K&N Induction kits. Worth it?
Discussion
I think I'm being brainwashed by the claims of "increased BHP" and "quicker throttle response", but has anyone actually felt any improvement by using expensive air filters and induction kits?
I currently have a pipercross foam filter instead of the paper OEM one - it was a straight forward swap and still uses the factory airbox etc. Can't really say I noticed any massive improvement in performance.
I've seen K&N induction kits that supposedly have a less restrictive pipe from inlet to airbox, would this offer any improvement than I already have? This is the one I've been looking at:
fitting instructions here
I currently have a pipercross foam filter instead of the paper OEM one - it was a straight forward swap and still uses the factory airbox etc. Can't really say I noticed any massive improvement in performance.
I've seen K&N induction kits that supposedly have a less restrictive pipe from inlet to airbox, would this offer any improvement than I already have? This is the one I've been looking at:
fitting instructions here
shandyboy said:
I think I'm being brainwashed by the claims of "increased BHP" and "quicker throttle response", but has anyone actually felt any improvement by using expensive air filters and induction kits?
I currently have a pipercross foam filter instead of the paper OEM one - it was a straight forward swap and still uses the factory airbox etc. Can't really say I noticed any massive improvement in performance.
I've seen K&N induction kits that supposedly have a less restrictive pipe from inlet to airbox, would this offer any improvement than I already have? This is the one I've been looking at:
fitting instructions here
No intake is going to see MASSIVE gains. But gains can be had, although the more mods the more compound affect you'll get.I currently have a pipercross foam filter instead of the paper OEM one - it was a straight forward swap and still uses the factory airbox etc. Can't really say I noticed any massive improvement in performance.
I've seen K&N induction kits that supposedly have a less restrictive pipe from inlet to airbox, would this offer any improvement than I already have? This is the one I've been looking at:
fitting instructions here
I have no idea what car you have, but most stock airbox setups are somewhat restrictive and largely designed with noise suppression in mind.
Improving air flow and the inclusion of cold air ducting are proven ways to generate more HP. Personally I'm not a huge fan of K&N or any cotton weave filter. But it's certainly an option.
Your standard filter swap with a pipercross was never going to see massive gains, hell even removing the filter altogether won't see massive gains.
You might find this interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCi2yo4UqPI&fea...
And this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAIxeQUSg-Q&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCi2yo4UqPI&fea...
And this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAIxeQUSg-Q&fea...
It's a Smart Roadster 
I understand it's not going to give massive BHP increases but just wondered if it was worth the effort of adding an induction kit - seems to make sense getting more (cool) air to the engine, but the claims are a bit "too good to be true" on the K&N site.
If it wouldn't be noticable then I suppose it's not worth doing.
I understand it's not going to give massive BHP increases but just wondered if it was worth the effort of adding an induction kit - seems to make sense getting more (cool) air to the engine, but the claims are a bit "too good to be true" on the K&N site.
If it wouldn't be noticable then I suppose it's not worth doing.
shandyboy said:
It's a Smart Roadster
I understand it's not going to give massive BHP increases but just wondered if it was worth the effort of adding an induction kit - seems to make sense getting more (cool) air to the engine, but the claims are a bit "too good to be true" on the K&N site.
If it wouldn't be noticable then I suppose it's not worth doing.
going out now. I'll reply in full in a bit.I understand it's not going to give massive BHP increases but just wondered if it was worth the effort of adding an induction kit - seems to make sense getting more (cool) air to the engine, but the claims are a bit "too good to be true" on the K&N site.
If it wouldn't be noticable then I suppose it's not worth doing.
They make a nice noise, but depending on whereabouts in the engine bay the filter is, they can gain or lose power, depending on design. If you have an airbox in a location away from cold air feeds (like in my Civic Type R, at the back of the engine bay, cold air is ducted into the airbox from a cold air feed pipe in the front bumper) you can end up losing power on hot days / for a little while after driving in slower traffic. If on the other hand, you have an airbox in a location where a lot of cold air is entering the engine bay, an open cone filter can give a boost to power and improve throttle response. I think if I had a Smart Roadster, I'd get one just for the noise, but then I love having my car sounding it's best.
I've never seen the engine bay of a Smart Roadster - if the intake is near the engine or away from the air feed into the bay, a metal heatshield built around the filter cone might help divert engine heat away and prevent heatsoak, the dreaded effect of warmer, less dense air entering the engine and causing a loss of power.
The benefit of induction kits for tuning is not simply a case of popping one on and expecting 20bhp for nothing, but rather when it comes to remapping and boosting the power of a car they remove the restriction of air into the engine, allowing more air in for more power. For example, on my old Cupra R, a REVO "Stage 1" upgrade was a map from 225bhp to 245bhp, to go beyond that you were recommended to replace the standard airbox with an induction kit and a cold air feed pipe and then the stage 2 map was applied for 270bhp.
