Air Filter - Pod or Replace the Foam?

madboy · Postby **madboy** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:16 am

Hi guys,

my 5 came with a HKS filter and I guess with hindsight I really should have done some googling before I went ahead and tried to clean it

It seems that HKS foam filters are not designed to be cleaned but replaced with a new element when needed.

Long story short, degreaser eats HKS foam elements for breakfast and now i have a choice.

Track down a replacement element, which I think is going to be a pain in the ass because not many people stock HKS, or replace with generic/K&N pod.

I have been looking around and it seems that HKS do a 3 layer dry element for their filters, anyone have experience with these?

cheers
MB

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:22 am

are we talking about the oem rectangular air filter?

AB7 · Postby **AB7** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:48 am

Personally, I'm not a fan of panel foam filter. I know HKS is a big brands but there's a test a few years back and HKS foam perform quite badly ( can't remember the mag, but its some american one).

Do a search on the forum for Air Filter shootout by Autosalon Mag, HKS mushroom foam filter perform quite bad in there as well. A $30 3A filter won the overall competition, beating the likes of K&N, HKS, APEXi

If you do get pod filter, make sure you put on some head shield.

madboy · Postby **madboy** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:37 am

sorry, this is one of their super power flow filters, dome type ones

Moto · Postby **Moto** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:43 am

AB7 wrote:Personally, I'm not a fan of panel foam filter. I know HKS is a big brands but there's a test a few years back and HKS foam perform quite badly ( can't remember the mag, but its some american one).

Do a search on the forum for Air Filter shootout by Autosalon Mag, HKS mushroom foam filter perform quite bad in there as well. A $30 3A filter won the overall competition, beating the likes of K&N, HKS, APEXi

If you do get pod filter, make sure you put on some head shield.

It was in Autosalon Magazine (I'm pretty sure)

For the record K&N pod filter came first for filtering and second or third for flow. In short, if your going to buy a pod, go K&N.

Red Dragon · Postby **Red Dragon** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:19 am

Here is the result of the filter shootout 3A is the winner
http://www.australianauto.com.au/HTML/Images/Air%20Filter%20Shoot%20Out.pdf

madboy · Postby **madboy** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:34 pm

interesting information, anyone know a Gold Coast stocker of 3A racing filters

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:55 pm

eBay has them from time to time

AB7 · Postby **AB7** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:18 pm

Or go here,

http://carbling.com.au/component/option ... Itemid,26/

Its the same reseller off Ebay.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:43 pm

The article was very interesting. What it underlines is that in many ways consumers often buy with limited actual knowledge of the product. The advertising often tells you nothing and price may also be misleading. For those making parts for the OE car industry many items are subject to long and stringent testing and failures can mean no approval or changes to meet performance spec. Aftermarket suppliers do not have to jump thru the same hoops. In theory a spec may have led some of these products to have failed.

philz · Postby **philz** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:51 pm

Don't buy HKS air filters, despite their reputation and history, I personally would not buy their foam filters, everything else, such as Turbos, exhaust etc, I would.

Postby **mx52nv** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:48 pm

I have been using 3A Racing air filters since they were available and because I get the most horsepower out of them. Filtration is good enough for my motor to run in its current power level for over 8 years.