does a K&N air filter make the car louder?

[softinthehead]

got a K&N filter put on the 968 at the 12K service last year, when I also had a janspeed exhaust fitted. Obviously it was LOUDER! I love the sports box, really makes the car sound much more as it should, though at times it is perhaps a tad overwhelming....
anyway for various reasons i had a standard paper filter put back on at this service. on collecting the car it sounds quite considerably more refined. its still way louder than a standard exhaust but somehow more bearable.
So either i'm going deaf, which is a complete bummer considering what ive spent on hifi over the years, or the filter change has made a difference to the decibels. which is it?

[sambaman]

filter WILL make a difference !

[Thom]

Yes it does, but expect to spend money on a replacement MAF soon. K&N is the worse make of "freeflow" air filter you wish to go for as far as engine health is concerned. After a while they let all the crap in and do not filter much even if you re-oil them.

[softinthehead]

yes, i'd heard that about them on PH. of course I also heard a number of voices in favour. on balance I've got more than enough performance for my needs already so i thought why take the risk? wasnt expecting a spin off with the decibels though

[semprini27]

Thom said:

Yes it does, but expect to spend money on a replacement MAF soon. K&N is the worse make of "freeflow" air filter you wish to go for as far as engine health is concerned. After a while they let all the crap in and do not filter much even if you re-oil them.

What a load of rubbish !!

I've used K&N filters in grasstrack Minis and they've never let muck in. Had the 57i kit on an E34 BMW 5 series on the road and it was great. Clean them and re-oil them (although with a road car they will likely be maintenance free) and they'll let much more air through while keeping the muck out.

If you do re-oil remember to leave the filter off for a while for any excess oil to drain away. If you put it straight back on then you'll have oil dripping in which won't be good.

[Thom]

You got me wrong. The load of rubbish is actually what you'll get inside your engine.

[zcacogp]

Hmmm, have heard this before.

I can see that the oil-mist in the intake could be a problem if you have a hot-wire type air flow meter, but do the 944's have this type? I thought they had a more primative barn-door type?


Oli.

[bite-me]

To answer your question K&N filters do "NOT" make your engine louder.

Generally K&N's are not recommened, though I have used them in the past non-p cars

they dont add extra HP's over haveing a properly serviced and clean filter.

And they let crap in,

Do a search on RENNLIST and PELICAN PARTS site

[sambaman]

i beg to differ ...they make the induction sound louder without a doubt ..

bite-me said:

To answer your question K&N filters do "NOT" make your engine louder.

Generally K&N's are not recommened, though I have used them in the past non-p cars

they dont add extra HP's over haveing a properly serviced and clean filter.

And they let crap in,

Do a search on RENNLIST and PELICAN PARTS site

[clubsport]

I took a K&N off to replace with a paper filter,,as there is no sound deadening or carpet in the car...you can notice a difference and the paper filter is definitely the quieter of the two.

I will put the 993 K&N filter up for sale in the classifieds soon