K&N Vs Pipercross

[john.waterman]

i want an induction kit but am unsure about which is better for a cupra, the K&N 57i or Pipercross.

there is mention of too much oil in the K&N? however the Pipercross has a foam cone, is this more restrictive?

i don't expect any power gains just looking for a good sound, and befor any one suggests it i really can't be doing with smoothing and drilling the air box, too much effort and i cant put it back to standard when i sell it.

any thoughts?

 

[Cupra Ross]

The pipercross foam cone will flow just as much if not more air as the K&N. It won't take your MAF out in the process either.

 

[turbin]

The pipercross foam cone will flow just as much if not more air as the K&N. It won't take your MAF out in the process either.

neither will K&N.,... covered a million times before...

 

[Cupra Ross]

Well, it is a discussion forum and you're entitled to your opinion. I believe K&Ns are MAF killers and I won't use one for this reason. In my 5 years on this forum and touching 10 years of 1.8T ownership, every single person I know who is an enthusiastic 1.8T owner feels exactly the same.

In my early days, I had a MAF go south just after fitting a K&N panel filter. It was a 36000 mile Cupra and that is evidence enough for me. VAG-COM logs showed a 20g/s reported air mass drop over the space of a week. Food for thought.

I'd use a K&N oiled filter in a vacuum cleaner, thats about it.

 

[edmong]

K&N 57i on mine now for 3 years, oiled twice by me and MAF still going strong!

 

[turbin]

Well, it is a discussion forum and you're entitled to your opinion. I believe K&Ns are MAF killers and I won't use one for this reason. In my 5 years on this forum and touching 10 years of 1.8T ownership, every single person I know who is an enthusiastic 1.8T owner feels exactly the same.

In my early days, I had a MAF go south just after fitting a K&N panel filter. It was a 36000 mile Cupra and that is evidence enough for me. VAG-COM logs showed a 20g/s reported air mass drop over the space of a week. Food for thought.

I'd use a K&N oiled filter in a vacuum cleaner, thats about it.

My point is what you claim is wrong. K&N does not ruin your maf. There is a way you can do it during excessive re-oiling. But then its YOU who is the problem and not K&N.

 

[Cupra Ross]

My point is what you claim is wrong. K&N does not ruin your maf. There is a way you can do it during excessive re-oiling.

I disagree with you, that filter was brand new out of the wrapper. I have based my opinion on my own experience and on those of a great deal of friends and colleagues driving VAG 1.8T and 1.9TDi cars. I'm happy for you if you're running one without issues but as I said before, I wouldn't have one in a gift and I wouldn't recommend that anybody else used one on a car designed to run a dry paper filter in conjunction with a heated film/heated wire air mass sensor either.

But then its YOU who is the problem and not K&N.

No need to shout friend. As I said above, I'm happy for you if you run one without problems. My Jabba induction kit came with a K&N cone, the first thing I did was stuck it in a bucket of detergent to get all the oil out of it.

The OP asked for opinions, I find that an opinion without experience is actually a prejudice, be it a positive one or a negative one. I've run K&N panel and cones, BMC, Green Cotton panel and Dynatwist, dry cotton and dry foam filters and in my opinion the pipercross foam filter is by far and away the best choice of the two options offered in all respects.

 

[ChrisGTL]

I've gone for the pipercross panel filter over the K&N.

Two reasons for me;

a) MAF's are expensive, you could get lucky like others and never have a problem.......or you could avoid the 'lucky' bit and get a drier alternative that will perform just as good.

b) Pipercross are cheaper and do the same job. (I refuse to pay extra just for a name)

 

[turbin]

I disagree with you, that filter was brand new out of the wrapper. I have based my opinion on my own experience and on those of a great deal of friends and colleagues driving VAG 1.8T and 1.9TDi cars. I'm happy for you if you're running one without issues but as I said before, I wouldn't have one in a gift and I wouldn't recommend that anybody else used one on a car designed to run a dry paper filter in conjunction with a heated film/heated wire air mass sensor either.



No need to shout friend. As I said above, I'm happy for you if you run one without problems. My Jabba induction kit came with a K&N cone, the first thing I did was stuck it in a bucket of detergent to get all the oil out of it.

The OP asked for opinions, I find that an opinion without experience is actually a prejudice, be it a positive one or a negative one. I've run K&N panel and cones, BMC, Green Cotton panel and Dynatwist, dry cotton and dry foam filters and in my opinion the pipercross foam filter is by far and away the best choice of the two options offered in all respects.

again, I have used K&N on many different cars for many years as well as alot of people in different car clubs Ive been a member of and have never heard of anyone who had a maf go because of the K&N filter... Its like a record on repeat this is

 

[Cupra Ross]

I have used K&N on many different cars for many years as well as alot of people in different car clubs Ive been a member of and have never heard of anyone who had a maf go because of the K&N filter... Its like a record on repeat this is

I wonder why mate, I wonder why.....................

