K & N Induction Kits
Discussion
Hi, As some of you know I have had my S1 111S for a couple of weeks now and already I am busy reading articles on performance upgrades both on here and elsewhere. I have already penciled in a new sports exhaust and there are plenty of threads on here about what makes are best etc. However I have just been reading about air filters and induction kits and I have read that there is a K&N 57i cone induction kit that can give up to 15 bhp increase on the VVC engine??? (This was on a MGF VVC car). Can anyone give me some info on induction kits for Elises (my S1 111S in particular)? Also what is the impact (if any) on economy (mpg) if I fit an induction kit and/or new exhaust? Thanks in advance
Richard
Richard
Is there a notable impact on fuel consumption? Improved sound is a plus as mine sounds a bit feeble compared to other Elises I have heard. I think I have a standard exhaust on it tho so this is probably the cause. Is there anyway I can find out what exhaust I have (ie do they have any markings on them anywhere?)
So it sounds like (no pun intended) that they only improve sound and not performance then. Still think I will get one......will I need to pay for it to be fitted or can I do it myself (note - I am not good at this sort of stuff usually so unless it is really easy, which I doubt, then I will prob struggle)!
Rich
I forgot to say that one of the other plus points is that you can plumb it in yourself. Taking out the old airbox can be a bit fiddly but pitting on the K&N is a piece of cake. Its basically a cone air filter with a rubber pipe that is held onto the throttle body by a jubilee clip.
You should look at a sports 'zorst as well but put the K&N on first so you can see the difference it makes.
I forgot to say that one of the other plus points is that you can plumb it in yourself. Taking out the old airbox can be a bit fiddly but pitting on the K&N is a piece of cake. Its basically a cone air filter with a rubber pipe that is held onto the throttle body by a jubilee clip.
You should look at a sports 'zorst as well but put the K&N on first so you can see the difference it makes.
re: performace. There have been lots of independant tests that actually show the K&N filter giving easily the biggest increase in power...(dont have link, think Bogie might)...but....there is alos lots of discussion around whether or not you ened to plumb it proplery (encase it so it ONLY has external air access and not wamr air from engine) to get this effect.
I wouldnt say mine is much faster, but I think it feels a little less strangled than it sued to. Mind you, psychology is a wonderful thing!
I wouldnt say mine is much faster, but I think it feels a little less strangled than it sued to. Mind you, psychology is a wonderful thing!
Thanks all for the info. I am going to try and get to one of the seloc evenings in Danbury soon so maybe I can hear the great sounds the K&N makes there if anyone has one. Can anyone tell me how I find out what exhaust I have got? Bought the car from Paul Matty's but Paul wasn't sure whether it was an upgraded system or not?
I saw one on here for £69 www.lotusecosse.com/acatalog/Induction.html
Not sure if they are good company or what delivery is tho!
Not sure if they are good company or what delivery is tho!
I've just had the Hurricane kit put on my S1 (otherwise standard apart from a Lotus sports exhaust). Best thing is the improved noise, followed by sharper response at mid/high revs. In all honesty I don't think the extra power is noticeable on the road but the car just feels better for the change. Looked at the K+N option but it sucks in hot air from the engine bay without proper ducting as provided by Hurricane. If you do the ducting work I suspect it is more than offset the extra cost of the Hurricane. I'm very happy with my buy.
Gents
A little word on induction kits
The K&N kit is fine, but you get what you pay for!
For approx £70 you get the filter and the rubber hose to connect the unit to the throttle body. Also you get a cold air feed pipe, which is totally useless.
The reason this kit does not work effectivly is because the filter is too close to the engine block. Cold air flowing over the car and into the engine cooling grills gets heated up when it passes the block/manifold and this is then drawn in by the filter, hence power drop. The solution - get some longer rubber/silicone hose and move the filter down towards the air intake on the side of the body.
The biggest benefit from the K&N is the fact that you get a really loud roar (it does sound good)
Another option is to fit what we call a sealed induction kit - i.e an ITG "Maxogen" or a Huricane. These kits draw cold air directly from the outside, which is cooler and more dense. This is then passed from the duct through the filter and into the throttle body. This is in effect a sealed system like the original air box but with the benefit of a high flow, less restrictive filter and it has less bends/kinks than the original air box (air flows better in straight lines)
You will get some induction roar from this kit, but not as much as the K&N. The biggest benefit is that the air remains cool, hence more power gains.
The ITG system claims to give you up to 8 bhp more, quite a bit, and even claims to smooth out the torque curve.
Finally there is the option of a drop in replacement filter for the standard air box - cost £35ish and not worth the money - no real power gains to be had, and no more induction roar. Only get one of these if you want to keep the engine bay looking standard.
Wako
A little word on induction kits
The K&N kit is fine, but you get what you pay for!
For approx £70 you get the filter and the rubber hose to connect the unit to the throttle body. Also you get a cold air feed pipe, which is totally useless.
The reason this kit does not work effectivly is because the filter is too close to the engine block. Cold air flowing over the car and into the engine cooling grills gets heated up when it passes the block/manifold and this is then drawn in by the filter, hence power drop. The solution - get some longer rubber/silicone hose and move the filter down towards the air intake on the side of the body.
The biggest benefit from the K&N is the fact that you get a really loud roar (it does sound good)
Another option is to fit what we call a sealed induction kit - i.e an ITG "Maxogen" or a Huricane. These kits draw cold air directly from the outside, which is cooler and more dense. This is then passed from the duct through the filter and into the throttle body. This is in effect a sealed system like the original air box but with the benefit of a high flow, less restrictive filter and it has less bends/kinks than the original air box (air flows better in straight lines)
You will get some induction roar from this kit, but not as much as the K&N. The biggest benefit is that the air remains cool, hence more power gains.
