1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: CAI - paper element

I'm afraid I do not, but the paper ones look restrictive to me compared to the others. What are your concerns about the other type?

Jim

 

MINI uses Paper Element (Stock).

 

Dinian CAI's use disposable gauze filters.....
One thought...get any CAI that you like, then get a K&N filter, then add one of their "prefilter" protectors...it is like a bag with a drawstring tom keep it on..this will keep the coarser stuff out..they are usually used to protect the filter in off road installations.
Paper filters are pretty restrestive, and not all that effective...but they are common cause they are cheap for the OEM's.
Putting a paper filter on an CAI will obliterate perhaps 50% of the gains you get from a cai....making it not very cost effective...and it will sound muffled with a paper filter...getting rid of the other reason for a CAI.

 

And a bit of a history lesson...most cars for years used an oil bathed metal mesh filter...nearly 0 restriction, and it as pretty effective, but it did take mataince...oem's went to paper for less cost, and quicker mataince...not better filtering. The old filter systems did a good job, but just like the foam/gauze filters, needed a degree of skill to service, and a bit of time.

 

If you go to the KN website, the filter protectors or prefilter bags might be listed with the "universal" filters....they are commonly used in dusty applications...

 

Nobs Engineering uses a non-oil filter, but it isn't paper either... it is a dry filter that can be washed out.

I use there CAI and have been very happy for the last 5000 miles.

 

What your gut may tell you about foam filters isn't the reality.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r8NajjYkFA&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Automotive Air Filter Test[/ame]

I've had paper, gauze and foam. Foam is by far the best all around in my experience.

 

Only reason to go to a paper filter is ease of replacement. No brains needed to throw out the old and put in the new. Better filters req. a bit more maintenance is all.

And yes, the foam ones are the best filters and the easiest to maintain. Got 100k's of miles on foam filters with no complaints.

 

Nice info on the True Flow, too bad they are out of business.

 

It really does come down to higher air flow. I could tell a difference as soon as I put the K&N in the air box. I believe their web site says the started out making them for off road motorcycles in very dusty conditions.

Jim

 

Oh boy......here we go again.



K&N will flow more air when new, but they will clog up faster than the foam filter will. Foam way out performs pleated in the off road arena. I have 35+ yrs of running off road stuff and they all use a foam filter. Much more consistent flow with no drop off when dirty. The racers that use the pleated filters are sponsored and have to. Check with the guys that don't have a lot of sponsors to pay for parts and they will all be running foam.