AudidudeNZ

Actually I am responding to a post below from IJ in which he said:

"and go for a panel (K&N). I am told by my tuner (MTM rep.) that if you have a free flow catalyst, chip mods. up to 286bhp are straight forward without intercooler or turbo mods., provided you also have a quality panel. "

I thought this was an interesting comment considering it came from an MTM tuner.

I researched this a while ago via the A4 forum and there is clearly a lot of argument about its worth. Overall my conclusion was that any gains are minimal and probably not worth the risk of possibly allowing more particulates into the engine, as the K&N apparently can.

Check out these:

http://www.audizone.com/info/perform/filter_testing.htm

https://www.audiworld.com/forum/m/racing/2700.phtml

https://www.audiworld.com/forum/m/a4/msgs/242805.phtml

For me, I wouldn't go to the trouble, expense and possible risk for what can best be described as very minimal gains.

Cheers<p>Greg Spark
New Zealand

AL B

Greg,

I agree with your final statement.

I bought a K&N panel filter a while ago. To be honest I think it made very little difference. There may have been a slight improvement in throttle response, and possibly a slight improvement in engine noise. I could certainly hear the wastegate/blow-off sound more when lifting off the throttle.

But for me, if you believe my dealer, the end result was a damaged MAF sensor. Dealer said K&N had deposited oil on the sensor, he cleaned it, but may have damaged it in the cleaning process. The result a new MAF sensor, and back to the stock filter.

My car is coming up to the 30K service now, once serviced, I'm going to put the K&N back in, and see what happens.

AL<p>'99.5 A3 1.8TS Silver

<IMG SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/registry/pictures/ALB-A3-175.jpg" WIDTH=150 HEIGT=112 ALIGN=left ALT="AL B's A3">

Rurz

I have always used K&N filters and never any problems. Not one. Have also read these posts though...

AL B

<p>'99.5 A3 1.8TS Silver

<IMG SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/registry/pictures/ALB-A3-175.jpg" WIDTH=150 HEIGT=112 ALIGN=left ALT="AL B's A3">

Wando

yeah, I've done 10000miles on my filter with no problems, just washed/oiled it for the 2nd time.

David R

according to many - plus it doesn't disintegrate like a paper filter which fills the engine.

AudidudeNZ

after I fitted a K&N to my 1.8Tqm I ran into problems with hesitant starting and a misfire on light throttle settings. I do not know if it WAS the K&N that caused the problem. The VAG kept throwing up some error codes which I have now lost. Resetting the ECU with the VAG seemed to cure it temporarily, and then after about a further 20000kms it never recurred.

It was and still is a mystery to me but I always suspected the K&N oil, as I have read of this problem elsewhere.

Hence my reluctance to "buy" a tiny performance improvement.

BTW, David R, have you references/reports for a paper filter disintegration leading to paper filling the engine? This would be a major catastrophe in a turbo engine.

There are periodic reports here of an idle problem in the 1.8T - it would be interesting to know if these people had a K&N on board.

Cheers<p>Greg Spark
New Zealand

IJ

I use K&N and admitedly I do have those idle problems but I do not believe that idle issues are filter related. Suspect they are ECU related. Long time ago I posted about the torque improvement after fitting K&N. I still think its a worthwhile mod. and surprises me to hear that with K&N particle filtration capabilities may be inferior. Still of the opinion that increased engine air supply is as critical as other mods. like improved fuel management (i.e. performance ECU).
I used K&N in most of my previous cars without any problems and it appears that dealers only blame things such as K&N filter when they have nothing easier to point to in search of the cause of some particular problems.
IJ
99A31.8T(190bhp + K&N!)

AudidudeNZ

<p>Greg Spark
New Zealand

Rurz

Clean out the airbox with a hoover often though! Sometimes you get some bits laying in the bottom and carefully (very) clean between the troughs in the panel as well. It is a major factor that they are often over oiled or someone uses an air jet on them and this is when problems occur. Straight out of the factory I would be surprised but it would not be impossible for sure.

James