New air filter?

[y_p_w]

RXP gas kicker significantly decreases emissions so why doesnt exxon et al add
it to fuel? Money. How much more do slightly better speakers cost in bulk?
Automakers do all they can to pinch every penny from production costs.




IMO it is, Improvements in all you mentioned
plus it lasts forever,

Huh? As I said before, I recall an auto magazine dyno test for a '94
Integra LS. Power barely went up (maybe 1%) starting about 5000 RPM
and barely went down (maybe 1%) at 3000 RPM or lower. I recall the
one thing about a K&N I noticed was that it didn't muffle the sound
of air flowing through the airbox. I "recharged" my filter once, and
I was worried about whether I was under/overoiling it. I trust the
oiled paper Subaru OEM filters to protect my engine better than any
K&N.

I think a K&N may make sense for someone interested in racing, as part
of several cumulative mods. However - electronic engine controls just
won't take advantage of more airflow short of running at wide open
throttle.

For me, the best solution is the one in my '95 Acura Integra GS-R. It
uses a larger cylindrical paper element with a two-stage intake runner
system. At lower RPMs, the runner restricts air intake to improve
low-end power/driveability. At 5500 RPM, it opens up so that the
engine can breathe deeper when it needs more air. Another solution is
one that Subaru has already thought of, called a "turbocharger".

As for other stuff - the oil companies have no incentive to go out of
their way to improve mileage or emissions. They could include fuel
stabilizers to increase the shelf-life of their product, but don't
because it costs money. Carmakers face punitive action if their CAFE
numbers don't meet requirements.

 

[Jkpoulos7]

Carmakers face punitive action if their CAFE

numbers don't meet requirements.

Or like subaru they just reclassify their vehicles as "trucks"

I trust the
oiled paper Subaru OEM filters to protect my engine better than any
K&N.

Fine for you but I'll stick with the K&N.

 

[y_p_w]

Or like subaru they just reclassify their vehicles as "trucks"

I've actually heard of some factory tuner jobs that include K&N
filters. I'm sure most of the automakers have field tested various
aftermarket and decided against using K&N or its equivalents except
for these hot rod jobs.

Fine for you but I'll stick with the K&N.

I have no doubt that K&N does improve top end performance and increases
noise. Any possible decrease in longevity is likely not that big a
deal. However - claims of mileage increases and better peformance
through the entire powerband just aren't possible with electronic
engine controls. At the lower end, the limitation on air comes
from the throttle body opening.

 

[Edward Hayes]

I too trust my expensive engine to the OEM oil impregnated air filter. An
extra 2hp at 5800 rpm doesn't concern me but cutting off 1/4 life of my
engine does as I drive in some dusty stuff daily. ed

 

[CompUser]

news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
(e-mail address removed) says...

I too trust my expensive engine to the OEM oil impregnated air filter. An
extra 2hp at 5800 rpm doesn't concern me but cutting off 1/4 life of my
engine does as I drive in some dusty stuff daily.

Roger that. And the admission that "it filters
better when it's dirty" is telling you it passes
harmful stuff at earlier stages, until it loads
up enough to *start* filtering. I bet there's a
high correlation between gauzey filter owners and
atmospheric BOV owners, to!

Steve

 

[Jkpoulos7]

I too trust my expensive engine to the OEM oil impregnated air filter. An

extra 2hp at 5800 rpm doesn't concern me but cutting off 1/4 life of my
engine does as I drive in some dusty stuff daily.

1/4 off the life? Are you for real? Any shortening of engine life if it even is
the case is minimal and not noticible for the majority of drivers. The extra
pep I got is more than 2 hp or at least the engine has more pep and better mpg
(.5-1 mpg average)

 

[y_p_w]

1/4 off the life? Are you for real? Any shortening of engine life if it even is
the case is minimal and not noticible for the majority of drivers. The extra
pep I got is more than 2 hp or at least the engine has more pep and better mpg
(.5-1 mpg average)

First - when I first got a K&N for my '89 Integra, I could have sworn it
was faster. The sound from the airbox certainly sounded like it was
faster. However - nothing short of a comparison dyno test (against a
**new** OEM filter) is adequate. I've seen such test reports, and they
tell me the same thing that has been noted by others in this thread.
They do NOTHING for low-end performance (and can actually reduce it)
and give small improvements at the top-end.

Second - most people getting new parts notice some sort of improvement
because they're comparing the performance of a NEW part against that
of an OLD one. I'd believe anyone claiming that a brand new K&N will
outperform a clogged paper element air filter throughout the powerband.