Performance Air Filters

Chaps,

Having recently purchased a completely standard T5 I am planning to change bits when they start to fail. As Volvo only change the standard paper filter every 40,000 miles I was looking into a replacement panel filter.

Questions have since arisen along the lines of the following...
1. Is it worth it when a paper element from Euro Car Parts is £5?
2. Which one to go for (K&N, F1, ITG etc)?
3. What performance gains can be expected?
4. Are there any other benfits/downfalls when using a replacement element?
5. How much did your insurance company wnat for this minor change? (Sorry to raise the insurance issue again!)

If anyone has any input from their experiences I would be very interested to hear from you.

Thanks,

Adam
'94 850 T5

A lot of people will give a lot of opinions ... but ... an air filter alone will not give you any more than 3-4bhp, if that. Be careful with oiled air filters (e.g. K&N or oiled foam types). There are examples of people ruining their MAF sensors because of oil contamination from over-oiled filters.

Usually it's best to retain the factory airbox etc because engines like to draw from a reservoir of still air ... and cars like the T5 already have a nice cold air supply to the airbox plumbed in. On many cars, cone filters and induction kits can cause loss of bhp.

[Dan F]

Hey Craig....you going to the Uxbridge rolling road session?

Dan.

Think you ,might want to read the thread "the airfilter debate" thread before spending any money :)

Jim,
'96 855-R (The Flying Wardrobe)

Dan, I'd love to go, but Uxbridge is a 360 mile round trip ... I'll have to take a raincheck. Let us know what you get out of yours though!

cheers, Craig

[Dan F]

My journey will be about a 300-350 mile round trip, but hey, its not everyday you get to dyno your car for £35 and meet all the other guys as well. (And maybe get into a performance mag or two!)

You should come along!

Later,
Dan.