Tuning Is this K&N kit okay for my 1.2?

[MistaB]

Hi guys/gals

Is this okay for the wee 1.2 or will it damage/ cause errors on the car?

http://www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=57-0655


Thanks

Mr B

 

[dave]

it will lose you power. you be better off with just replacement pannel filter

 

[sikersh]

K&N

 

[Mark Elvin]

what's up with K&N???

 

[dave]

what's up with K&N???

the panel filters are fine, the induction kits are all wrong

 

[Zakt]

they work just fine, but don't expect the power increases you'd see in the 1970s and 80s

 

[Captain Mike]

they work just fine, but don't expect the power increases you'd see in the 1970s and 80s

They sit on top of the throttle body sucking in hot air the filter itself isn't bad it's just the position in which it is mounted

 

[amen]

Try it for yourself! If you dont like it keep the oem box. My point is this, with the K&N you are constantly getting fresh air from the outside as the car is accelerating (keep the oem tube that is located behind the bumper). The box tends to heat up from the engine, keeping high temps enclosed and warming any cold air that is comming in of the oem intake.

 

[adamcot]

Try it for yourself! If you dont like it keep the oem box. My point is this, with the K&N you are constantly getting fresh air from the outside as the car is accelerating (keep the oem tube that is located behind the bumper). The box tends to heat up from the engine, keeping high temps enclosed and warming any cold air that is comming in of the oem intake.

So it wont be warm sat on top of the throttle body then? Least the plastic casing on the OE airbox will protect it from some heat. The "cold air feed" is like blowing on a fire through a straw. If your going to do the induction, do it properly.

 

[Captain Mike]

So it wont be warm sat on top of the throttle body then? Least the plastic casing on the OE airbox will protect it from some heat. The "cold air feed" is like blowing on a fire through a straw. If your going to do the induction, do it properly.

Yes plus the OEM box is a bigger plastic area so will not heat up as much as a small filter with metal casing.

 

[jnoiles]

So it wont be warm sat on top of the throttle body then? Least the plastic casing on the OE airbox will protect it from some heat. The "cold air feed" is like blowing on a fire through a straw. If your going to do the induction, do it properly.

Define properly?

 

[Captain Mike]

Define properly?

Silicone pipe sitting a bit away from all the heat with a good air flow I reckon.

 

[amen]

K&N kits attach a cone filter on the plastic hose just before the intake box. The filter does not sit on the throttle body!! Next hot summer day try this, stick a temp gauge (preferably one used for rc cars) inside your stock OEM box. and take a temp reading. Also measure the temp of the engine bay. You will be amazed at the difference in temps!

 

[adamcot]

K&N kits attach a cone filter on the plastic hose just before the intake box. The filter does not sit on the throttle body!! Next hot summer day try this, stick a temp gauge (preferably one used for rc cars) inside your stock OEM box. and take a temp reading. Also measure the temp of the engine bay. You will be amazed at the difference in temps!

So you put a filter on the end of the original pipe, without any thought for its positioning in the engine bay?

I dont have a stock induction system

 

[Captain Mike]

pics of this setup?

 

[Tellydj]

Has anyone fitted a straight replacement panel filter from K&N to their 1.2? Any improvement in throttle response/running/economy?

 

[306maxi]

You may get an incremenetal improvement in the above, but is it really going to make up for the fact that you've got the lowest powered model in the range? Sadly not. If you really want to make the 500 a quicker car to drive on a Sunday on some quiet roads then get some decent suspension and you won't need to brake so much for corners and the lack of power won't be such an issue

Then there is the can of worms of warranty issues, in theory if you chuck an aftermarket air filter in then the warranty on the engine is more or less null and void. Not that it would cause any issues or anything, but it would be a pain to have a problem and have Fiat say no just because of a filter.

 

[Tellydj]

Thanks for the reply.

I didn't buy my 1.2 for speed really as I traded a 1st Gen MINI Cooper S for it. I was after the mpg - the MINI was a delight to own and drive but petrol prices, running costs and other monthly outgoings meant the MINI had to go.

Interesting point about the replacement panel filter... I put one in my Cooper S when my MINI was about a month old. It was never an issue with MINI and any warranty work. Has that actually happened to someone then? They've fitted a filter that actually causes the car to be more efficient and that has invalidated the warranty? Seems crazy talk to me.

 

[306maxi]

Thanks for the reply.

I didn't buy my 1.2 for speed really as I traded a 1st Gen MINI Cooper S for it. I was after the mpg - the MINI was a delight to own and drive but petrol prices, running costs and other monthly outgoings meant the MINI had to go.

Interesting point about the replacement panel filter... I put one in my Cooper S when my MINI was about a month old. It was never an issue with MINI and any warranty work. Has that actually happened to someone then? They've fitted a filter that actually causes the car to be more efficient and that has invalidated the warranty? Seems crazy talk to me.

Just remember that a filter can give more power by being less restrictive and letting more crud through. Whether the K&N filter does this is a moot point as the warranty that all manufacturers lay out states that you will use parts which are either genuine or which conform to the same standards. Hence why if you supply oil at a service it doesn't need to be Selenia KPE 5w40, it can be any oil which meets the standards as laid out in the manual. Hence why to maintain full warranty you really should keep to genuine filters. Whether or not a dealer honours the warranty is completely up to their discretion.

The service manual says this

The warranty will not apply to any modification, additionm extension or alteraton to the original ex-factory specification of the vehicle whether or not such is approved or recommended by Fiat in respect to the following:

• Defects arising in the modification itself
• Defects which in the opinion of Fiat, were caused by the modification.

Now a faulty filter could cause issues with an engine right? How do Fiat know that the K&N filter is adequately filtering the intake air? They don't and the terms of the warranty would allow them to decline more or less any warranty claim in regards to the engine. Perhaps you'll have a sympathetic garage who doesn't blame the filter, but perhaps you'll have one which does. Personally I wouldn't take the risk and the only thing that I've changed on my car under warranty is putting some winter tyres on and changing the discs and pads myself for some better ones. I accept that Fiat could decline any warranty queries at the wheel side of the braking system and I accept the risk as it'll be cheap enough to resolve any issues with this.

 

[RUI]

That sounds like tin foil hat stuff to me.
Stick in the k and n filter and change it Back to standard before your car goes in for a service or any warranty work.

The abarth ss kit comes with a bmc filter so it should be ok.