drop in k&n filter = power loss?

[Esteban Mayer]

hi there... i had installed a drop in filter by just removing the stock one. the issue that it lies in there where the original box was. i connected the MAF tube directly to the cone filter. then a friend told me the only good thing that would come of that is the sound, but i would actually loose power because the air the filter gets is very warm air from the hood. this sunday there is a 1/8 mile race event at the school`s parking lot and i want to run the best i can. Im racing against a couple of 08 Civics Si`s, i should not have problem beating them right? (05 Altima SE-R 6spd) any knowledge on this please let me know.. thanks!

[rcboy514]

I can tell you it won't be worse than stock.

Any air filter/air intake on the market now takes the warm air out of the engine bay. Supposedly the k&n filter is more free flowing than stock.

So the power wont come from the temp. of the air it sucks in, but the amount of air than can be sucked in. In theory there wont be as much resistance on the air flowing into the engine by using the k&n.

also you SHOULD beat an 08 civic si since you have a v6. There have been some 2.5ers on here that either beat an 08 si or at least stayed very close so you should be good to go because remember..... HONDA = Hold On Not Done Accelerating lol

[opekone_1988]

Agreed.. The only thing that can tell you from experience is that you might loose a bit of low end torque but make up on mid to high end. And yes, you can beat an SI.. Just raced one about 3 weeks ago and was able to beat him and my car is a 2.5L with Greddy exhaust and stillen headers.

[mrodrig2]

This sounds fishy. "Drop-in" filters are better flowing OEM replacements, i.e. they are cartridge filters that you toss into your stock airbox. The K&N cone filter that it sounds like you have aren't really meant to replace your stock box on their own. They work in conjunction with an aftermarket intake arm which you state you don't have. So its basically a toss up whether your helping or hurting.

[rcboy514]

I just ignored that he wrote cone filter, becuase idk what the engine bay of an 05 s-er looks like. he may have ment to say WAI, I wouldn't think a stock drop in filter would be a cone shape. either way i guess we are all waiting on a reply from the OP.

btw opekone I love your wheels

[SuBXeRo]

i had a WAI on my old car and lost that low end torque. It sux and isnt worth it IMO. K&N filters are more freeflowing but so are the particulates that pass through the filter and enter your engine. I saw an article on this on the web and i cant find it, it makes sense though.

The stock airbox has a small resevoir of air that helps to promote that early need for air to produce thelow end torque, this is what i was told and i can see how it would make sense.

I can tell you i wont be putting a CAI or WAI on my car, i just dont see the useful benefit towards my everyday driving. Yes you get the high end RPM torqe but i have a 2.5 and it struggles off the line anyways.

[opekone_1988]

btw opekone I love your wheels

Well thank you kind sir.. and me likes your altar and when are you putting on your Gunmetal Nismo wheels?.. Gotta check that out.

[rcboy514]

not sure really, me being a college student = no mucho dinero lol. I'm buying two of the tires in like 2 days, then the other two in a few weeks.

I can't decide if I should wait and put them on in the spring or just put them on as soon as possible.