The ITG system claims to give you up to 8 bhp more, quite a bit, and even claims to smooth out the torque curve.
Finally there is the option of a drop in replacement filter for the standard air box - cost £35ish and not worth the money - no real power gains to be had, and no more induction roar. Only get one of these if you want to keep the engine bay looking standard.
Wako
Thanks for that summary. Do insurrance companies generally add to your premium for the sealed units then? (as they add power), and not if you just get a K&N (surely a bit more noise won't cause a raise in premium)? I am thinking more towards the K&N as moving from a Saxo VTS to an Elise 111S has given me more than enough extra power for the time being :-)
Rich
Rich
Alright mate?
ummmmm - depends on the insurance company. There are some things you can get away with (like the drop in filter) and if push comes to shove you can always take the K&N off and put the original airbox back in place if you are going to have to make a claim.
Most insurance companies will see any mod (power increase or not) as a reason to grab another £50 from your pocket, so you pays your money takes your chance. Best call the company first and see what they say......
I still recommend the sealed type unit though. Try www.eliseparts.com as they sell the huricane unit for £140 + VAT = £164.50 (plus about £5 p&p) a few guys here have them fitted and have seen some good increases when coupled with a sports exhaust and de-cat pipe.
Also see this page (very interesting results indeed)
www.dvapower.co.uk click on "K series engine page" and then scroll down to the paragraph about the "rolling road shoot-out" and click to see the results. It made me think twice about how i will tune my car in the future.
Happy to help
Wako
ummmmm - depends on the insurance company. There are some things you can get away with (like the drop in filter) and if push comes to shove you can always take the K&N off and put the original airbox back in place if you are going to have to make a claim.
Most insurance companies will see any mod (power increase or not) as a reason to grab another £50 from your pocket, so you pays your money takes your chance. Best call the company first and see what they say......
I still recommend the sealed type unit though. Try www.eliseparts.com as they sell the huricane unit for £140 + VAT = £164.50 (plus about £5 p&p) a few guys here have them fitted and have seen some good increases when coupled with a sports exhaust and de-cat pipe.
Also see this page (very interesting results indeed)
www.dvapower.co.uk click on "K series engine page" and then scroll down to the paragraph about the "rolling road shoot-out" and click to see the results. It made me think twice about how i will tune my car in the future.
Happy to help
Wako
I remember reading on the forum not so long ago that K&N type filters allowed better breathing and a better noise at the expense of the filtration and an awful lot of crap went straight through, gumming up MAF sensors and allowing other nasties to be sucked into the motor.
Might be worth the extra for a better filter. I have no experience of K&N so can't say either way but I'd check it out after what I read.
Might be worth the extra for a better filter. I have no experience of K&N so can't say either way but I'd check it out after what I read.
lots of people have tried them all over the years and Ive seen/been at Emerald rolling road days with a variety of different spec cars.
General concensus was:
K&N - great noise and value - couple of BHP if you are lucky
Hurricane or ITG - 3-4bhp , great noise, Hurricane bast value at £160 ish...ITG if you really must have carbon fibre under the hood
..not great value at £350 and certainly not 8bhp gain.
Heres the results for my car when I started out with it:
std 120bhp + exhaust - 128bhp
+ ITG induction = 132bhp
+ sports cat = 136bhp
+ DVA 155 kit (head/cams) 163bhp
then went bang !
+ TT230 kit - 225bhp/192lb/ft
so if you are after just some noise then get a K&N, if you can afford it then get a Hurricane - wouldnt bother with an ITG unless you prefer the looks..although you can sell later for a good price second hand
cheers
bogie
General concensus was:
K&N - great noise and value - couple of BHP if you are lucky
Hurricane or ITG - 3-4bhp , great noise, Hurricane bast value at £160 ish...ITG if you really must have carbon fibre under the hood
..not great value at £350 and certainly not 8bhp gain. Heres the results for my car when I started out with it:
std 120bhp + exhaust - 128bhp
+ ITG induction = 132bhp
+ sports cat = 136bhp
+ DVA 155 kit (head/cams) 163bhp
then went bang !
+ TT230 kit - 225bhp/192lb/ft
so if you are after just some noise then get a K&N, if you can afford it then get a Hurricane - wouldnt bother with an ITG unless you prefer the looks..although you can sell later for a good price second hand
cheers
bogie
Good thread this lads - I'm interested now. 
If the Hurricane is easy to fit and is only a few quid I think I might think about doing it. I can always stick the original back on if and when I come to sell and the prospective buyer doesn't want it.
Double the price for the ITG doesn't sound worth it. I think Adrian Flux will let me have the additional airbox too at no extra loading - IIRC they load for any mods of the breathing type (i.e. zorst, manifold, filters) at one level, and then for more serious engine mods (i.e. head etc) at another.
Would you recommend getting it supply & fit from somewhere like Lakeside/Sinclaires?
If the Hurricane is easy to fit and is only a few quid I think I might think about doing it. I can always stick the original back on if and when I come to sell and the prospective buyer doesn't want it. Double the price for the ITG doesn't sound worth it. I think Adrian Flux will let me have the additional airbox too at no extra loading - IIRC they load for any mods of the breathing type (i.e. zorst, manifold, filters) at one level, and then for more serious engine mods (i.e. head etc) at another.
Would you recommend getting it supply & fit from somewhere like Lakeside/Sinclaires?
S Works said:
Would you recommend getting it supply & fit from somewhere like Lakeside/Sinclaires?
From the pictures on Eliseparts it looks like a jubilee clip or two to me so as easy as the K&N so I'd get one from there and DIY.
FWIW £160 for a couple of bhp you won't notice is poor value for money in my book but some people do have a bee in their bonnet about the sound of the car
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