V70: Engine Anyone running an aftermarket panel filter?

[Tony500]

Been looking to get a panel filter for my V70 for a while. I started to look at k&n,BMC and itg but Futher looking it's bad for the maf sensor as the oil from the filter contaminates it.
On further looking as I still think it's a great idea but my mind won't rest until I buy one I've came across ram air and pipercross that are non oiled foam filters.

Anyone running one and encourage me to buy one or what?

I service my car twice a year due to the driving I do so would possibly be beneficial to me washing than buying an OEM one.

Thanks

[Peter86]

I'm on my 3rd K&N panel filter, no issues. When I was younger in my previous V70 I over oiled it, the MAF was covered and worked fine for the 3 years I had it, infact 2 years later its still going round fine.
As far as I'm aware pipercross do need oil, a friend had one, whether they now produce oil free ones I don't know.
There is a lot of bad review on the net but in all fairness you never know if these people are buying cheap copies of the net, I always buy mine through a reputable seller or direct, never had one issue!
I recently did a 20,000 mile white cloth check on my V70, I am aiming for the 50,000 mile clean, after the air filter in the air box and around the MAF was spotless!

If you look on K&N website they give all their testing which alot of other major companies dont. As for the MAF failure they have done videos to prove it false that the oil damages it. Just incase they do offer a warranty to repair any damage if caused by their product.

It's a personal choice but I like them, use them and will continue to.

[Tatsfield]

+1 for K&N. Used their products for 15 years on my previous cars. I did have a contamination problem with an MAP sensor when I over oiled the panel. However subsequently I didn't have any problems and would recommend K&N. There are some concerns voiced that the filter doesn't actually filter as well as a brand new paper unit as it allows larger sized particles through and although the paper filter congests over time, it admits no larger particles when it ages and reduces flow. Again, over 15 years of usage, I never experienced excess engine wear due to the filtering performance of the K&N filter

I don't know which sensing system Volvos use but for general information here is a description of three types of air flow monitoring sensor systems borrowed from another car forum:

AFM - Air Flow Meter - Fitted on earlier Bosch systems. It is a box fitted between the air filter and the throttle housing with a spring flap inside (like a closed door), as the throttle butterfly opens more air flows through the box and the airflow opens the flap, the movement of the flap is measured and that forms part of the calculation. An AFM would not be affected by oil contamination unless very severe affecting the movement of the flap.

MAF - Mass air flow Meter normally a heated wire or heated film again within the air stream that is cooled by the air flowing over it, the resistance of the material changes with the temperature and that is where the measurement comes from. Oil or fluid can burn off on the wire / film destroying the coating and leading to a change the readings.

MAP - Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor, has a tiny specially coated film within it, as the vacuum changes in the manifold the film flexes and its conductive property changes which is then measured by a microprocessor. Oil or fluid contamination can again cause problems, mainly due to the small opening which can become blocked but also through contamination of the film.