Yesterday when I took my 8 into the dealership for an oil change and a PCM reflash, the service guy warned me about my K&N drop-in filter which I had installed.

He told me that they don't consider this a safe modification and that if anything happened to my MAF sensor is would be on my dime, not theirs. He gave me a copy of an article about after-market filters and the havoc they can cause with modern sensors and systems.

Needless to say, it looks like I'm going to have to go back to stock. The risk is not worth the minimal gains I might get from this mod.

If I were K&N, I would be concerned about this. I sure would like to hear an explanation from them about it...

 

from what I heard, the K & N wasn't it worth it anyway. the only intake that seems to make any real gains is the Rotary Extreme intake, and even that isn't THAT much that you will feel it.

I would take it off and Ebay that sucker.

 

he said he had the drop in which really doesn't give any gains- I wonder how they would feel about the typhoon then>?

 

Do you have this article to share with us?

 

I took my 8 into a dealer to get the airbag/damper recalls and a reflash (ended up with a tire rotation as well), and they didn't say a word about my typhoon.

I'd say get a second opinion from another dealer just to make sure (a freind of mine had a honda dealer claim that her entire engine warranty was voided because she had an "after-market" oil filter installed).

What exactly did they claim the drop-in filter might cause to happen to the MAF sensor?

 

I've had my aftermarket intake for about 7 months now and gone to 3 different dealers to have service done and not one has mentioned anything about any of my mods. Some dealers are more **** about aftermarket mods than others.

 

it's just one dealer being a b*tch...i am sure the article that he had, was a dealer specific article...bah...ignore him, and find someone else.

 

Hi, I just want say I have install the MS Exhaust & KN drop in filter and I'am glad I did. I had installed it about two weeks now and my results are this.. Car would idle at 850, now idles at 950.. The car feels more responsive and after the two weeks the MS Exhaust is now louder compared to when I installed it.. So I feel the KN filter and Exhaust was well worth it. Thanks..

 

PS. Sorry forgot to add my dealer thought everything was fine , he said no problem

 

different idle means that the airflow over the MAF sensor has changed. your idle should be in the 750-850 range. it may not be a problem but it has changed enough to cause the pcm to change to a different map point.

edit: oh and about the warning for the air filter- is the k&n filter oiled? if so their concern is for oil from the filter getting on the sensor. the sensor can be harmed by oils and can cause it to malfunction. so it's not after market or replacement filters in general it's the oiled ones that can be a concern.

 

I have the typhoon and my dealer gave me the article and I typed it on this site months ago

 

befor you guys go dropign filters in and adding air intakes. read this and learn some new stuff if you didnt' already know. its pretty cool :D http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_0629/article.html

 

i have the racing beat air filter. it's also an oiled filter. does anybody else have it? also zoom44 where did you read oiled filters cause the sensor to malfunction? just curious, since why would oiled filters even be made if it's common knowledge that they cause the sensor to malfunction.

 

This dealership is actually pretty mod friendly. They just don't think that this particular mod is a good idea.

I just think that K&N should be the ones that are most concerned about this.

Here is the text from the article that they gave me. It was just a photocopy from something called "M-Tips". Perhaps a dealer mag or something. Anyway here is the text:

2004 RX-8

Aftermarket Air Filter/Intake Syst.

The RX-8 airbox and intake system is specifically designed to eliminate restriction and create a smooth airflow over the MAF. If a customer has installed an aftermarket air filter or intake system, the airflow stream to the MAF element may be disrupted and cause an improper MAF signal. An erratic signal may result in a rough idle condition. Also, some aftermarket air filter elements are coated in oil to improve air filtering. The oil coating may damage the MAF resulting in a poor idle or MIL illumination related to the MAF. If a customer complains of a rough idle, inspect the vehicle for an aftermarket air filter or intake system and replace with factory components.

 

Had A Typhoon For Almost A Year Now....it Works Awesome (mostly Makes A Lot Of Noise) But There Is A Certain Improvement In Acceleration...never Had Any Problems

 

The oil on my K&N, which came with the RE intake, did end up on the sensor. With a cotton swab and nail polish remover I cleaned the sensor and have had no problems since(thanks to this forum). I have a really cool dealer who tends to be flexible on the matter of modifications but when I go in and ask certain types of questions they have no clue what it is I am asking. I stopped in yesterday to look at the wiring schematic so I could determine which throttle body wire was the 0-5v lead so I can hook up my nitrous properly. It was all I could do to keep from shoving my service advisor aside and running the computer myself because he kept going into files that were irrelevant to the question I was asking. When he brought a mechanic up front to talk to me, that guy had no clue what was going on, either. My point is that when it comes to certain levels of modification on the 8 you will, at some point, outpace those who are supposed to know about such things. Example; I have mailed questions to some people on this forum who I thought would have answers because they were correct on everything else I have read, so far. I have yet to hear back. Perhaps they have yet to delve into the TBW wiring or the fuel system. No slam to any of these people, but I guess when it comes to nitrous there is much to be learned.

Charles

 

So, you reached up inside the plastic tube to reach the resistance wires? Did you clean the temperature bulb also?

 

This is rediculous. The dealership was talking hot sh*t--K&N drop-ins are harmless--they don't add enough to do anything to the MAF Sensor, actually I get one in every car I drive moreso for the MPG increase and reuseability. In the RX8 it probably can net you maybe 1-3HP--maybe 5 high in the rev band on a cold day. Keep doing what you are doing and ignore that B.S.

 

First, if my examination is correct, the two components of the MAF sensor are the resistor and reed set. The reeds measure air speed by oscillating/vibrating in a predictable fashion and the resistor measures air mass/temperature by varying its resistance due to temp changes. I cleaned mine by removing the two screws, pulling the MAF out and carefully cleaning the two components. It took all of three minutes. There was a lengthy discussion on this matter in a previous thread started by someone else. I forgot to thank them for it.

Charles

p.s. Don't forget that the ECU will accomodate slight changes in airflow.

 

How much is the sensor?

I have the SR Motorsports intake, and it takes me about 30 minutes to make the switch back to the OEM airbox. In fact I did it last night because I am ready for my 10K oil change and tire rotation. Why not just swap them out before you take the 8 in for service?

Charles - thanks for the correct terminology of the actual components used.

 

charles there is a little temperature bulb attached to the mafs. it's the Intake Air Temp sensor or IAT. they are actually not integrated but are just attached to each other for mounting purposes.

 

Okay, cool. Thanks for the correction. That's what I like about most of the users of this forum; we can keep each other on top of things without egos getting in the way. With very few people out there in the larger world knowing what's going on with this car it is good to know we at least have each other. Is that too "touchy-feely" of me to say? When I looked at the "temp bulb" it seemed to resemble an electrolytic capacitor. Is that the part you are talking about?

Charles

 

well no it was not too touchy feely. and since i am not quite sure what an electrolyte capacitor looks like i will hunt up the parts diagram and post it in a few.

 

well the parts diagram SUCKS! can't see teh IAT at all so i grabbed this pic below from another thread

[IMG]www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=20451[/IMG]

 

That's okay, zoom, I need to concentrate on the nitrous install anyway. Later.

Charles