Pod Filters/Aftermarket Filters Review

[Makaveli]

http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/filters_test/2/

Quite interesting. No surprises though.

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Interesting read. This one is even more eye-opening:

http://australianauto.com.au/html/downl ... %20Out.pdf

[Makaveli]

I am bit skeptical about the results of that 3A filter. I mean some other filters were made from the same material (cotton) and of similar construction (probably even same factory in China/Taiwan etc). So I am surprised by the variation in results.

In saying that though, all those filter kits probably have a negative result in the real world ie: hot engine bay.

Unless you make some sort of plastic/carbon fiber induction box to keep the engine heat out & draw fresh cold air from outside the car somehow using some sort of ducting.

I run a TRD panel filter in the standard air box, I would like to think that's the best upgrade for a factory engine.

[Kiwi-Corolla]

I am bit skeptical about the results of that 3A filter. I mean some other filters were made from the same material (cotton) and of similar construction (probably even same factory in China/Taiwan etc). So I am surprised by the variation in results.

In saying that though, all those filter kits probably have a negative result in the real world ie: hot engine bay.

Unless you make some sort of plastic/carbon fiber induction box to keep the engine heat out & draw fresh cold air from outside the car somehow using some sort of ducting.

I run a TRD panel filter in the standard air box, I would like to think that's the best upgrade for a factory engine.

I'm a bit skeptical about the results too, mainly because the 3A Racing filter appears to be identical to the Simota filter (it even shares a very similar product code), however I'm currently in the process of getting a mate to ship one over from Australia so I can see for myself.

I made a custom cold air intake for my Corolla (alloy piping actually leading from the throttle body to just behind the front bumper, not just ducting leading to a filter etc) so heat soak isn't an issue for me luckily.

Doing what you did by installing a high flow panel filter into the stock air box is a good option but the intake snorkel is the weak link in the chain as they're often a very restrictive shape and don't ingest anywhere near as much air as what you'd get from drawing air from elsewhere (just as behind the front bumper). Using ducting from the air box to the bumper is a solution, but unless you used alloy pipe or something equally as smooth inside then flexible corrugated ducting would create turbulence (although it would probably be negligible unless you dyno'ed it).

[Snaps]

The problem with both of those test, is that they don't tell you any of the statistics behind them, were the tests conducted once? Twice? 1000 times?

To get definitive ("confident") results you need to repeat the test much more than just once, then perform a full statistical analysis before you can judge a true winner.

Neither of those test inspire much confidence from where I'm sitting, but for some reason I still lean to the Apexi filter being the best - though once again, I have no conclusive evidence toward that...

[Al]

The '90s called and wants its tech article back.

[cat007]

The '90s called and wants its tech article back.

+1

[Quint]

Needed to test a sock as a bench mark imo.

[cat007]

Needed to test a sock as a bench mark imo.

Would laugh it a sock did better than one of the others