Single Turbo RX-7's Questions about all aspects of single turbo setups.

Intake filter or no intake filter?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 17, 2010 | 11:37 PM
  #1  
muibubbles's Avatar
Thread Starter
Bubblicious DEF.
Tenured Member: 15 Years
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 10
From: 732
Intake filter or no intake filter?

Ive been seeing a lot of single turbo set ups and mixed between air filter and none at all... idk if they are just off for the picture or just running it without one.. just curious what everyone is running and recomends? i did a search and ppl were saying k&N but that was back in 03 and more recent post say the K&N breaks?

what are the benefits of running
-filter
-mesh
-or that horn thingy hks makes?
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 05:00 AM
  #2  
Evil Aviator's Avatar
Rotorhead
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 9,136
Likes: 39
From: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Benefits:

-filter: Engine stays cleaner and lasts much longer between rebuilds. A well-designed filter can affect the airflow to add a little more torque and hp vs. no filter.

-mesh: Great for keeping rocks and small children from getting sucked into the engine. Also makes an excellent worthless filter for those who don't have much money and want to make it look like they made an attempt at adding a filter.

-HKS horn thingy: Looks fancier than most other filters.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 09:14 AM
  #3  
muibubbles's Avatar
Thread Starter
Bubblicious DEF.
Tenured Member: 15 Years
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 10
From: 732
Originally Posted by Evil Aviator
-mesh: Great for keeping rocks and small children from getting sucked into the engine.
hahahhah thats halariouss qftw!
im gonna assume u run a filter... which one do u use?
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 09:37 AM
  #4  
turbo10th's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis,MD
I run a 4 inch k&n filter but when i go to the track i take it off for a slight performace increase.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 09:56 AM
  #5  
Zero R's Avatar
Just in time to die
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 2
From: look behind you
Run a filter, it's stupid not to unless you physically can't fit one for some reason. More than likely you'll notice no lose in power unless it becomes a restriction up top. Screens will actually show a loss in power over a filter. So they are pointless other than being better than nothing.

~S~

Last edited by Zero R; Feb 18, 2010 at 10:06 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 03:08 PM
  #6  
XLR8's Avatar
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (52)
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,902
Likes: 10
From: NJ
Definitely run a filter. K&N sells many custom sizes. Make some measurements and get a good setup on there.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 04:18 PM
  #7  
Evil Aviator's Avatar
Rotorhead
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 9,136
Likes: 39
From: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Originally Posted by muibubbles
im gonna assume u run a filter... which one do u use?
I like K&N filters the best because of their long service life. A regular paper filter usually has the best filtration quality if that is your goal. I would stay away from any cheapie E-bay filters, as they tend to tear apart from the pressure reversions and the pieces can get sucked into the intake. Also, do not buy a disposable filter and try to clean it to make it last longer, as it may also tear apart and get ingested into the engine. Disposable filters are fine as long as you throw them away at the end of their service life.

Originally Posted by turbo10th
I run a 4 inch k&n filter but when i go to the track i take it off for a slight performace increase.
If there is a significant amount of power increase in the high rpm range, then your filter is probably too small. If you are racing professionally for money, then it may be worth it to run the engine without a filter if it truly makes better power that way. Otherwise, it's probably not such a great idea.

Originally Posted by Zero R
Screens will actually show a loss in power over a filter. So they are pointless other than being better than nothing.
Yeah, a screen is basically a restriction with no filtration. There isn't much point to this option.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 05:47 PM
  #8  
SE\/EN's Avatar
Still Waiting.......
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Utah
I would definately run a filter also, even at the track. For me there is no benefit greater than prolonging engine life. I do however use a screen every once in a while if I am working on the car and filter is drying from cleaning.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 06:32 PM
  #9  
silverTRD's Avatar
Time or Money, Pick one
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (40)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 169
From: Torrance, ca.
there was just a thread with posted results of dyno runs with and without a filter and the results were pretty close. the run with the filter actually made power a tad sooner.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 06:35 PM
  #10  
silverTRD's Avatar
Time or Money, Pick one
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (40)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 169
From: Torrance, ca.
nm, found it. only a few threads down. to the op, read this thread and come to your own conclusion
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 06:54 PM
  #11  
muibubbles's Avatar
Thread Starter
Bubblicious DEF.
Tenured Member: 15 Years
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 10
From: 732
well most of this was out of curiosity... i actually do plan on running a filter.

now the question is which one? prior to this thread i did a search and i was hearing mixed reviews about the K&N filter... some say it was awesome but those post were back in 03...

more recent ones i saw ppl said that the Larger K&N tend to break then someone linked it to the supra forum which they been having problems with the large K&N too...

so im curious is this an issue with the newer generation models or what? im debating between the K&N (if its safe to run) or the summit racing one... its about 35 bucks and figured its fairly cheap so i can replace it every year?
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 08:15 PM
  #12  
Evil Aviator's Avatar
Rotorhead
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 9,136
Likes: 39
From: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
I almost hate to ask this, but how did the Supra guys manage to "break" an air filter?

Anyway, the Summit Racing copy of the K&N filter seems just fine to me, so I don't see any problem buying it if you don't like the K&N brand for whatever reason.

Also, no air filter is awesome in my opinion.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 08:20 PM
  #13  
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
Original Gangster/Rotary!
Veteran: Army
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (213)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,804
Likes: 646
From: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Get a K&N.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 09:06 PM
  #14  
turbo10th's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis,MD
Originally Posted by Evil Aviator
I like K&N filters the best because of their long service life. A regular paper filter usually has the best filtration quality if that is your goal. I would stay away from any cheapie E-bay filters, as they tend to tear apart from the pressure reversions and the pieces can get sucked into the intake. Also, do not buy a disposable filter and try to clean it to make it last longer, as it may also tear apart and get ingested into the engine. Disposable filters are fine as long as you throw them away at the end of their service life.


If there is a significant amount of power increase in the high rpm range, then your filter is probably too small. If you are racing professionally for money, then it may be worth it to run the engine without a filter if it truly makes better power that way. Otherwise, it's probably not such a great idea.


Yeah, a screen is basically a restriction with no filtration. There isn't much point to this option.
My filter is a bit small but thats because my engine bay is tight where the turbo is. Its not so much high rpms as it is spool time, notice a small differance with it off(also Ray at PFS takes it off when on the dyno) and i drag race so for 10 sec of running without a filter it dont make me lose sleep lol. I would love to run a 4 inch pipe for more of a cold air intake but there is no way to do it without serious modding and i also have a/c. Also if you have the common 4 inch k&n that most of us have make sure to have it as far forward as you can if you slide it all the way back you will lose power(Ray found that out when i put it on the first time).
Reply
Old Feb 19, 2010 | 04:14 PM
  #15  
mannykiller's Avatar
Garage Hero
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (93)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,205
Likes: 19
From: Quartz Hill
I researched this as well.... i've read that that over time all the debris sucked into our motors will result in a quicker loss of compression due to a kind of opposite micro polishing effect on rotor housings. You may not notice a difference at first but over time it'll affect rotor housings. I'm using the "horn style HKS" on my 40r...actually really havn't noticed any loss in power...might've even gained a little over the wire mesh that was on there for a few hundo miles..
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
24seven_dada
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
20
Nov 10, 2018 12:03 PM
msilvia
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
15
Sep 11, 2015 12:13 PM
SakeBomb Garage
SakeBomb Garage
0
Sep 4, 2015 05:20 PM
SakeBomb Garage
Vendor Classifieds
0
Sep 4, 2015 05:19 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:23 PM.