If I change my K&N Flat Panel Filter for an Induction Kit, will it improve the performance? What bothers me is that most of the Induction Kits look like they are sucking in warm air from the engine bay.

 

Went from a Blitz Induction Kit to a panel filter-runs a lot better now. Had several errors on the ECU. I know plenty of people who swear by them but personally it just didn't work for me.

£200.00 that I should have saved in hindsight.

 

get an induction kit and kiss your MAF goodybye.

 

Not exactly true

 

Nacro

That's is a bit of a sweeping statement.

MY99 and 00 had more 'sensitive' maf sensors. Some of those cars suffered maf failures or worse due to ind kits for whatever reason.
I ran an MY99 with a ind kit for 3 years and 50K with no problems whatsoever.

The type of kit as much as a couple of other factors are to be considered.
The quality of the filter/filtration - there was a test conducted, try a search on mafs or ind kits on 'ere (there are lots of threads on this subject one of ther mags did a test and the results of some well known ind kits was suprising. Not as good as you would expect.

Also the standard of fitting and vibration may also be a cause of maf failure along with over oiling of the filter.

Several kits now have dry filters.

I personally loved the sound of mine.

 

only problem i add was over boast but that could of been change in weather

 

No, in a word.

Most of them do. There are products like the APS CAK that don't, but you can't run one of those without a remap.

There are other things you can do (build a cold air box around the cone, turn the chin exit on the classic Impreza's bonnet into an intake) to get round this issue, but there's little to be gained, unless you are already running a car extensively modified in other areas.


[Edited by greasemonkey - 1/14/2004 9:15:50 PM]

 

Thanks All

Sounds like its not worth the bother unless the car is highly tuned

Cheers

 

Greasemonkey - i agree with what you say however,

Re improvements - I had the kit ftted and a performance b/box at the same time so it is difficult to put it down to one or the other or perhaps both.

My MY99 had better pick up and did not run out of pfuf at higher revs in 3gear onwards.

I think an ind kit is better done with other mods or as part of a programme of upgrades but may well not be an improvement in isolation.

Oh and i got around another 2mpg (20 miles per tank) after the mods where done.

I then changed the centre cat for a straight thru section which helped with the mid range IMHO

 

Some explanations, please correct me where I wronged...

First of all,

You get better mileage because you're running leaner than stock. The air flw has been calibrated for the airbox and not for a CAI, hence when you use a CAI, the ECU does not realise the higher flow.

The MAF sensor is damaged by a coating of oil used in some brands of air filter. Others don't use oil hence will not cause MAF faiulre, such as Apexi or Blitz.


When you car is moving, it isnt really taking that much hot air, and most of the hot air is caused by the turbo. If you are worried about hot air, you might want to think about increasing your intercooler capacity or even moving to a FMIC (totally different can of worms again).

And lastly, to really reap the benefits of a CAI, you need remap your ECU for it.

edit: yes was gonna say, using the K&N flat panel does not remove you from damaging your MAF as it is an oil based filter.

[Edited by prana - 1/15/2004 12:39:50 PM]

 

I was told that the MAF sensor heats up first and burns off any oil

 

I have an HKS Super Power Flow on my MY96 UK. When I drove it there was more torque ingear. It comes with a good fitting kit.

During the summer I would get a miss fire and winter I suffered overboost.

Now I have a Gems mapped both problems have gone.

It sounds as though my AFM was not keeping up with the flow of air through it. Therefore the car could have been running lean at points.