 

[millsyscossie]

Ive used Pipercross filters on my previous cars, massive cone foam filter on my cossie, same with my mondie ST and really like them.

Never rated K+N as they sound horrid under throttle compared to the pipercross and i believe that the pipercross filters far better than the K+N also IMO

Mate fitted a K+N to an Astra sport many years ago and caused nothing but trouble, 2 maf failures within a few months

Each to there own though, use what you want or like and dont be a sheep lol

 

[ChrisGTL]

baaaaaah

 

[TubbyTwo]

only wrecks the maf if you dont follow the oiling step correctly, people use too much and dont let it dry properly.

it takes about 40 mins to fully dry from a LIGHT oiling.

people make the mistake of using too much then fitting it straight on the car and going for a drive.

 

[ChrisGTL]

only wrecks the maf if you dont follow the oiling step correctly, people use too much and dont let it dry properly.

it takes about 40 mins to fully dry from a LIGHT oiling.

people make the mistake of using too much then fitting it straight on the car and going for a drive.

What benefits are there from oiling a air filter? I don't understand, if you have to wait 40 mins for it to dry then why not just buy a dry filter in the first place??

 

[turbin]

What benefits are there from oiling a air filter? I don't understand, if you have to wait 40 mins for it to dry then why not just buy a dry filter in the first place??

I actually let it dry overnight. Whats the rush? Plan it. A wet filter allows for less density and more flow, the oily filter filtrates the particles and a dry filter needs to be more dense to catch enough particles = less flow.

go with the flow jo

 

[Cupra Ross]

As has been said, if you run an oiled filter you need to allow it to dry before driving. My issue with K&N is that they are too wet even when brand new out of the box.

A wet filter allows for less density and more flow, the oily filter filtrates the particles and a dry filter needs to be more dense to catch enough particles = less flow.

A foam filter will retain dirt without reducing flow. It relies on the structure of the foam to trap dirt particles and there are literally millions of routes for the air to take. An oiled or dry pleated cotton filter is much more easily blocked. A foam filter will flow better than the other two most of the time, the others only work better when they are absolutely clean. The difference in flow rates between an oiled cotton and a paper filter are miniscule.

Induction kits in general are more for noise and looks than for airflow effect. The greatest flow gain is achieved by enlarging the air intake to the standard airbox.

 

[traumapat]

It makes you wonder if K&N have changed anything. 12 months on the jabba open cone and alls well.
Id been using green up to then as they have more of a wax than oil. I was concerned about the Maf issue but the filter has been as good as gold, certainly wasnt oiled to the point of touch. Perhaps they oil less now.

 

[Cupra Ross]

It makes you wonder if K&N have changed anything. 12 months on the jabba open cone and alls well.
Id been using green up to then as they have more of a wax than oil. I was concerned about the Maf issue but the filter has been as good as gold, certainly wasnt oiled to the point of touch. Perhaps they oil less now.

I think you could be right. Thinking back about 6 years, they used to be dripping in the stuff, that horrid pink oil they use. My last Leon was running a Jabba induction kit but it was the blue filter rather than the red one. I got a replacement red one for it and it wasn't as heavily oiled as the ones I remember. I still "dipped" it and ran it as a dry filter though.

 

[turbin]

As has been said, if you run an oiled filter you need to allow it to dry before driving. My issue with K&N is that they are too wet even when brand new out of the box.




A foam filter will retain dirt without reducing flow. It relies on the structure of the foam to trap dirt particles and there are literally millions of routes for the air to take. An oiled or dry pleated cotton filter is much more easily blocked. A foam filter will flow better than the other two most of the time, the others only work better when they are absolutely clean. The difference in flow rates between an oiled cotton and a paper filter are miniscule.

Induction kits in general are more for noise and looks than for airflow effect. The greatest flow gain is achieved by enlarging the air intake to the standard airbox.

No, a foam filter will flow less than any other filter. Just do some searches. Also a cone filter will improve the flow over oem. Facts.

 

[Cupra Ross]

No, a foam filter will flow less than any other filter. Just do some searches. Also a cone filter will improve the flow over oem. Facts.

I agree with what you are saying, like for like a foam versus pleated cotton or paper filter will have lower overall flow but only when all three are brand new. A foam filter is FAR superior than any other at maintaining its flow rate when dirty.

I suggest you back up your facts re the cone filter vs a panel filter, because you are mistaken. Greater surface area does not equal greater flow. An aftermarket panel filter with an enlarged airbox inlet aperture will flow far more air than any cone on the market for the Leon. That sir, is a fact.

I run a Powertec open cone induction kit on my car, not because it offers the best flow but for the induction/dump noise and underbonnet appearance. Its the loudest kit available and offers better airflow than the standard paper filter.