Cleaning Air Pod

[JimX]

Not sure how you clean metal mesh filters. I would presume you just spray them with some sort of mild solvent (contact cleaner maybe?) or soak them in something for awhile then wash them out and let them dry.

Any metal mesh filter experts around? Either way, they don't need oiling. And because you say it's metal, I'm pretty sure it's a Blitz (could be wrong though)

[T0nyGTSt]

My HKS filter is black. It's meant to be black right?

I need to make it green now I guess.

What does it harm it if you don't oil it?

T.

[JimX]

If you don't oil it then it will just let through the smaller particles of dust. Which may not be that bad if you don't drive through any particularly dusty areas, but keep in mind that even when oiled the HKS filters let in a fair few particles of dust. They're designed for the track, where dust and engine longevity usually aren't of much concern.

That said though, I bought my car with a crappy unoiled Redline pod filter which you could actually SEE gaping holes in, and I don't think the engine is any worse for it even though it was a couple of months before I got my Apexi pod. But then again, I never made a habit of driving it through dust storms either

[Guest INASNT]

If you look at many tests done on pod filter u will find that the jap brand eg trust,apexi and hks pods tested the worst and dont flow as much air as they claim.

[JimX]

INASNT, all I can say is don't believe everything you read. I read that article too and that's why I bought the Apexi. But after I installed it, the Apexi seemed to be more restrictive than the old HKS I had borrowed off a friend. The car had noticably less up-top than it did when I had the HKS in.

Once I installed the cold air box this got resolved and I couldn't tell any difference between them, so I think just by design the HKS will suck in less hot air from the sides. So I'm thinking it has a better ram air effect than the Apexi, and if you don't have an air box/don't want one/can't afford one/whatever, the HKS is probably a better filter to buy.

I know enough about foam filters (ie, crap at filtering) to believe their filtration test results though, which is the main reason I bought the Apexi.

[Guest INASNT]

JimX

my car already had a real big K/N filter on it when i got it and the test showed the K/N filter to be 1 of the best! So i was happy!

[MM2death]

Do you have to oil all K&N airpods?

[Driftn 180]

mm2 death: you must oil the k&n filters after you wash them, they filter much better.

ive got a puple HKS filter on my 180sx, it came in with the car and its half purple half black, so i must wash it right away and oil it.

i beleive there are a few different colours with the hks; green, yellow, red and purple.

ps- so whats the best stuff to use when washing the hks; soap n water then oiling, or degreaser and then oiling???

[Blackness]

the previous owner fitted the APEXI pod on my car, its due for a clean I was going to rinse it degreaser, fresh water and use the K&N oil even though its a mesh filter. Had a mesh K&N air box filter on my previous car and this worked fine

Originally posted by JimX

Once I installed the cold air box this got resolved and I couldn't tell any difference between them, so I think just by design the HKS will suck in less hot air from the sides. So I'm thinking it has a better ram air effect than the Apexi, and if you don't have an air box/don't want one/can't afford one/whatever, the HKS is probably a better filter to buy.

Jimx whats the deal on this cold air box, simlar to a factory air box or is a heat shield for the pod? how much and where ? keen for cold air induction and a factory non defect look ....

[JimX]

The Apexi pod doesn't need cleaning, or rather can't handle it. I think it's generally advertised as lasting forever, but I would probably replace it when it got too dirty.

I got my cold air box from UAS, it's just a partition with a lid on it. Looks really nice though, worth the money I reckon (about $180). The only problem with it is that it doesn't have a scoop or anything. I'm thinking of cutting a hole in my panel and running some PVC tubing down to the front guard. Just need to get motivated

[Guest INASNT]

dont spend $180 on a UAS 1, u can make your own 1 for a quarter of that!

remember jay95 posted the template of his 1, this is that it looks like

[Mr Squiggle]

i cleaned my POD filter the other week with the K&N recharge Kit! what a big difference it makes to you r car. I also changed plugs too. The thing is running ever so sweetly now. Full wheel spin off the gas on low boost (7.5psi), no clutch.

THe weather in Petrh's is a bit hot lately to run high boost. can't wait for a cooler day/night....

[JimX]

Originally posted by INASNT

dont spend $180 on a UAS 1, u can make your own 1 for a quarter of that!

Yes, but it takes time and probably won't look as good. How much is a weekend's worth of running around securing materials and drawing up plans and building worth to you? To me it was worth about $180 I knew there were plans for it lying around, but I cbf'd making one myself. I installed the box myself, that was enough of a challenge

I'm even considering getting the Hills Motorsport aluminium one at some point, it costs around $400. Might wait until I can afford all the hardcore stuff at once though.

[MRK25T]

What is the Hills Motorsport box?

Since you've already paid $180 for the UAS and are wanting this aluminium one costing $400 i'm guessing it is an upgrade.

I'm getting a FMIC in 2 weeks and already have the above mentioned mesh POD, should I be looking at the Hills box or the UAS one? I'll be running 1bar or more boost if that is a variable in this equation.

Thanks Jimmy,

Mark

[Guest INASNT]

Originally posted by JimX

Yes, but it takes time and probably won't look as good. How much is a weekend's worth of running around securing materials and drawing up plans and building worth to you? To me it was worth about $180 I knew there were plans for it lying around, but I cbf'd making one myself. I installed the box myself, that was enough of a challenge

I'm even considering getting the Hills Motorsport aluminium one at some point, it costs around $400. Might wait until I can afford all the hardcore stuff at once though.

Well i didnt make mine with the lid coz my pod was 2 big to fit in the box with the stock IC piping.

I paid about $40 for material and on a saturday i enjoy doing stuff to my car! So i saved quite a bit! Did the UAS box fit perfectly? and do u have a fmic or the stock 1 still?

[JimX]

INASNT, The UAS one isn't a "perfect" fit, but it's better than I could do myself I have FMIC. If you enjoy making stuff yourself then I say go for the home-made version. I just didn't have the time or patience to build it, though I do admit that putting the pre-fab'd one in was fun. I built a subwoofer box for my Commodore a couple of years ago and that was "kind of" fun, but I think this time around I'll pay someone else to do it

MRK25T, the Hills version is a proper sealed box with a bottom as well rather than just a partition with a lid. It's aluminium rather than fibreglass and hella sexy. It's probably not worth the price difference based on performance improvement, but the Hills one looks better (IMO) and is of a better design. It's up to you which you prefer and how much you want to spend. I don't know if I'll ever get it, it's something that I think would be nice to have but the UAS fibreglass one is good enough for now.

[Guest INASNT]

jimx

can u post a pic of what it looks like in your car?

[JimX]

I was going to refer you to my original thread about it, but since then I've moved the pics out of my webspace

I don't have any pics of the box here at work, I'll put some up when I get home.

[Guest INASNT]

kool!!

have u made the scoop as yet from the front bar to the pod?

[JimX]

Nope, not for awhile either Got too much other (non-car) stuff to do