-Which type (and brand) has the "best bang for the buck"?

-Are intakes better in the long run for creating more power?

 

Most Intakes will require a tune and will not provide any real gains over drop in better flowing filter on a Ralliart turbo. I have K&N filter. Is it better than others? NO! But, I found it on Craigslist for half price and it was almost new. I also tried the the DIY intake (if you do search you will find it), but I do not think it is recommended to use it with V3.0 Turboback/Boost Pill Maps. Hope this will you.

 

K&N here also. Got it because 1) flows better than stock, and 2) million mile warranty. Clean it once or twice a year. It pays for itself after the first cleaning. The re-usability was the biggest factor in me buying the K&N.

 

I have a Perrin air filter for sale.. if you want it hit me up with a pm. =)

This filter is also reusable.

 

I went with the Cosworth over the K&N. It was slightly cheaper and is a dry filter vs the K&N oil type. The very expensive Ralliarts filter is dry also.

Was reading that the oil type can potentially screw with the mass airflow sensor? I figured why risk it

Cold air intake I guess is supposed to be the best, but it should be paired with an exhaust then a tune.

 

I looked around at all the different drop-in filters. I eventually went with the aFe Pro Dry S. I didn't feel like dealing with an oiled one, and the aFe is washable and reusable for life. I heard mixed things on if the Cosworth could be continually reused or not, and I didn't feel like buying a new one each time. The aFe is a little pricier than most, but since it can keep being reused and doesn't need to be washed all that often, it pays for itself over time.

 

Yes the oil COULD cause issues with the maf. But that is probably only if you over oil it. I'm running a k&n conical right off of the maf housing and have had zero issues. Also your biggest gains with filter alone will be before tune. It will lean you out a bit. Just don't go crazy with mods before a tune. But just the filter and you'll be ok. It really depends on what your goals are etc because most upgrades on turbo will force you to get small battery and the stock Airbox will no longer fit. All decent brand filters should perform about the same ie: k&n, aem, cosworth etc.

 

Does anyone know if the AEM intake is any good ?
(Thinking of the Basemap + BoostPill Upgrade and a Turbo Back Exhaust system plus an AEM intake)

 

If you have that specific basemap tune in mind, then it's perfect. Bear in mind the AEM leans out your AFR 0.5-0.7 points, due to its oversized diameter tubing compared with stock MAF housing, so on a stock tune it'll lean it out to create a bit more power.

I use a K&N myself. I've used K&N oiled filters in past cars with MAF sensors - never had a problem. The fear mongering perpetuated across all forums on the internet was based on ONE INSTANCE of oil fouling a MAF sensor. That was due to user error - the person did not follow instructions and oiled the wrong side of the filter while cleaning/preparing the reusable filter media. Since then it's spread the myth that oiled/wet filters causes problems with MAF sensors. That is blatantly untrue.

 

Yep!

 

If you're keeping the stock turbo, then i would say drop in filter is more than enough. Else, if you plan to upgrade or want the sound then get a CAI or SRI.

As to brand, any reuseable oiled or dry will be fine, some will filter a little better than others but then you're compensating filtration over airflow.. I think good brands are K&N, Works, aFe, HKS will give u sound but filtration isn't as good as the others. Actually OEM paper filter is pretty good in filtration, just not feasible having to replace all the time.

 

For that one guy it wasn't. My point being if there is no real difference in price and performance then why bother with oil or the risk of putting it on the wrong side? That's the conclusion I came to. To each his own...

 

When people are recommending others to avoid oiled filters in favour of dry media, on the basis that oiled filters foul MAF sensors - that's spreading false information. There is no 'risk' in buying/using an oiled air filter. The risk is a myth, and is spread endlessly across the internet. Likewise if you were to visit Australia, there is no 'risk' of dropbears, despite tourist/travel advisory one may come across....


Why didn't the internet bandwagon jumped on the fact that the filter fouling the MAF was reusable, and to avoid resuable filters and to recommend buying disposable aftermarket air filters.

 

I went with the K&N.. Stopped by an autozone a few weeks back to pick up stuff to change the oil in my wife's car and they just happened to have one in stock! Paid a few more dollars than I needed to but I had it and didn't have to wait.

The whole oil versus dry argument is dumb and getting old... I've run these filters in every single car I've owned back to 1995 when I first started driving (yeah I'm old...). Not one probably. Don't over oil them.. Don't oil the wrong side..

This topic was originally about drop-in or intake. Not oil/dry.