K&N V Pipercross panel filter test

Technical Area Engine, Transmission, Exhaust etc
2

Hi All I thought I would share this with you all, I bought a K&N oiled panel for my MX5 Mk3 2008 2.0 sport, it did make a difference to the sound and it  also felt like a performance gain.

I then read reports about oiled filters causing issues with the air sensor (MAF?)

So I bought a non oiled piper cross. The similar induction sound as the K&N but felt it had a better performance gain over the K&N.

Most of the performance gains on forums generally dismiss performance gain as just better sound, however there is not much difference in induction sound between the K&N / Pipercross.

Comments would be very welcome?

 

Cheers

 

Derek

3

Put back the standard and with a stop watch or phone app do some accelaration runs.

Same with the K&N.

Same with the Pipercross.

Lets us know the times to see what the gains are!

4

It would depend on the condition of the filter you took out.

I would be surprised if there was much if any noise difference if you are literally just swapping a filter in the air box without making some change to the intake system.

Some 10 years ago now ITG did some rolling road tests on my MK2.5 with a very fancy Maxogen set up and at best it made 2bhp, which is well withing the error that a rolling road would give. The K&N Typhoon was tested at the same time and that made a 1bhp lose, but again well with RR tolerances. The conclusion was, the noise was great. 

Personally I felt the car was freer at the top end so would run to the read line more easily, figures didn’t “prove” it though.

5

Pipercross flters are also supposed to be oiled:

http://www.pipercross.net/75ml-dirt-retention-additive-oil-aerosol-c9007_p24039175.htm

HKS filters are not oiled, but have a short service life (or are meant to if you follow HKS’s instructions).

6

I fitted a pipercross, no statistics but I would say slightly louder induction, and maybe a couple HP more, but maybe thats just my imagination. Sticking with it anyway.

7

I swapped a new 3rd party air filter on my '07 2.0 sport and noticed it was freer revving to the red line and sounded much better. I stuck with the pipercross for the next 2 years  

Then I bought a '13 2.0 Kuro and swapped a dirty oem filter for a new oem filter. The car sounded better and revved freer.

I then swapped the new oem filter for a freshly washed and oiled pipercross and the car sounded flatter and the noise was a bit duller. I put the new oem filter back in and am sticking with it because it feels just right. I did notice that the design of the oem filter has changed very slightly and it now has a blue rubber gasket around the edges.