oiled (not too much) and allowed to dry again before being put back in the airbox.

My filter cost me £35ish about 2 years ago, and I've done around 50,000 miles since then. I'm probably at break even point for buying new filters every 20k, and the green filter is cleaned a lot more regularly which I hope is better for the engine in the long run.

The dust filtration of aftermarket "performance" filters is below the standards of paper filters. Allegedly the filtration of the cotton gauze filters gets worse after they have been washed as well. As for performance gains, airflow increases are marginal. I suspect a lot of the cases of perceived performance gains have been because the filter paper that was taken out was due a change anyway.

AwesomeSarah · 22-04-2006, 09:24

Hi
I had the conversation in regard air filters not long ago with another Fabia driver.
Officially it was 40k between services.
But I do believe for the price of a filter it would be benificial to replace them every 20k.
The long life or performance filters are really a muchness.
They are made of the same materials.
The thought of K & N damaging the MAF`s I think is a myth.
I have seen more standard cars suffer with MAF``s than enough.
So if you find a well known brand you will know you have a good one.
We have just got some good prices on Powerflow.
http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/pipercr...rosspanel.html
As you can see they are all 28.00 + VAT
Keep these clean and you will not go wrong.
Sarah

16-04-2006, 17:28	#1
skidude Briskodian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 189 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New air filter = bigger smiles! My vRS has done 15,000 miles now and recently it seemed to have lost some power. I checked the air filter and it looked surprisingly dirty so I got a standard new one from German and Swedish for a bargain £8.50 and the car flies along now! Just thought I'd post this as it's made quite a big difference to my car and the service schedule doesn't mention a filter change until 40k!! __________________ Matt Fabia V/RS Black Magic

16-04-2006, 17:45	#2
Dave_Fox Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! I agree Having just fit a K&N panel filter, (thanks Johnwg ) the car pulls harder and feels smoother. Its made much more of a difference than I thought it would.

16-04-2006, 18:02	#3
rainbow-walker Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 172 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! Oooohh, this sounds interesting, a couple of questions about the K&N ... <dumbass mode> Is the K&N filter a straight swop for the OEM filter ? Is this disposable ? e.g. do you clean it, or just replace it after a while ? </dumbass mode> Dont fancy the green panel filter... Cheers RBW __________________ 2006 Fabia vRS Silver + ESP + Heated leather seats (Skoda fitted) + Cruise + Elegance drawer 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000 (K7) 2008 Mini Cooper S (SWMBO's)

16-04-2006, 18:05	#4
Bigw2069 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rosyth,Scotland Posts: 5,380 Thanks: 201 Thanked 200 Times in 164 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! K&N or green it doesnt really matter IMHO, some people will say different, but a high flow panel filter is a high flow panel filter at the end of the day, and yep you just clean it, you get the cleaning kits at most retailers that sell the filters (Halfrauds etc) EDIT: Green and the K&N panel filter will just be a straight swop also __________________ Last edited by Bigw2069; 16-04-2006 at 18:07.

16-04-2006, 18:10	#5
Dave_Fox Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! Sorry Matt, ive turned it into a K&N thread Yes its a straight swap. You dont bin it, you clean it, then oil lightly. It has a million mile guarantee!! lol. The engine sounds slightly deeper when the turbo kicks in aswell. (This is without the bigger air intake. I dont have one...yet) Last edited by Dave_Fox; 16-04-2006 at 18:11.

16-04-2006, 20:05	#6
Chris GB Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East UK Posts: 2,557 Thanks: 17 Thanked 43 Times in 26 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! Hi I found a big difference replacing the standard filter at 22000 miles. Makes me think that a high flow filter would be a good idea. Probably going Jetex myself. Chris __________________ Red Fabia vRS. Gone but not forgotten. Chilli Red / white Mini Cooper Diesel with dual controls. Silver 53 MR2. Mods: PPE 4>1 manifold \| PPE Mangnaflow high flow cat \| Blueflame catback exhaust \| Pikey inlet mod \| 3.0 Racing Chassis stiffening brace kit \| BC Racing fully adjustable coilovers \| TF loud. Details here My MR2 Page

16-04-2006, 20:11	#7
skidude Briskodian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 189 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! Haha! I knew the subject of performance air filters would come up in this thread!! For such a small outlay it's an amazing improvement I've got, makes me wonder how bad the car would've been at 40K with the original filter still in place?! I guess my mpg will improve too... £8.50... bargain!! __________________ Matt Fabia V/RS Black Magic

21-04-2006, 16:26	#8
robzer Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! Can anyone give me type/serial number of replacement filter as mine has done 30000 and I would like to change to see if any difference is achieved

21-04-2006, 16:32	#9
SteVRs Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 3,063 Thanks: 4 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! Which is cheapest and where from? Also, anyone know a way to sneak it out without removing the strut brace? __________________ Bike with engine coming soon...

21-04-2006, 16:32	#10
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,478 Thanks: 60 Thanked 305 Times in 250 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! I think the standard services where the air filter is changed is 20k, 40k, 60k, and so on. So you'd better make sure they don't do it at 20k, and you just make a note to change it at 30k, if it seems to cack up by 15k. I clean my green filter every 5k now. I think its due a clean pretty soon actually.... Hmmmm. __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

21-04-2006, 16:35	#11
robzer Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! What do you clean them with?

21-04-2006, 16:51	#13
robzer Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! Cheers Dev

22-04-2006, 09:24	#15
AwesomeSarah Site Sponsor Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,698 Thanks: 34 Thanked 166 Times in 147 Posts	Re: New air filter = bigger smiles! Hi I had the conversation in regard air filters not long ago with another Fabia driver. Officially it was 40k between services. But I do believe for the price of a filter it would be benificial to replace them every 20k. The long life or performance filters are really a muchness. They are made of the same materials. The thought of K & N damaging the MAF`s I think is a myth. I have seen more standard cars suffer with MAF``s than enough. So if you find a well known brand you will know you have a good one. We have just got some good prices on Powerflow. http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/pipercr...rosspanel.html As you can see they are all 28.00 + VAT Keep these clean and you will not go wrong. Sarah

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