High preformance Air filter - yes or no?

Alon Alero · 05-17-2007, 03:02 PM

Hi all !

As I said, i've bought the Alero not a while ago and now i'm thinking on upgrading it a little.

The problem here (Israel) is that most of the upgrades are not legal.

However, it is legal to replace your air filter with a high preformance filter that will get more air into the engine which will cause better preformance and add 5-10 HP.

Now i've also read that when its hot outside (and its hot here most of the year) this filter might even lower your preformance because the engine likes cold air (i wish a cold air intake could be legal but its not).

And then i've read that it might not lower the preformance because of the increased amount of oxygen... So I just figured why not ask the experts, and people who tried it.

Let me know if it worth the money.

Thanx alot!!!

05-17-2007, 03:04 PM

by high performance air filter, you mean like a short WAI? or just a better filter in the stock airbox?

Alon Alero · 05-17-2007, 03:10 PM

I think only the filter is being replaced... it looks like a piece of a small wide metal pipe but I can't be sure... i dont think its a WAI coz when u install a WAI u place a hole in the hood right(or not)?! in my case u just replace the original filter thing.

Gr1m · 05-17-2007, 03:15 PM

WAI is when you remove the stock airbox and just put a air filter connected to the MAF, a CAI is when you put a pipe from the MAF into your wheelwell and then the filter on the end of that. i dont see how you would be caught with a CAI but if you want to put a WAI it would be better then the stock airbox

Alon Alero · 05-17-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gr1m

WAI is when you remove the stock airbox and just put a air filter connected to the MAF, a CAI is when you put a pipe from the MAF into your wheelwell and then the filter on the end of that. i dont see how you would be caught with a CAI but if you want to put a WAI it would be better then the stock airbox

First, may i know whats a MAF? and when u remove the whole air box do u also remove that sensor(or whatever) which is right next to the filter? becoz the guy told me he only touches the air filter and that if i'll need to replace the whole thing with the sensor (but it turns out that i dont) it could be a problem.

Second, i will be caught becoz here every year your car has to pass a test in a garage that checks everything.

I guess its probably a short WAI, but does it worth the money when it's hot out there? Would it really give me some extra power ?

Redog · 05-17-2007, 04:00 PM

They make stock air box filters.

K&N is the best, you'll probably gain about 8 hp.

It's not so much the heat, it's the humidity that cars don't like. Where abouts in Israel are you? Is the country mostly desert? If so, you'll probably just have to clean the filter more often due to the dusty conditions

Alon Alero · 05-17-2007, 04:16 PM

Yeah I live in the desert side, and I'll get u the name of the thing and maybe even a photo soon...

Oldsnut · 05-17-2007, 05:28 PM

I installed a K&N about 2 months ago, I love the extra little kick I get.

Alon Alero · 05-17-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsnut

I installed a K&N about 2 months ago, I love the extra little kick I get.

do u have a warm intake ?

What i was talking about is a warm air intake, sorry for confusing with the filter... the intake comes with the pipe & filter.. the guy at the shop didnt make himself clear enough i guess... I still don't know what is the company tho.

So all I want to know if its really true that at hot weather it will slow me down.

Ryan from Ohio · 05-17-2007, 10:01 PM

I added a Fram Air Hog. Basically its the same as a KN except I got it off E Pay for $15 shipped

I like these types filters because I can just renew them.

tonyboi261 · 05-17-2007, 10:06 PM

it doesnt really make a difference that its hot there because the warm air is bringing in air from the engine bay and little cracks in the hood so itll be alright

Gr1m · 05-17-2007, 10:54 PM

i circled the MAF for ya, this pic is from someone on the site with a CAI so they have a chrome pipe whereas you would have the stock rubber tube

tonyboi261 · 05-17-2007, 11:10 PM

^ yea thats were the sensor goes in so that stays in the same place

antichrysler · 05-17-2007, 11:48 PM

i had a K&N in mine. I was actually getting higher than the rated fuel economy on the highway. I was getting around 37MPG going 120 down the highway and the car's rated for 35.

Alon Alero · 05-18-2007, 01:13 AM

would it really give me 5-10 HP like the guy says?

And i know it takes the air from the bay engine, but the colder it is outside the better it should work.

pawzbear · 05-18-2007, 01:26 AM

no a drop in K&N wont give u 8 hp.. more like .5hp lol

i say u get 8-10 hp gain with a WAI or CAI depending on the type of engine u have and shazz

Alon Alero · 05-18-2007, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawzbear

no a drop in K&N wont give u 8 hp.. more like .5hp lol

i say u get 8-10 hp gain with a WAI or CAI depending on the type of engine u have and shazz

the K&N we were talking about = WAI isn't it? or maybe u ment another company WAI.

I got the V6, so that should give me some room for those extra horse...

pawzbear · 05-18-2007, 01:52 AM

By K&N i mean a drop in filter. Its a replacement rectangular filter that you just 'drop in' your stock airbox.. The airbox Is the big black box on the right you have to unscrew the cover on. If you unscrew it you see the stock rectangular filter, and to install the K&N all you do is take out the old and put in the new. That is a 'drop in K&N filter'... might give ya 0.5hp increase lol.

WAI or CAI is what many people posted pictures of in here. You see they dont have the stock black airbox? Instead its a tube that ends in a cone shaped filter. (usually K&N brand) The picture Grim posted is of a CAI, you cant see the end filter of it from the engine bay because it goes all the way down to the wheel well. The air is cooler there and cold = more hp.
A WAI does not extend down under, rather it is just a cone filter without the airbox too. It sucks air from the engine bay, which is hotter than the wheel well air the CAI reacher so you see a little less hp gain from it. It is cheaper and easier to install though.
The big draw of CAI's and WAI's is that they REPLACE the stock airbox, which has a much more restricted air flow because it is contained. The open, cone filters allow for greater intake.
I think for my 2.4 you get an 8-10 hp increase with a CAI. Its more with a v6. I remember reading this on here a long time ago.

And to an earlier question of yours... NO you will not lose hp after this mod no matter how hot it gets. It will still function better than stock.

will someone post a pic of a WAI or at least a cone filter here? thanks.

Alon Alero · 05-18-2007, 03:52 AM

Yeah i understand, I think i'm getting a WAI becoz it replace also a part of the pipe and not only the filter inside the box, I will know for sure only in sunday when i get to the shop (and yeah sunday is not a rest day here)... Thanx 4 all the info.

strtrydr · 05-18-2007, 05:31 AM

here is an example photo ... off of Doctor Speeds website.

(actually from an alero too)