Do Foam Air Filters Kill Your Engine?

[Mr Jollwah]

I use hks pod "lightly oiled with motul foam filter oil" was thinking bout using one of the 3 layer dry elements, however i noticed that the fine foam was in the inside layer of the filter thus it may be possible for grit to get stuck inside of the filter. did on me bike anyway untill i went with fine inner-fine outer filter.

Maybe 3 layer with a very light coat of oil eg. bel-ray aerosol filter oil.

[sky_2.0T]

Oily filters are a mess. It will eventually seep into your intake or all over your car. Blitz SUS LM dry cone filter works good, and its loud too (good spool) Replacement is 35$ It's a finer design too, but not as restrictive as paper....

[R31 Gagz]

I've used a K&N pod filter on my R31 that is an oiled element and found it worked good apart from killing my AFM....the oil from the pod will eventually coat the hot wire in the AFM, creating incorrect readings and ends up killing the AFM.

I use two dry element apexi power intake filters on my 32 GTR at 14psi and they work great, apexi definately one of the top filters out there.

Cheers!

Gagz

[4drftn]

Can't say about the colours, maybe genuine vs non HKS???

The light blue triple layer unit is a better thing. You don't have to oil it so no afm contamination, also the third layer has a very small cell size and [it looks like when compared to the purple dual layer units] it would definitely scrub the air better.

Oiled elements do a very good job, the oil traps the dust, unfortunately - esp. if you over oil - you can get oil on the afm sensor and affect performance. Any filter that uses a prelube or oil will do this.

The real secret to having a good air filter is to clean it often and replace it as per specs regularly. And we are all guilty of overclocking at some stage.

I thought about replacing my HKS mushroom pod with a K+N/Apexi pod, but when the dry triple layer elements came out I stayed with it and just replaced the filter.

so is it safe to clean and re-oil my hks element? i read on another topic that the hks elements are throw away and should be replaced every 20,000...

[Mr Jollwah]

Have been cleaning & oiling mine every 10000 kms, Have cleaned my afm with brake clean once already. It did have a light coat of oil on the wire it came off when i cleaned it though.

If you are going to do this, keep it clean, use the right oil (not engine oil) and don't use too much.

seems to work for me.

[ScaryTed77]

Having owned both wet and dry style filters, dry is the way to go. I'm really happy with my Apexi pod I got from Slide Performance recently. The dry type require less maintenance, and are more likely to be legal (depending on where you are).

Plus, I've heard more than one horror story about oil getting in to the AFM and causing some serious trouble. So yeah, dry element all the way for me

[4drftn]

i just bought a new element for my hks pod filter... they must be replaced every so often, as they do break away... will post pics of how bad element is soon.

[R338OY]

I have an HKS foam pod. Works a treat and haven't had problems. Personally i'd replace the filter every second oil change or so, just to be safe.

[Rezlo]

I have just got one of the new AEM Dryflow paper pod filters for my RB25, Looks A+ in quality and its just the right size for the Q45 MAF, look forward to testing it VS the K&N I have on now.

[4drftn]

i would recommend that anyone who has or uses a foam style filter like my hks one to change your foam elements as often as they are supposed to be changed for maximum performance and protection (i replaced mine with a dry 3 layer element), not a good idea to just clean and put back in or re oil ect.

pics below

[gotRICE?]

Dunno if you have seen this, but it may change your mind about what you will buy next..

http://www.max-boost.co.uk/max-boost/image...filter_test.htm

[4drftn]

very very interesting, good read actually... you would think HKS being a leading brand in performance bits it would prove to be the best... there are some pointers to be considered after reading this article definatly.

[LatinR33]

Correct me if Im wrong but wouldnt running a pod filter instead of a panel with airbox actually reduce your power as your car heats up and starts sucking in hot air into your engine. Also wouldnt this technically increase the chance of detonation during hotter months like december???

[gotRICE?]

Correct me if Im wrong but wouldnt running a pod filter instead of a panel with airbox actually reduce your power as your car heats up and starts sucking in hot air into your engine. Also wouldnt this technically increase the chance of detonation during hotter months like december???

It all depends. Yes and no, dont forget your intercooler. And the way i see it, the turbo is going to superheat the air no matter what temperature it is sucked through the filter at.

[4drftn]

i have a custom made heat shield around my pod filter to prevent heat soak...

[LatinR33]

i have a custom made heat shield around my pod filter to prevent heat soak...

yeah ive seen those UAS style shields, I would imagine it stops the induction sound many people buy pods for.

[4drftn]

na not really you can still hear the mad induction noise the HKS pods make, probably would be louder without it...

[LatinR33]

Really you still hear the pod??? Are you running a CAI to it??

Edited October 15, 2007 by LatinR33

[4drftn]

na but i have it slightly raised at the front on my airbox lid to let air comin over the headlight come in and also it has been cut underneath pod to let air in too. but i want to customize it again and have a fibreglass induction kit joined onto it to get better airflow, its one of those on going sorta things that can always be modified.

[Bumblebee]

Cant remember which magazine, think it was Zoom, did a test on different pod filters and it turned out that the foam style filters were the worst filtering out of all of them.

i got the review.. hks foamies r pretty bad at makin power and filtering, unfortunately i run 2 of them.. tryin to get rid of them.

Drift filters came first, im not suprised, 2nd was blitz followed by apexi.

k& n filters r rubbish.. i had one.. piece of fkn shit oil coated rubbish. f**ks ur afm if u dont clean it often.