V6 air filters

Pathfinder

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Removed my air filters yesterday. 2 years since last changed. Very dirty and need to replace before heading south next week.

I can order on line and get them by Wednesday. But I am wondering whether to purchase standard paper elements or change to K&N.

I know that oil basted elements can do damage to the MAF, but wondering if any others have experience of K&N filters.

What I did do today was drive the car without the air filter box on and the acceleration was amazing. What a difference.

Just shows how restrictive filters can be on the V6.
 

EmilysDad

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....

What I did do today was drive the car without the air filter box on and the acceleration was amazing. What a difference.

Just shows how restrictive filters can be on the V6.


I 'temporarily' removed the air filter from a diseasal Astra I'd once bought as a cheap run-about. A few weeks down the line, the car was noticeably struggling to accelerate. I found the cause ...... the fine gauze filter in front of the MAF was virtually clogged solid with general dust/etc ie the stuff the air filer should've filtered out. Fixed by blasting with an airline.

Don't drive for too long without your air filter(s) ;) ;) ;)
 
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Pathfinder

Pathfinder

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I 'temporarily' removed the air filter from a diseasal Astra I'd once bought as a cheap run-about. A few weeks down the line, the car was noticeably struggling to accelerate. I found the cause ...... the fine gauze filter in front of the MAF was virtually clogged solid with general dust/etc ie the stuff the air filer should've filtered out. Fixed by blasting with an airline.

Don't drive for too long without your air filter(s) ;) ;) ;)
I only drove it for 30 mins. Had no choice, needed to go for a crate of Lager from Tesco !
 

S.Speed

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It has been said that the V6 Diesels are "under filtered".. I don't know about the Petrol models..
K&N are only a problem to MAF's if they are over oiled.. (Mine has 2 MAF's).
Some people soak them in the supplied oil..
I would like to bet there will be "How to's" on the internet...
 
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_Taz_

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I've been running K&Ns on my V6 diseasal for for the last 2 years, no issues.

Only thing you must remember ( if you have access, is to reset the adaptations ) for the air filters...

believe it or not, the car has small pitot tubes that measure upstream pressures & downstream ( so the car crudely knows how blocked the filters are becoming ).

... you just reminded me, I'll check mine ! :D

FWIW, the air filters are the smallest pannier filters I've ever seen, they are tiny for such a large engine.

HTH :)
 

bigasotonuk

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I have been running K&Ns on both my Mercs, C230K for 120k+ miles, with no issues, and my C43/55 for 15-20k miles again no issues. But be aware to follow K&Ns instructions on cleaning and re-oiling to the letter, and only use their oil.
If they actually do anything to the performance to the car or not I,m not sure, but one thing that is certain I noticed an improvement in fuel consumption.
Though all my experience is with K&Ns, I would now actually buy BMC filters, which I run my Audi 3.0 TDI on, and I can get 54+mpg on the fuel computer on a constant 70mph run, and with mixed driving it has averaged 44-45mpg over the last 1500 miles.
The main reason for buying these filters for me was because I would never have to replace them again.
 

mattuk

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I bought MB filters some time ago. I can't remember price but was cheaper that ECP!
 

hotrodder

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What I did do today was drive the car without the air filter box on and the acceleration was amazing. What a difference.

Just shows how restrictive filters can be on the V6.

What difference did the stopwatch show on back to back timed runs or do you mean the acceleration sounded amazing without the airbox that's designed to (amongst other things) reduce induction noise?
 

television

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I will never use a K & N the noise is too obtrusive without going into any technical merits.
 

television

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I have been running K&Ns on both my Mercs, C230K for 120k+ miles, with no issues, and my C43/55 for 15-20k miles again no issues. But be aware to follow K&Ns instructions on cleaning and re-oiling to the letter, and only use their oil.
If they actually do anything to the performance to the car or not I,m not sure, but one thing that is certain I noticed an improvement in fuel consumption.
Though all my experience is with K&Ns, I would now actually buy BMC filters, which I run my Audi 3.0 TDI on, and I can get 54+mpg on the fuel computer on a constant 70mph run, and with mixed driving it has averaged 44-45mpg over the last 1500 miles.
The main reason for buying these filters for me was because I would never have to replace them again.

I fitted one to my V70R and while I was taking an 86 year old lady to visit her husband in hospital. She commented on the terrible noise and asked what it was. I took it off at the first opportunity and still have it somewhere.
 

Miffy

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I fitted one to my V70R and while I was taking an 86 year old lady to visit her husband in hospital. She commented on the terrible noise and asked what it was. I took it off at the first opportunity and still have it somewhere.

I used to use K&N on my old 2.8 granada, I quite liked the meaty sound it added. Saying that, I liked the RASP it made when checking things without any filter attached :)
 

television

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I used to use K&N on my old 2.8 granada, I quite liked the meaty sound it added. Saying that, I liked the RASP it made when checking things without any filter attached :)

You could have fitted a reed in the intake to have made it even louder :D

Oh to be young again
 

Miffy

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Wish I had'nt read this thread, now I seem to be looking at the BMC website for filters.. More snake oil or real benefit? Oh Crap, did I really ask opinions on filters?
 

S.Speed

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Wish I had'nt read this thread, now I seem to be looking at the BMC website for filters.. More snake oil or real benefit? Oh Crap, did I really ask opinions on filters?

The best filters in the world are EBC RED STUFF filters.
:D
 

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