Rotary_7

i recently baught a HKS intake....a little later, i saw this...

http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/filters_test/2/

is the HKS intake realli that bad???

If too much dust get into your engine, wont it reduce the life spam or damage the engine??
what will it realli do ???

Hollywood56

The Hks filter elements get worn out and old quick with the heat and end up falling apart causing the filter chucks to get sucked inside the engine.

chumma7

dont worry, sell it and get an apexi or K&N

itstimetofly

or yust buy a new hks replacement every 4 months, they only cost $10 to $15 dollars.

Cory Simpson

I don't think them falling apart is any of the problem!


They bought those filters new, and then tested them.....


Also, foam is not a good filter, it's a good PRE filter, if you look at alot of race cars/trucks that get into the dirt alot, they have a foam pre-cleaner so that it doesn't clog their cotton, paper.... what ever there filter is that gets the much finer dirt out.



Anyways, I would chunk that thing! Go get an apexi!!!! (if you have an 89-91)

n4ji

iTrader: (1)

It's not the risk of the filter falling part. Tests have shown that the HKS foam filter does not filter very well at ALL. Apex'i filtered the best with Blitz and K&N following.

KNONFS

iTrader: (14)

THIS IS BS!!!

I have been using a HKS filter for well over 7 years, when the FC was NA, the HKS filter was mounted in front of the oil cooler (custom cold air intake). All in all, I never had to replace an engine because of the air filter.


Don't believe all teh crap you read on the internet. Know if I had the chance to do it all over again, K&N would be my choice, why? Because is cheaper than any other brand

Cory Simpson

KNONFS

iTrader: (14)

-what is your experience with HKS filters on the FC?
-How many engines have you, or your friends lost due to a HKS filter?

I thought so

Travelintrevor

I agree...I have used them with no problems for over 7 years(still do).countless miles..the peoplel that have problems are the ones that WASH the HKS filter...then it fall spart..it needs to be replaced every 10k mile sor so

RETed

Ignore those air filter comparo references...

You need to understand a little bit behind the technicalities of (air) filtration to understand the test really doesn't mean anything.

To filter the BEST, you need a very tight filtering media.
To get the BEST airflow, you need less restriction.
Now, typically BEST filtering and BEST airflow are mutually exclusive - there is a way to get both, but you end up with an air filter about the size of your engine!

I keep shaking my head when people use that air filter test as law.
Typically, the HKS (xxxxflow) and Blitz SUS air filters give the most power.
WHY? Cause they are the least restrictive.
These same filters also don't filter the best - duh, if you don't get it read above 10 more times.

Now, a word about "power gains".
BE CAREFUL about power gains, especially if we're talking about a single number.
These are most likely PEAK power gains, and not a real good indicator of how the air filter truly performs.
Most of these air filter tests are similar if not identical to an air filter test done by Option magazine (Japan).
At least Option magazine has the right notion of including DYNO GRAPHS of each run.
You know what, the A'PEXi air filter still came out on top (in terms of PEAK power gains), but the HKS and Blitz SUS filters made more power across the entire RPM range.

Now, a word about dirt...
For most engines, dirt sucked into the engine will not hurt anything.
This is especially true for non-turbo engines.
Dirt can hurt turbos.
Now, the question is...how much dirt will significantly damage my engine?
I think I can safely say that none of the air filters would significantly damage your engine, even the HKS one which showed a "black" secondary filter element.
Unless you're into dirt racing or constantly throwing dirt onto your air filter, this is really an unrealistic test for real-world conditions.
I'd question the size of the dirt particles, as really fine stuff is like copier toner; most dirt particles are not that small.

So, there is a trade-off between filtering abilities versus airflow.
Nothing is "free".
I've used K&N filters for a looong time now.
I've known people who has used HKS filters for a loooong time now.
None of these engine show significant damage to the engine.
I've rebuilt a number of them, and the internals are fine.


-Ted

KNONFS

iTrader: (14)

Actually, I used to clean the foam element with the car wash hose (filter still in the car, jsut applied water straight to it), since I had a custom cold air filter that placed it right in front of the oil cooler; it used to turn flat black in a matter of days!

Now problems with it whatsoever

Rotary_7

So i should just keep my HKS intake instead of going through the trouble of selling and getting an APEX'i one???

RoTa7

well its up to you. i had the HKS on my MR2 and it did fine, now its just a matter of time untill it goes on my 91 rexs

Juan

iTrader: (28)

Lots of people use these foam filters with no problems. If you look at cars in the option mags & videos, alot of the high horsepower cars are using them. If these guys trust the "crappy" HKS filter on their high horsepower expensive *** engines, then Im sure its perfectly fine for our engines.

DelSlow

iTrader: (2)

Ive been using the HKS foam filter on my T2 engine for about a year now, and ive never had ANY problems with dirt in my engine or the filter falling apart, and i even hand wash the foam occasionally.

91mazdarx7

damn theres alot of opnions about this so what filter is really the best the hks dont seem bad because the dirt that it does let in the engine doesnt seem like its big enough to harm anything and the apexi dont let in that much dirt but it dont let in as much air until your up in the higher rpm am i right? can anyone help me make my decision which to get

Juan

iTrader: (28)

I know people that have used socks as a "cone" filter for a long time. Their engines never had problems and are still running strong. Another guy I know has a piece of fine metal screen (like the stuff you see on house doors) on his intake adapter. He's been daily driving the car like that for a long *** time and he doesnt have any problems with his engine. If these people can get away with ghetto **** like that, your fancy HKS filter will work wonders for you.

Rotary_7

hhmmm.....maybe i should just install the HKS one...dont want to go through the hassel of selling the intake out for a price close to wat i got it for and buying a Apexi or K&N one....tahnks everyone!!!!! May all intakes do their job!!! ( nicely)

Tofuball

Just a word of warning tho: I've seen with my own eyes the results of one of those HKS filters falling apart; little green chunks of filter throghout the entire intake tract. I doubt those soft little chunks will do any ENGINE damage, but it might 'clog' vac hose exits and get in your AFM, or something weird like that.

Anyway, the engine that was HKS chunked was fine, so I give the whole thing a big "MEH"

I mean, who cares how it filters, if it falls apart on you? Why not just get one of the other aftermarket filters that wont chunk on you?

7th Heaven

I've been using the HKS filter for awhile now, no problems. I actually plan on going to home depot and turning it into a CAI.

I trust HKS well, they've been making high quality stuff for a long time. If HKS filters are good enough for twin turbo skylines, I figure it should be just fine for an '88 RX7 =p

Silverfc88

iTrader: (7)

I've been using the HKS intake for about 4 years now and in three different cars and I've never had a problem. I just replaced the foam just last year and the old one was still soft.

rosey

iTrader: (1)

I'm using a K&N on my TII, just because they are cheap, availiable, and have been around forever, so I trust it would do its job. I wouldn't want a HKS because you have to replace the filters...if you don't mind doing that every once in awhile, then keep your HKS. I doubt a big company like HKS would have released something like that and left it for all these years if it caused problems.

Evil Aviator

Look at the Performance link on web site listed below, and you will see some good air filter products that will go along with the validity of that "filter comparison" web site you posted. This will show you how important it is to use the internet for choosing the best car parts.
http://www.kalecoauto.com/

The HKS foam filter will work just fine as long as you replace it every 10,000 miles or about every year if you don't drive much. Don't try to wash it, or it will lose its dirt trapping capability, and it will eventually disintegrate.

jon88se

It should be replaced annually if the car is driven normally (w/ a tune up). It is very very easy to see when the HKS filter is dirty.