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does anyone have any experence of using a k&n panel filter , im unsure if i should wash it before use as not to cause any MAF fouling problems or if it is ok to use straight out of the box ?

Installed mine straight out of the box and no issues to date after 3,000 miles or so.

I washed my BMC filter as there appeared to have excess oil on it. it should not caused a problem to wash it, do NOT air blast it.

cheerrs for the feedback guys ..the k&n comes pre oiled but it doesnt seem excessive ..i,ll give it a go .....hope it dont screw up my MAF

Shouldn't do mate, will not harm it, will be better no oil than with oil, just make sure you wash it gently as not to damage it.

Give us some feed back please on performance.

mmm recon you are right Sonny ,better safe than sorry ..i plan to give it the washing up liquid and running water treatment then lay it out to dry ,prob get round to fitting mid week ...will deffo post performance feedback

Roger that! Also little tip, when you take your air box apart, be careful as not to knock one of the vacuum hoses out it can be very easily done.

caldy wrote:Installed mine straight out of the box and no issues to date after 3,000 miles or so.

Same here, been running it out of the box for 5,000km without any issues.

The question though is that, on 2nd washing, to oil or not to oil?

I would be very carefull washing the oil out of the filter.

On high performance filters, I'm pretty sure that the oil actually works as part of the filtration system.

By cleaning it off, you will allow much higher levels of particulates into your engine, and having seen the state of some intakes.......

spikeyoldbiker wrote:mmm recon you are right Sonny ,better safe than sorry ..i plan to give it the washing up liquid and running water treatment then lay it out to dry ,prob get round to fitting mid week ...will deffo post performance feedback

WHAT!? You don't wash the oil out, it gives what little bit of filtering you will get. Clean it when black and dirty with the K&N cleaner and spray new K&N oil on. If you don't "refresh" it when really dirty, it will clog up and reduce air flow significantly, it has a tiny surface area compared to the stock paper element.

Agree with _RS: the K&N will NOT work without oil.

I have used it out of the box and no problems after 6000 miles.

My call would be that the original factory filter has superior filtration, but due to this very fact it will blind more quickly. I think we go the K&N route as the slight loss of filtration efficiency is balanced by the longer life and superior and more consistent breathing we get.

Slightly OT - I've used K&N for donkey's years but only recently came across their "recharge" kit with cleaner and spray oil. My son's car has the filter down in the front grill and get's dirty quick. The cleaner actually dissolved stuff and fizzed away for a few minutes. I would normally have just used any all purpose cleaner but I was impressed with the K&N version. Also the oil was in a spray can, not the old bottle I had for years, better for preventing over oiling. Kit is $12 in the US so I guess 8 quid or so, a good purchase I think.

What ppl have discovered before, is that if you 'over' oil the element, oil can be sucked through the inlet system and cause damage to the MAFS. Nothing is wrong with using oil just make sure you do not over do it, use it sparingly. BMC filters are a smaller gauze and ITG ones use foam, any one on here use ITG filters?

big problem on the bmw's was the oil from the filters damaging the mafs.....

sonny wrote:any one on here use ITG filters?

I will be soon, this is what MRC have specially made to 'their specs' for the B7 RS4.

My MRC/ITG filter will be installed in the next couple of weeks, along with decats and Revo Stage 2 (just as soon as I run in the new engine).