I've never seen the engine bay of a Smart Roadster - if the intake is near the engine or away from the air feed into the bay, a metal heatshield built around the filter cone might help divert engine heat away and prevent heatsoak, the dreaded effect of warmer, less dense air entering the engine and causing a loss of power.
The benefit of induction kits for tuning is not simply a case of popping one on and expecting 20bhp for nothing, but rather when it comes to remapping and boosting the power of a car they remove the restriction of air into the engine, allowing more air in for more power. For example, on my old Cupra R, a REVO "Stage 1" upgrade was a map from 225bhp to 245bhp, to go beyond that you were recommended to replace the standard airbox with an induction kit and a cold air feed pipe and then the stage 2 map was applied for 270bhp.
I had a MINI Cooper that came with a K&N 57i kit on it. I don't think it added anything to the performance, if anything it felt like it made the car more sluggish at low revs, however it did give the car quite a pleasant growl. It also added £50 per year on the insurance cost.
I wouldn't go out of my way to buy another one.
I wouldn't go out of my way to buy another one.
doogz said:
How much of an issue is heatsoak when you're on the move? Upwards of 30 or 40mph, the airflow is going to be enough to keep the area pretty cool, no?
I could feel a definite difference between a cold day and a hot day with my Cupra R, I had a headshielded Jetex cone with a CAF in that, on the hot days it definitely took longer to spoon and didn't pull as hard on boost. Heatsoak from slow traffic, as a I mentioned, is temporary and once you are on the move and cold air has circulated under the bonnet a bit it goes away.I have had three different types on three different cars. The first car I was young and believed everything I read, didn't do much really just made noise. The second car I put a performance replacement filter and later changed to an induction kit and I thought the replacement filter made more of a difference than the induction kit. The latest car had one already fitted but if I can be bothered I will put it back to standard.
Not really worth the money I don't think.
Not really worth the money I don't think.
if you like induction roar then theyre worth it, but many many cars have some sort of snorkel in the air inlet you can remove and increase the noise. No idea on the smart, but on an impreza it allows you to hear the sucking and whooshing of the turbo. On my 328i it just made a really nice noise on full throttle.
I recently had a TRD airbox and filter fitted to my Elise. It's a genuine Lotus part which is fitted as standard to some of the supercharged cars. I doubt that it makes any difference at all to the NA car's performance, but the noise is a definite improvement (and it's a poxy four pot from a Toyota shopping car, it needs all the help it can get).
( This is what it sounds like now and this is what it sounded like before)
( This is what it sounds like now and this is what it sounded like before)
300bhp/ton said:
shandyboy said:
It's a Smart Roadster
I understand it's not going to give massive BHP increases but just wondered if it was worth the effort of adding an induction kit - seems to make sense getting more (cool) air to the engine, but the claims are a bit "too good to be true" on the K&N site.
If it wouldn't be noticable then I suppose it's not worth doing.
going out now. I'll reply in full in a bit.I understand it's not going to give massive BHP increases but just wondered if it was worth the effort of adding an induction kit - seems to make sense getting more (cool) air to the engine, but the claims are a bit "too good to be true" on the K&N site.
If it wouldn't be noticable then I suppose it's not worth doing.
"And despite only packing 80hp it managed to keep up very well with 80 miles of B and C grade roads following a very well driven Porsche 968!!!"
Taken direct from your write-up of your own Roadster.
When I bought the Clio some clown had fitted one of these. I got the garage who sold it to me to return it to standard but I had the car like that for a fortnight before they got the parts.
When it was returned to standard it was a revelation: I didn't realise before but that "sporty noise" was masking hideous flat spots and deadening the engine's responsiveness no end.
Not keen. It's possible they do the trick on carb fed cars though.
When it was returned to standard it was a revelation: I didn't realise before but that "sporty noise" was masking hideous flat spots and deadening the engine's responsiveness no end.
Not keen. It's possible they do the trick on carb fed cars though.
I suspect that to feel any difference at all would really need an engine re-map. That would probably be responsible for most of the gains anyway even without the filter. I think what you have now is probably a decent compromise, better flow than before and with cool air. Spend the money on a custom exhaust or a rolling road re-map perhaps.
http://www.dcperformance.co.uk/cheap/322060/honda/...
I have one for my accord type r , (well it was already there) and its really good. THe noise is pretty addictive when accelerating hard . When in Vtec its mental to be fair. Its supposed to be the best intake for the Accord and specifically designed , housed nicely in the wing out of the hot air but not too low. Definately gains to be had, however quite a pricey kit though for whatever you achieve. (2-3Hp ?) Noise is worth it though.
I have one for my accord type r , (well it was already there) and its really good. THe noise is pretty addictive when accelerating hard . When in Vtec its mental to be fair. Its supposed to be the best intake for the Accord and specifically designed , housed nicely in the wing out of the hot air but not too low. Definately gains to be had, however quite a pricey kit though for whatever you achieve. (2-3Hp ?) Noise is worth it though.
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