which is the best panel filter to go for out of hks and pipercross,ive found the other makes eg green,k&n etc are a bit to expensive and cant really see the point in forking out? any help would be ideal as im going for about 300bhp. cheers.

 

£39 for a K&N..... a bit expensive?

 

There is very little difference in power output regardless of which panel filter you use. There is a difference in filtration ability. On a car I was not keeping I would simply use the OE Subaru filter. On a car I was keeping I would go for a K+N simiply because it is reusable.

 

I wish I had a pound for every time I have seen this question asked. Listen to Harvey on this, the only choice is throw away or reusable. That really is the only difference.

 

I would beg to differ with that one, as that is certainly not what I found out when completing back to back tests on the dyno.

 

Ah, conflicting advice! This is where it gets interesting. If you found a difference when doing tests it would be worth know which was best? I was under the impression that Harvey has done tests and found no difference?

 

Prodrive did tests too, and guess what, any differences were negligible.

 

I've tried standard OEM and the TSL Green Panel filter and couldn't tell any difference in performance. The Green (and others) are reusable though, also it makes more sound on the standard recirculating dump valve which I like

 

Anyone had an issue with oiled filters causing MAF fouling?

 

A K&N panel filter gave a peak increase of circa 8-9bhp IIRC. That was putting it on and running on the dyno, then taking it off and running on the dyno and then repeated all over again. BUT... this was on a Newage, which has a better, cleaner path from the airbox and was on a Spec C, which has the bigger and cleaner inlet pipe. Regardless of these, it did make a difference which actually shocked us, when we tested.



Look at the lowdown on spool up, +20nm's for most part of that rev range.

 

I am not suggesting you would feel the difference, but the difference is factual.

 

But factually miniscule on a '99 Classic.

 

I had a spread of 1.7 bhp across four pannel filters on an STi 3 Wagon running 335 bhp.
As the results were not what we expected we repeated the experiment the next day and got exactly the same results.
After much debate and arguement on here with some "experts" talking tosh, Mike Wood from Prodrive came on and said my findings were in line with what they had found.
The four filters I tested were O/E, K+N, STi and HKS Green Sponge.

I think the reason Shaun has found a bigger gap is simply that his air flow is far closer to the limitting ability of the filters in question.

 

How is the ability to withstand water on OE paperfilters¨vs cottonfilters such as K&N?
I have de-norkeled my intake and removed the indicator giving quite an open path in for air -and water....
(I know tests 'have shown' performance losses with desnorkeled cars, but am planning to cut a bigger entry to the airbox)

 

To repeat, I also think the performance differences are more to do with how the air gets to & through, all the way to the filter & avoiding heat soak. Rather than the filters properties itself. The filters properties are significant in terms of filteration.

 

ok,so which is the best?pipercross or hks? anyone?

 

I would go for K&N or ITG. Iv read that HKS & Blitz do not have good filteration, will try & dig out test results from web.

 

I wouldn't argue with that one Harvey, hence my caveat.

 

Then take into account the repeatbility and the result would be negligable.

One run doesnt make a true test.

 

My advice FWIW is to avoid oiled filters, I know of a few people that have had MAF problems with these

Jason

 

172sport,
That is why I stated the test was repeated.... which in fact was done at least 3 times (that is OE to K&N and back again) from what I can remember. I think that was enough to justify it was real!

I can bet your bottom dollar, Litchfield Imports and I did more testing than Mike Wood did with induction mods!!

 

What about the TSL group N panel filter (which is blue)? Will this one give any more power? Cheers, Mick.

 

Maybe believe it if it was on an engine dyno, not so convinced on a R/R

 

172sport,
So you think it is unbelievable because it is not from an engine dyno?

Why do some think that an engine dyno is the be all and end all?!? There are now a number of rolling road cells in the UK that can achieve repeatable results..... that is the key thng when running comparisons, not what the figures are. IMO comments like that come from ignorance of being some what blinkered in approach.

 

if you havent got one already then a sti panel filter i heard is suppose to be the most decent

wiley

 

how much is sti panel filter?how long does it last?and can i get one anywhere other than main dealer?

 

the sti panels are a throw away item changed to service schedule. they're probably the dearest way to change your panel filter.

just go for a green or k&n and steer well clear of an ITG on a 99 scooby! thick, gloopy gunk all over the filter that will **** your MAF. i learnt that the expensive way

 

thanks for that.

 

just get whatever you fancy. with an k&n panel filter you can hear it sucking in air from 3krpm onwoods. well i could anyway.

 

Can we just clear up something about oiled panel filters. K+N is an oiled panel filter and I am yet to come across any car with any problem from a K+N supplied filter.
When the filter is cleaned and re-oiled, you will not have any problem if you follow the instructions but if you are a numpty and soak the filter in oil then you deserve whatever happens, unless of course you cannot read.
K+N lightly oiled panel filters pass a lot of air as I have found and as Shaun has proven above and the light oiling (sensible light oiling) means the panel fitler has great filtration properties but there is not so much oil there that it has any effect whatsoever on the MAF.