Difference in Performance PANEL Air Filters - Anything to look for?

[Pabs]

Hey peeps

Ok - with reference to PANEL filters only please:

Is there any real difference between the major performance panel filters available?

There is, as far as I know, filters from:

1. Green
2. K&N
3. BMC
4. Pipercross

Now, I wanted a Green Panel filter. However, they are extremely hard to get hold of at the moment.
Are the K&N panel filters supposedly as "bad" as the cone filters - ie overoiled?

Does anyone know of anywhere that has any of the above in stock (i think I have a source for a K&N, but i don't really want one if the green etc are better and available)

Replies on a postcard plz (i mean below )

 

[RikH]

im sure there was a green in the for sale section and i dont remember it being sold
have you tried everywhere for green's? i have one and its been great
came from JBS

 

[Pabs]

i havent tried JBS, no - but i could try them tomorrow. Thanks for the idea

 

[Snoopie]

ANY air filter is bad if over-oiled, it's not just the K&N ones, the blame is on the person who oiled it. If it comes to you over-oiled, then just dab it with a cloth. Job done, I run a K&N filter and as far as I'm concerned, not much can go wrong.
It doesn't require cleaning all that often, and I can't see why a green Panel filter would be better than a K&N. When the uprated Panel filter are hardly better than a standard paper filter???????????

 

[RobM]

Pabs... have you called JKM about the Green filter? They had one in stock when I needed one so you might get lucky

 

[Pabs]

JKM are out mate - been trying to get one for 2weeks +.
Also had an order with Bill @ Badger5, but his delivery from Green was not complete.

I know any over-oiled filters are bad - but I was trying to determine if the other brands of filter are over-oiled from the factory as well - I know k&n are usually blamed for the dead MAF's.

I also thought that the green filters used a different type of oil, which was nowhere near as bad as the k&n stuff. Polymer based or something?

I think JKM still have a k&n, but trying to see what other options i've got first.

 

[ElasticTangent]

I recently got a Pipercross from Awesome GTI. Seems to be a good quality panel filter and not over oiled in any way.

 

[ZBOYD]

ANY air filter is bad if over-oiled, it's not just the K&N ones, the blame is on the person who oiled it. If it comes to you over-oiled, then just dab it with a cloth. Job done, I run a K&N filter and as far as I'm concerned, not much can go wrong.
It doesn't require cleaning all that often, and I can't see why a green Panel filter would be better than a K&N. When the uprated Panel filter are hardly better than a standard paper filter???????????

Totally agree, ran a K&N panel in my Leon R pratically from new. Never a problem. I just rinsed it out of excess oil. Let it dry, then re-oiled it lightly.

Still going strong by all accounts, though its not my Leon R now. Still on its original MAF.

 

[Pabs]

Totally agree, ran a K&N panel in my Leon R pratically from new. Never a problem. I just rinsed it out of excess oil. Let it dry, then re-oiled it lightly.

Still going strong by all accounts, though its not my Leon R now. Still on its original MAF.

Thanks buddy - Did you do a full rinse/re-oil before first use? Or just dab off the oil?

Thanks

 

[DamoR]

Pabs I just removed my standard box which had a k & n panel filter in it and have been running it for 4months with no ill effects. Previous owner fitted it and it doesnt look new.I'm only replacing my MAF because I broke a clip on it! Doesn't sound anywhere near as loud as the ramair which is to be expected but sounded grunty and I felt it breathed well.

 

[ZBOYD]

I rinsed mine off before first use, but it was dripping in it. But generally you only need a light but full coating to catch the finer particles. I used to service mine every 6months or so which was probably overkill to be honest. For my own piece of mind that it was still working as it should.

 

[Pabs]

I rinsed mine off before first use, but it was dripping in it. But generally you only need a light but full coating to catch the finer particles. I used to service mine every 6months or so which was probably overkill to be honest. For my own piece of mind that it was still working as it should.

excellent thanks Zboyd

Thanks Damo and everyone else too - has persuaded me, (if i can get hold of one now) to just go k&n.

I'll just be sure to at least dab it off first, and make sure it's not over-oiled.

 

[ZBOYD]

You basically don't want it dripping everywhere. I would check it after a week or so, and see if it dripped any residue into the air box, just to be sure. But MAF failure issues are more due to the boost return as oil mist comes back up the TIP. And the fact they are just plainly not upto the job.

Never had an issue with mine though.

 

[Pabs]

ok cool.
Sounds like the same thing I've done when i cleaned my carbonio filter - clean/wash it thoroughly, and then re-oil using the spray, but only enough to turn the filter a slight red colour. Not a dark red like a lot of them arrive out of the box.

Cheers all

 

[DamoR]

Pabs you will be fine with the k and n and I'm sure you will be able to get hold of one more quickly than a green. Mine will be going back on when I can find some time to smooth my box.

It will probably be a refreshing change to move from a rowdy induction kit to a subtle panel which will still have a noticeable grunt and better performance than the oem one. I must admit the ramair sounds great and can feel a marked improvement for fitting it but all that sucking drives you round the bend at times!