Performance panel filter or CAI? Tell us what you use

[andymarc]

Just wanted to ask people out there what they use.
Also a discussion to is there really any benefit on CAI as apposed to a hi end Panel filter

[Dutch77]

Realise this is for Octavia but closely related. In the process of looking at CAIs at the moment and will be going that route over a replacement filter.

An interesting test series was conducted in the USA on the golfmk6 forum comparing stock to filter to CAI.. obviously other factors can impact these results but interesting all the same.

Technical Understanding: Intakes: Stock vs. Drop In vs. Aftermarket - VW GTI MKVI Forum / VW Golf R Forum / VW Golf MKVI Forum / VW GTI Forum - Golfmk6.com

[Ryan_R]

Nice read

I've added a K&N reusable filter (although I've not checked if it's still there since my most recent service) and there's hardly any noticeable difference - probably more of a placebo. I never tested fuel economy differences.

[woofy]

I had K & N in my 323 Sports Edition and it did make a difference both in driving and at the dyno....but would not bother with the RS as they were an art to clean properly and you always wonder whether the oil fouls up sensors etc.

[brad]

neither

have tried a few oiled panel filters in the past (PiperCross & FinerFilter) and neither made any noticeable difference. I've read enough about the OEM filter & airbox to believe it is efficient enough for the amount of power these cars have.

I would be tempted to try a non-oiled cone filter if I could get something like a twintake.

I also believe that if you could get more cold air into the OEM box it would be an improvement too.

[woofy]

I'm kinda over the whole change the intake thing, most CAIs or SRIs seem to just be more pain than gain and depending on how low you put them, seem to suck up water and hydrolock more often than not. Unless you live in Tassie, most of the time the road temps are hot here so moving the intake away from the engine bay doesn't really help a lot. A dyno run won't accurately show the effect of hot road temps either as the car is sitting under cover, half the time in A/C.

[Dutch77]

That contradicts the findings in the US testing I linked above which definitely showed improvements with a well designed CAI over the stock system - ie. one which is sucking in outside air.

Maybe not in extra power generated, my take was it was more about improving power across the rev range. They were certainly critical of the stock design which was about reducing noise more than anything.

However not trying to claim the US test is right, just one possible take on things - I'm certainly no expert, just like gathering multiple points of view and learn more about my car.

[brad]

Fair enough. Keep in mind they have already introduced other variables & upped the power.

[Dutch77]

From other threads I gathered that just a swap from stock to an aftermarket filter/CAI would not be worthwhile - you'd want a tune done to take this into account.. then it seemed like there were additional benefits in doing this mod.

[woofy]

Again the scientist in me, says that unless there is a way to measure power in our hot conditions, a dyno with a 10% change might not even be noticable (apart from the placebo air induction sound). I would like to see some dyno tests done outside. The amount of cars I have seen over the years that knocked out a lower fog light or run these into the wheel well, all well and good if you have ice on the road, but when you put an air intake that low right near some hot tarmac it would be better off up at bonnet height. Dynos aren't at ground level either. Air restriction for noise is another thing altogether though, if you remove that, then sometimes you can see a difference, but if the engine isn't starving for oxygen, you can allow as much in as you like but there isn't going to be big difference.

As above, to see benefits for pretty much anything you need to change a few things that work together and retune it to take advantage of it. The default program will allow for small changes and possibly output a bit more, but it was made to run at the factory specs with the factory equipment in place. At one stage I was looking at the Oettinger stage 1 and 2 packages which had the intakes combined with the tune to suit them. When the work is already done for you it makes it a lot easier.