Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

K&N air filter

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 07-09-2009 | 12:09 PM
  #1  
Ka_RX-8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
K&N air filter

i am just wondering putting K&N air filter in, do you guys recommend? i did search but can't really find the answer
Old 07-09-2009 | 12:13 PM
  #2  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 32
From: Planet Earth
You talking about drop in filter right ?

You can do it, just make sure that when you first get it, CLEAN IT with its solution and oil it again yourself.

cuz for some reason, probably due to manufacturing "speed" concern, they probably just dip the whole filter into a pot of oil and call it a day.

What does that mean ? that means it has been "over oiled" from factory.

I had like 5 different K&N filter and they ALL over oiled from factory. I have to clean it and re oil it again so it wont mess my MAF and TB after.
Old 07-09-2009 | 12:21 PM
  #3  
Ka_RX-8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
nycgps~~does it help? like improve something for the car?? or stock is better?
Old 07-09-2009 | 12:23 PM
  #4  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,444
Likes: 2,799
From: The Dark Side
it helps in the sense that it's made of a better material and doesn't need to be replaced.
Old 07-09-2009 | 12:42 PM
  #5  
Huey52's Avatar
Registered Zoom Zoomer
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,089
Likes: 6
From: New England
It also helps as the K&N flat is a "high flow" compared to the OEM filter.

Mine was oiled just right from the factory. I did get a cleaner/oiler kit as well for when it's needed.
Old 07-09-2009 | 01:17 PM
  #6  
femftal's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Norcross, GA
My husband got me one as a birthday gift last week - to me, it seemed to smooth everything out a bit. Not that I noticed it wasn't smooth before, it just got better after we put it in. Pain in the *** to get the old one out though.
Old 07-09-2009 | 01:51 PM
  #7  
04RX8man's Avatar
Rotary Powered Countryboy
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh
oh the K&N stickers give 10HP...
Old 07-09-2009 | 02:05 PM
  #8  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,444
Likes: 2,799
From: The Dark Side
make sure you put the sticker on the airbox, usually it says something like "equipped with a K&N filter, do not discard"
Dealership techs love to throw them out so they can sell you an OEM air filter.
Old 07-09-2009 | 06:44 PM
  #9  
Huey52's Avatar
Registered Zoom Zoomer
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,089
Likes: 6
From: New England
Thumbs up

He's a keeper femftal!

Originally Posted by femftal
My husband got me one as a birthday gift last week - to me, it seemed to smooth everything out a bit. Not that I noticed it wasn't smooth before, it just got better after we put it in. Pain in the *** to get the old one out though.
Old 07-11-2009 | 12:00 AM
  #10  
shazy's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 0
From: Montreal,QC
I suggest doing the intake mod (removing both screens) and putting this on. I did this and it helped ALOT! Then again, the stupid dealership over filled the oil and alot of it went right into the intake box. Took me forever to clean that stuff out.

It's a good mod for only 50$
Old 07-11-2009 | 11:13 AM
  #11  
04RX8man's Avatar
Rotary Powered Countryboy
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh
^I wouldn't take both screens out or you could get your MAF all messed up and give false readings then you'll have all kinds of drivability issues...leave at least one screen IMO!
Old 07-11-2009 | 12:09 PM
  #12  
Ka_RX-8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
is a used one okay? i went to eaby, there is one he said he only used it for 10-20 miles selling for 15$...

would a used one okay? or you can't feel the diff really since it's already been used....??
Old 07-11-2009 | 12:11 PM
  #13  
dozer's Avatar
on his 3rd rx8
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,034
Likes: 10
From: santa ana, ca
people sell their used K&n panel filters on here all the time...if you get it, just give it a good clean, the filter was meant to last a lifetime
Old 07-11-2009 | 02:30 PM
  #14  
04RX8man's Avatar
Rotary Powered Countryboy
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh
used is fine like dozer said make sure it's cleaned good before you put it in
Old 07-12-2009 | 04:42 PM
  #15  
Razz1's Avatar
Mu ha.. ha...
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,361
Likes: 3
From: Cali
I would clean a new one with an air hose.

Forced air works great!
Old 12-08-2009 | 11:37 AM
  #16  
cBJr's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Razz1
I would clean a new one with an air hose.

Forced air works great!
uh, no. Follow the K&N guidelines. I'm pretty certain they recommend against forced air.
Old 12-14-2009 | 04:25 PM
  #17  
KeepItBeautiful's Avatar
05 Brilliant Black RX8 GT
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, Canada
My RX8 reached 48000 km, and it was recommended to change the air filter because it is dirty.
Personally, I don't think it is worth getting a K&N filter.
The dealership will charge $50 (in Ottawa, Canada) and I was wondering if this is a fair price...seems kind of expensive for a stock filter.
May anyone advise on a standard filter price (preferably price in Canada)?
Old 12-15-2009 | 01:11 PM
  #18  
Nubo's Avatar
Lubricious
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 4
From: SF Bay Area, California
I had a K&N in a previous car, and I recommend against it.

