Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Jim Bob2 on 10 February 2007, 18:18:35

Title: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Jim Bob2 on 10 February 2007, 18:18:35
Has anybody fitted a K & N (or similar) air filter element ? Did you get any benifit from it? I was thinking of fitting one.
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 10 February 2007, 18:31:53
Personally I don't think you'll get much benefit.

Get new spark plugs, magnacor HT leads and an Mtek chip if you want to improve performance ;)
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 10 February 2007, 18:32:42
You could also up the BHP by fitting 3.0 cams..
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Jim Bob2 on 10 February 2007, 18:38:29
I had my suspicions about the filter, how much more would I get from the mtec chip and cams?
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 10 February 2007, 19:19:22
Cams give about 20Bhp...the chip probably anotehr 10......the KandN...probably -5Bhp....
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Dave-C on 10 February 2007, 19:26:32
I know it's debatable over panel filters, just what advantages you get from them, personally, I have a panel in mine, I noticed a more responsive throttle and possibly a little more torque, mid range, clean them regularly 6 mths..  Had mine for 5 years, it's saved me a few quid in filters if nothing else!

DC
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Essex_Andy on 10 February 2007, 19:52:44
Quote
I know it's debatable over panel filters, just what advantages you get from them, personally, I have a panel in mine, I noticed a more responsive throttle and possibly a little more torque, mid range, clean them regularly 6 mths..  Had mine for 5 years, it's saved me a few quid in filters if nothing else!

DC

On all my cars and bikes I have used K+N without any adverse effect and given a few services it has paid for itself
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 10 February 2007, 21:28:53
Quote
Quote
I know it's debatable over panel filters, just what advantages you get from them, personally, I have a panel in mine, I noticed a more responsive throttle and possibly a little more torque, mid range, clean them regularly 6 mths..  Had mine for 5 years, it's saved me a few quid in filters if nothing else!

DC

On all my cars and bikes I have used K+N without any adverse effect and given a few services it has paid for itself

Not that I encourage or suggest breaking the law, but..

An insurance assessor would never ever tell if you've got 3.0 cams in your engine, he sure as heck isnt' going to fold up his tie and take it apart!! Same with the chip, it's very unlikely they would investigate things like that unless they had big reasons to believe foul play.

However a K&N filter, is probably not so subtle in terms of appearance, and could potentially put up insurance?

 
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: omegaV6CD on 10 February 2007, 21:35:09
The K&N is a good filter but it doesn't increase performance at all. The reason being that if you strech it you will realise that the surface area is probably 1/4 of that of the original filter. Which means that the negative pressure in the inlet duct between throttle body and filter will either stay the same or increase so there is no gain to be made. Use a good quality air OEM filter(MAHLE. FRAMM, MANN) and change it every 10k to get the maximum benefit.
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Martin_1962 on 10 February 2007, 21:43:50
I have a K&N panel in mine, I did notice an improvement as the one fitted was a bit dirty.

They do flow well and filter well but also need regular cleaning.

An insurance accessor would not really care if it is a panel, but would complain with an induction kit.
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Martin_1962 on 10 February 2007, 21:45:50
Oh I am sure it does flow better when clean, cotton is not that restrictive. I have used K&N for years with no problems and I am sure thay flow slightly better than paper panels
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: omegaV6CD on 10 February 2007, 22:42:55
Quote
Oh I am sure it does flow better when clean, cotton is not that restrictive. I have used K&N for years with no problems and I am sure thay flow slightly better than paper panels

You cannot be sure based on assumptions mate.
From tests that i have seen i can say that they don't flow as well as you might think. But usually all of us after spending money we try to convince ourselves that there is an improovement.
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 February 2007, 10:25:20
There is zero benefit from using a panel filter (or other) over teh stock air fliter if its changed regularly....mainly because the stock one is huge!

The only thing you might get is more noise which would fool you into thinking there is an improvement......

Also try to avoid oiled filters....some of the oil gets throguh and can contaminate the MAF sensor....
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Elite Pete on 11 February 2007, 10:31:11
I have a replacement panel and it hasn't made ant noticable difference as Mark says it just sounds like its quicker ;)
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Dave-C on 11 February 2007, 10:40:27
Reminds me of the old VW air cooled oil bath filter system the oil was to attract dust particles to the gauze element, which it did vary well on all of my VW's ( Don't Laugh)   So theory says that oil coated filters are better than a paper element clogging...  However, to leave this discussion on the fence, if regularly maintained, surely both are ample to do their job well..

Dave C

CEO of K&N UK  ( Kidding)
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Jim Bob2 on 11 February 2007, 10:55:17
Good. Thats that cleared up then...... :-/
Title: Re: Is a K & N worth fitting ?
Post by: Dave-C on 11 February 2007, 13:01:38
LOL ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :'( :'( ;D ;D