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

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

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.

Ka_RX-8

nycgps~~does it help? like improve something for the car?? or stock is better?

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

it helps in the sense that it's made of a better material and doesn't need to be replaced.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

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.

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.

04RX8man

oh the K&N stickers give 10HP...

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

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.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

He's a keeper femftal!

shazy

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$

04RX8man

^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!

Ka_RX-8

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....??

dozer

iTrader: (3)

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

04RX8man

used is fine like dozer said make sure it's cleaned good before you put it in

Razz1

I would clean a new one with an air hose.

Forced air works great!

cBJr

uh, no. Follow the K&N guidelines. I'm pretty certain they recommend against forced air.

KeepItBeautiful

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)?

Nubo

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.

gunnerali

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

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

Never seen Pipercross for sale in the U.S.

gunnerali

I bought all of the ones mentioned off Ebay
last one for my 8 was £36 plus postage

EricMeyer

Paper is a much better filtration media.

SleepeR1st

iTrader: (2)

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.

EricMeyer

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

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

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