Air Filter

[klm]

How easy is it to change the air filter in a 996tt, ie a standard one for a K&N high flow one.

[nel]

It's no doubt fairly easy to replace the paper panel filter in the airbox with a K&N panel filter. The question is more whether or not it's a good idea to do it. If you search this forum for previous threads on this subject, you'll find that there are questions on how good the K&N is at taking out all the dirt. The dirt that gets through will not do your valve seats or cylinder bores any favours - not really a big deal on a "normal" car but the engine on a 996TT is hardly a normal, cheaply replacable engine.

I've K&Ned loads of my cars over the years, as much for the induction noise as anything else. I started out by thinking that it would be a good idea to the same thing to my 993TT, but reading the advice on this forum put me off! As I think that I'd like to keep my car for a long time, I've adopted the safer policy of frequently replacing the paper panel filter for maximum, well-filtered flow.

However, if you're not keeping the car for long then engine longevity might not really be an issue! Just put back the standard panel filter when the car goes for servicing and when you come to sell it.

[klm]

How long would it take to affect the engine as I normally replace the car once a year.

[domster]

You shouldn't see adverse engine wear in a year.

Dogsharks is your man re warning you off aftermarket filters.

Biggest danger of aftermarket filters is that people may think you like modding cars and thrashing the nuts off them - not so good for resale.

[nel]

As an aside, do you think that the car manufacturers would overlook an easy and cheap way to get some more power out of their engines? Well as they don't fit freer flowing, cleanable filter elements as standard, the conclusions must be one or a combination of the following:
- they consider that this type of filter will impair engine life;
- the power gain is so minimal that it's not worth it;
- they don't like the increased induction noise;
- they have shares in the companies producing paper filter elements.

As an aside, if a 996tt within the Porsche warranty system is taken in for a service at an OPC and is noted as having a K&N air filter panel, would this affect the warranty?

[FUGatso]

I did it my 993tt which was factory upgraded already, sounded great, made some bhp difference and did't seem to affect engine adversly for my 20k miles or the next owners 10k miles. FWIW