High-flow airfilter that's NOT a K&N

[B6_Rakete]

My car feels like it's choking which typically means the snow filter and air filter are clogged. Before I take the whole intake apart, anybody know:

- ...of another drop-in air filter that provides better flow than the stock S4 filter but foul the MAF?
- ...how to replace the filer and clean the snow screen with the least amount of effort?

[Alister]

BMC also make a flat panel filter suitable for the B6/B7 S4.

[richib86]

ITG makes a drop in filter. but its not the k&n that screws with your MAF, its the filter oil. you take the NIB OVER oiled filter and clean it, then get a filter recharge kit and oil it lightly yourself. the install is super simple, just pop off the intake runner to get to the snow filter(no tools r required for that) and then as for the airbox, just undo the 2 screws at the top of the box, disconnect the hose on the forward facing side of the box and then just wiggle the top lid off the base or if ur feeling lazy, lift it just enough to remove and replace the stock filter. all said and done should take you 10 min to do, its a minimal effort process

[B6_Rakete]

its not the k&n that screws with your MAF, its the filter oil.

I realized that :)

then get a filter recharge kit and oil it lightly yourself.

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of having a sticky (oiled) porous membrane (the filter) to trap particulates? Having a dry sponge in your intake probably means you're sucking crap into the engine.

Is the ITG filter a paper filter model?

[richib86]

ok by lightly i meant lighter than what they give you from the factory because they over oil them. sticky is good but not when theres so much that its being sucked off of the filter and into the engine all of which is common sense. i was super skeptical putting in this filter for a second time (the first time i messed up my MAF because it was over oiled lol) and i gotta say it was a night and day experience, i couldnt be happier with it.
if i remember correctly i dont THINK its a paper filter but ive been wrong before :)

[B6_Rakete]

ok by lightly i meant lighter than what they give you from the factory because they over oil them. sticky is good but not when theres so much that its being sucked off of the filter and into the engine all of which is common sense. i was super skeptical putting in this filter for a second time (the first time i messed up my MAF because it was over oiled lol) and i gotta say it was a night and day experience, i couldnt be happier with it.
if i remember correctly i dont THINK its a paper filter but ive been wrong before :)

I'm still sketched about the K&N. Seems that many folks here have had issues with them due to overly touchy MAF sensors.

[richib86]

its not as much a touchy maf(they def are touchy in general) as it is a dirty oil covered maf that obviously cant read properly. i was just as sketched as you but u gotta remember k&n has been in the game for a good long while so they have to be doing something right or they wouldnt last, sadly i put my faith in that alone tho i prob shouldnt lol

[Ill 3.0]

AFE probably has a dry panel filter as well

[hackers4]

BMC makes excellent filters.

[eweu]

Is the ITG filter a paper filter model?

It's a three-layer foam filter. It is very lightly oiled to trap dust but you don't ever need to re-oil it. They are very good filters.

ITG filter for S4

[zachf88]

Go ITG!! I've used K&N, Greenfilter, and BMC and I don't care for them! I also like how you just need to vacuum the ITG to clean it! (It's foam) Strongly recommend it!

[Mike@Startup]

I've had good luck with ITG, but they cost a little more.

[zachf88]

I've had good luck with ITG, but they cost a little more.

especially since they value of the US dollar is soo low..... 1 GBP = 1.74 USD.... ouch!

I ordered mine from here: http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/IT...37f9ad4e1d2074

[eweu]

especially since they value of the US dollar is soo low..... 1 GBP = 1.74 USD.... ouch!

The ITG filters are only $65 from the US importer I linked to above. That's pretty reasonable, I think.

[ALWAYS4UDI]

I've had good luck with ITG, but they cost a little more.

opposite for me. i never had issues with my car bogging down or choking until i threw an itg in. they = hot garbage imo.

[B6_Rakete]

AARRGH, so much conflicting experience.

Maybe I'll just rip the old filter out and leave it at that :)

[bhvrdr]

a clean paper filter will flow more then enough air and will be the best at trapping particulates. As long as you keep it fresh, it's a great option.

cheers! Mike

[DeatschWerks]

I have an ITG but haven't installed it yet. I'll post back with some results... if I notice any in my ultra accurate butt-dyno.

[B6_Rakete]

Seems like it's high time for a back to back vacuum test of several of the leading replacement filters in a liberated air box. Anybody have to tools to answer the question: Which air filter flows the best?

[Audi05s4]

itg filter its on awe's website

[GotRS?]

k&n has been in the game for a good long while so they have to be doing something right or they wouldnt last, sadly i put my faith in that alone tho i prob shouldnt lol

Sadly me too richie, until the obvious dawned after reading a report on many filters. Executive summary: K&N filter = higher crap flow into your engine

Yes, they've been in the game for a good long while... the marketing game.

[37doc]

BMC filters are used in many F1 cars. Ive had one in for over 5K miles no issues.

[B6_Rakete]

Sadly me too richie, until the obvious dawned after reading a report on many filters. Executive summary: K&N filter = higher crap flow into your engine.

Link? Scanned docs?

[whitevdub]

BMC

[bhvrdr]

Sadly me too richie, until the obvious dawned after reading a report on many filters. Executive summary: K&N filter = higher crap flow into your engine

Yes, they've been in the game for a good long while... the marketing game.

I've seen the same studies. Gauze letting the most crap in, then foam, then paper. I've seen the clean paper flow amost equally as well as the guaze and foam. Paper = better filtering and no substantial difference in airflow. I guess you could make the argument you get them to be more "green" since they are rechargeable. One thing to note is that the laboratories can almost always point out to you if you have a KN or "cone" filter in your car when they do an oil analysis by looking at your silicates in the engine oil.

cheers! Mike

[GotRS?]

Link? Scanned docs?

Here's one after 2mins Google

http://www.nicoclub.com/articles.php?id=180100

[S4J]

Don't know if you found a DIY yet, but I came across this on the "other" forum (AW).

http://www.stratmosphere.com/hyperfl...stallation.pdf

[STaSIS_2.0T]

ITG

[bklein8888]

k&n...almost a year...no problems whatsoever. i think many would agree.

[Anderson||S4A]

No measurable performance gain, so why not stock? YMMV

[DeatschWerks]

My S4 was feeling "sluggish" so I bought an ITG filter since it probably needed one anyway...
First I cleaned out the snow filter it was loaded with grass and drove it for a few days with the old paper filter - BIG improvement.
Then replaced the paper filter with the ITG, again a noticeable improvbemtn but not as big as cleaning out the snow filter.

Also, the paper filter was loaded with tons of oklahoma red dirt so it is hard to tell if the ITG was better than paper or if it just seemed better because it was clean. I think the take-home message is keeping things clean is the biggest and most important thing.

Dave

[93hrdtptt]

Hey guys,

sorry if this may be slightly off topic. Would you think that a K&N drop in filter will improve airflow/performance/gas mileage over the OEM filter?

I recently just purchased my B6 s4, and I am not aware if the previous owner had replaced the filter. Car just hit 43.5 on the clock

Any advantages? Easy DIY Install?

Thanks in advance