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Sport air filter tuning
Sports air filters - Tuning, TÜV and Co.
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Sport air filter tuning
Sports air filters - Tuning, TÜV and Co.
Changing the air filter is usually one of the first things you do when tuning. Here you can find out how it works, why we use sports air filters in tuning, what you need to know about registration and more.
CONTENT
- 1. What is a (sports) air filter and how does it work?
- 2. Which air filters are available and what are they made of?
- 3. Does air filter tuning make sense?
- 4. Advantages and disadvantages of a sports air filter at a glance
- 5. Change the air filter
- 7. Sport air filters and TÜV
- 8. Do you need more information about the filters?
- 6. Sports air filters - These are the best brands
What is a (sports) air filter and how does it work?
The air filter is part of the intake system and ensures that the intake air arrives cleanly in the combustion chamber. In the best case, it filters out everything that should not enter the engine: coarse dirt as well as fine dust particles. The more oxygen your engine gets, the more fuel it can burn and the more power it can deliver. Dirty intake air can reduce performance accordingly. This is because said dirt particles in the intake tract can lead to mechanical wear of individual engine parts. The dirty air behaves like sandpaper in the engine. If the air filter functions optimally, it also protects the turbocharger and other downstream components such as the mass air flow sensor from the unwanted foreign matter in turbocharged engines.
The sports air filter, often called a racing air filter, is not only supposed to be able to filter more air and thus increase performance. Tuning fans are particularly keen on the sporty sound, because the intake noises here differ significantly from the series.
Which air filters are available and what are they made of?
Standard air filters are very simply constructed and usually consist of fanned porous paper between two plastic covers. If you want to replace the stock filter, you can change it for a cotton air filter. These can be inserted into the existing filter box and are very easy to clean and reuse. Some cotton filters are soaked in oil, but this can damage the mass airflow sensor.
In addition to the normal replacement filters, there are also so-called open sports air filters. These are cone or drum shaped and are used directly in the intake tract, without a filter housing. Due to their construction they are much louder than the closed models and therefore have to pass the TÜV test first. In addition, due to the open design, coarser contaminants could reach the combustion chambers and cause severe damage there.
Does air filter tuning make sense?
The change to a sports air filter is one of the first measures we take when tuning. This allows the engine to breathe better. And the better it can breathe, the better it can run. This is due to the higher airflow, as mentioned above. But since the air is not exclusively cool and fresh ambient air, but also the hot air from the engine compartment, the oxygen content can drop at the same time. This is because hot air has a larger volume and lower oxygen content than cool air. And as the oxygen content drops, so does the power. That's why air filter tuning makes the most sense as part of a larger project where you also work on the other components of the intake system. Pay particular attention to optimal cooling.
1.8T Pipercross Airfilter
Articlenumber:
2118t305.1
More power
Higher air flow rate
Oil-free
Lifetime manufacturer warranty
Can be delivered in 5 to 8 days
Advantages and disadvantages of a sports air filter at a glance
Sound: If you like a sporty sound, you'll get it with an open sports air filter. Get ready for a growly, throaty sound! At the same time, the sound can also be a disadvantage if you don't pass the TÜV (the inspector decides individually).
Fuel consumption belongs rather to the disadvantages because the fuel consumption increases slightly with the use of a sporty filter. This happens because the engine ignites only at a certain oxygen-fuel ratio. So with more oxygen, it also needs more fuel. But that turns out to be so small that you'll hardly notice it. Besides, the likelihood is high that the performance increase is the top priority.
Performance: There are definitely two sides to increasing performance with sport air filters. While performance may increase simply because of the increased airflow, open filters also draw in warm air from the engine bay and the surrounding area. With warm air, the oxygen content drops again and this can actually cause the performance to drop. To get a performance increase from the sport air filter, you should therefore tune the intake system as a whole and at least provide adequate cooling of the air. If you do this, you will also benefit from better throttle response.
Change the air filter
If your air filter is clogged or extremely dirty, you will usually notice this by the fact that the performance decreases and the fuel consumption increases, rarely you will even have difficulties starting the car. Then you also have to change the standard air filter. If you want to upgrade to a sports air filter, you don't have to wait for the drop in performance. You can go straight to tuning. This way you install a new filter that is not open:
- You don't need much knowledge or tools to change the filter, you just need to know the position of your air filter housing.
- Now open the cover by levering the corresponding clips and loosening the screws.
- Replace the old filter with the new one and screw the cover back on.
If you want to use an open filter, you have to remove the filter housing completely and then mount the open filter directly on the intake hose. You may need a little more knowledge or assistance for this.
Sports air filters - These are the best brands
In our shop you can buy sports air filters from these brands in particular:
- K&N: Are absolute classics on the market. However, they often come with filter oil.
- Pipercross: Don't have that oil that can contaminate the mass air sensor.
- BAR-TEK®: Our in-house RACE sport air filters are primarily for the race track and extreme performance enhancement. Mega performance even in the upper rev range!
Sport air filters and TÜV
The replacement air filters made of cotton usually do not have to be approved by the TÜV. The situation is different with open sports air filters. Here it needs individual acceptance by the TÜV. If the sound is too intense, i.e. the noise emissions are too high, the operating permit may expire. Therefore, make sure that you have filters with a parts certificate or get good advice before installation.
Do you need more information about the filters?
You can reach us via our chat if you have any questions about the filters. Please also have a look at the FAQs.
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His first car was a Polo Mk1 with a 40 Weber twin carburetor and 129 PS (95 kW). His second was an Audi 50. Today Bartek tunes Lamborghinis to 1000 PS (735 kW). Even as a young boy, Bartek disassembled vehicles and put everything back together better. He wrote his high school diploma with oil on his fingers. The trained automotive mechanic with a focus on engines and gearboxes was determined to go into motorsports. In his 10 years in Formal 1, he supervised 73 races, including as engine mechanic for Ralf Schumacher at Toyota. Since 2010, he has dedicated himself fully to his company BAR-TEK® and helps his customers to bring VW and Audi engines to peak performance.
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