Air Intake Kit? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

blinkwatt · 11-12-2005, 09:08 PM

My Boxster has a K & N Air Filter and it has not had any issues with it at all. ALOT of the issues related to K & N Air Filters are with the user using too much oil when they initially install it.

MNBoxster · 11-12-2005, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

My Boxster has a K & N Air Filter and it has not had any issues with it at all. ALOT of the issues related to K & N Air Filters are with the user using too much oil when they initially install it.

Hi,

Partly true, but mostly wrong. The K & N allows more air through it because it has bigger holes in it. This means it admits much more dirt as well. You haven't had a MAF Failure... Yet!

This dirt ends up primarily in the Oil, so you need to shorten you Oil Change interval when using a K & N (there go any perceived Cost Savings).

Also, the Filter restricts in 1/3 the time of a Paper Filter, so any perceived Performance Gains only exist in the first 5k-7k mi. after cleaning/installation and then only at the Top of the Power Curve, where few people spend any real time. Wanna pay for Unused Potential? OK that's up to you.

In Sum: A Bunch of Baloney - Automotive Jewelry, good primarily for Bragging Rights only.

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

blinkwatt · 11-12-2005, 10:11 PM

So if my Boxster has 52k on it and I would like to make it last I should remove the K & N Air Filter?

xclusivecar · 11-13-2005, 04:51 AM

Search Boxster forums and you will see very. very small performance gains if at all from "performance" intakes and occasional problems with oiled filters. You basically end up spending big money for a better intake sound. My opinion...de-snorkel for FREE! Same performance gains, same sound, and FREE!

Brucelee · 11-13-2005, 06:20 AM

As Jim pointed out, one area that is overlooked with these "performance filters" is that they allow more dirt to enter the engine and engine oil.

Think about it: what is the filter there for in the first place? If a K and N were a great thing for performance, well, no filter at all would be better?

Actually, back in the bad old days, we used to just through a chrome cover over the carb and let the thing wail!

No wonder I had all those engine "problems."

See the Motor Oil Bible for more on the importance of a quality air filter to engine life.

www.themotoroilsite.com

my89_928gt · 11-13-2005, 11:34 AM

Over oilling is the biggest problem with oiled filetrs like K&N. The mass on the Boxster is very close to the fileter.
Hmmm, I have nearly 20K miles on my Boxter with a K&N. No problems at all. The intake is a louder than just desnorkling.
Performance gains I can't tell any differance. So, with that said I will most likely put the stock fileter back in at the next cleanning(witch it's about time now). Not worth it to me and do not want to take a chance of screwing up the MASS.
I don't go for the shorttning of engine life. Makes sense that it may allow more dirt through. Maybe it dose maybe it dose not. How ever I have had K&N on 2 previous 928's one of witch was on their for 5 years as a daily driver. No, problems and compresion was still good when I sold it(did not check before hand)
Also, have a very good freind who had a 89 928GT(yes, I had one to) and at around 60k miles he put one in. Near 8 years later and 184K miles the car still ran perfect(car got totaled).
Also, had a Nissain Altima several years ago that ran with a K&N from about 80K miles to 197K miles when I sold it. Car was haveing issures, but engine was still sound.
So, dose a K&N realy shorten engine life? Maybe, but if it dose it must not be by very much. This of course is my opinion.
Would be nice if some Consumer Co. could do a study on that so we could no for sure.
Personaly I have about given up on K&N anyway as no car that I have ever had with it any realy seemed to make a diffence to me. Just improved the sound a bit.

Richard

nastyboxster · 11-13-2005, 04:20 PM

I researched for about 2 months before I installed the Evo Air intake. Great sound and performance increase. Installation could be a handful. The shop quoted me 2 hours to install, but took actually over 5 hours. Luckily, they only charge me for 2.

The website dynoed 8 hp increase, but feels like much more. Well worth the upgrade.

scoobyrex27 · 11-17-2005, 08:01 AM

I know Porsche's are picky and really any mods are not going to get you much power (or loss!) but I can't believe no one has ever made a custom intake.

When I bought my boxster I knew the cost that were entailed over another car but it is worth it to me. I also have a ducati monster which I modded like crazy and did a lot of work myself. I AM going to build my own intake whe I find the time but wondered if anyone else has put something together?

Any racers? What about chopping an airbox and putting on a cone filter?

I know this seems sacreligous (sp) to most of you and power problably won;t be gained but I really am just astounded that NOT one person has done this.

xclusivecar · 11-17-2005, 02:08 PM

I have seen a guy who did make his own intake. Literally 2 short pieces of 2 or 3" PVC and 2 rubber plumbing elbows. I don't remember the specifics but I'll try to search for them on the net.

MNBoxster · 11-17-2005, 05:14 PM

@ scoobyrex27

Hi,

One Question.... WHY???? You admit that there are no Power Gains to be had and it is invisible (no ready Bragging Rights). Since it's N/A, cleaning up the aerodynamics won't help and it's a lot more work than just pulling the Snorkel...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

xclusivecar · 11-17-2005, 06:25 PM

MNBoxster does have a point. If an aftermarket intake doesn't do ANYTHING...then why spend the time to build your own and still gain...NOTHING!

DE-snorkel and you should be happy!