First, I don't trust the filtering efficiency. Holding one to the light reveals LARGE holes. More airflow is nice, but geez!

Second, the whole "never discard" feature sounds nice but is a crock of s*** in practice. You've got to wash the thing with special soap, let it dry..., oil it, let it dry.... It's more trouble than washing a dog. And where's that K&N soap and filter oil you bought 2 years ago.....? This is easy? Not quite as easy as popping out the old paper filter and popping in the new paper filter. Bing, Bang, Done. Now, this hassle might be worth it if the thing provided a power increase that you could notice. It does not. It's pretty, but it's inside a box.

Third, getting the exact amount of oil into the fabric is an art. Chances are you will either have too little (poor filtration) or too much (oil mist gunks up the MAF sensor). NOW how much would you pay?

The stock paper filter is fine. Change it more frequently if you're really worried about flow impairment, imho.
Old 01-14-2011 | 05:45 PM
  #19  
gunnerali's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Carlisle UK
UK

I recommend Pipercross foam filter no oil had these in volvo -astra -golf 4 Gti 1.8t 180bh

noticed a difference in all 3 not mind tricks actually pulled astra sxi a bit better then that could also be due to new clean filter

Gti was best as in noticeable gain no dyno tests but it helped the old girl lower end 1-3 gears

just put one in my lovely 8, only concern with all cars was MPG all seemed more thirsty
Old 01-14-2011 | 05:54 PM
  #20  
StealthTL's Avatar
Metatron
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,284
Likes: 175
From: A Pacific Island.
Never seen Pipercross for sale in the U.S.
Old 01-14-2011 | 05:57 PM
  #21  
gunnerali's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Carlisle UK
I bought all of the ones mentioned off Ebay
last one for my 8 was £36 plus postage
Old 01-14-2011 | 07:10 PM
  #22  
EricMeyer's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 684
Likes: 13
From: Indianapolis, IN
Originally Posted by Ka_RX-8
i am just wondering putting K&N air filter in, do you guys recommend? i did search but can't really find the answer
Paper is a much better filtration media.
Old 01-14-2011 | 07:18 PM
  #23  
SleepeR1st's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 387
Likes: 27
From: gone
Originally Posted by EricMeyer
Paper is a much better filtration media.
For some reason when Eric says things, it is like the word of God speaking to people.

Do you like fine to large particulates entering your engine? If so buy the K&N filter.
Old 01-15-2011 | 08:12 AM
  #24  
EricMeyer's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 684
Likes: 13
From: Indianapolis, IN
Originally Posted by SleepeR1st
For some reason when Eric says things, it is like the word of God speaking to people.

Do you like fine to large particulates entering your engine? If so buy the K&N filter.
Wow! Thank you.

Now here is the logic: Several years ago we were blowing up engines right and left. Left and right. backwards forwards, etc. I started asking around to get some help and ended up talking with David Haskill of SpeedSource. If you've not heard the SpeedSource name before they are the Professional Road Race team running building and running the majority of 3 rotor Rolex cars in the Grand-Am Series. They built the Dempsey cars. They built the Racers Edge cars. They build the Sahlens cars....

They also built the original Renesis cars (like ours) from 2004 until a few years ago. Some of these cars are still floating around. Some have been trashed/wrecked or converted to something else.

SpeedSource has been a factory supproted Mazda team for several years now. David Haskill is the team engineer. David is also a driver. Smart guy. Super nice guy. Very busy guy.

So I contact him and share our issue. One of the first things he asks me is this: "what kind of air filter are you running?". No kidding. Did you know that their 3 rotor engines run THE STOCK RX8 PAPER FILTER? Yep.

We ran a K&N style for a few races just because I thought this technology was the best. It made about 1 more hp on the dyno than paper. So we ran it. We also toasted two motors at Daytona and one at Homestead running the Grand-Am Koni Challenge Series. When we pulled these motors apart we found (drum roll) sand blasted rotor housings where the air would enter the intake ports. Switched over to paper, ran both these tracks again and the witness marks were gone. Problem fixed. David also confirmed that he had saw this before also.

That is the basis of why I beleive paper is a better filtration media. We run the Mazda/AEM cannister style filter that comes with the long AEM/Mazda intake. We also found this intake to make the most torque.

Cheers,

Eric
Old 01-15-2011 | 09:25 AM
  #25  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 32
From: Planet Earth
I use stock paper filters too.

not that I don't believe K&N tho, I use stock paper filter simply because I got it damn cheap. and I usually turn it 180 degrees every 7-8 K miles, why ? just open your box every 7-8 k and notice the "black" spot on the filter you will know what I mean.

many people have use K&N and their engine still last as long as people who use regular paper filter. just my 0.02


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:19 PM.