has anyone put bmc air filters in their car? similar to kn filters, they allow less air restriction and is reuseable...did it make any difference? does the oil interfere with its mass air sensor?

kn filters do not make an oem for bentleys...only bmc

i have kn filters in all my other vehicles and was also wondering if i would be able to clean and reoil bmc filters with kn cleaner/oil

i figure the oem filters and bmc are approx the same price so why not buy bmc and be able to clean/reoil instead of buying new sets

thanks in advance

 

i know there are a variety of opinions about such engine filters and my experience is this... Used oil analysis showed elevated levels of contamination when i used the K&N versus the factory paper filter on a Ferrari. Due to tracking the car quite a bit, used oil analysis were done on a regular basis on that vehicle to keep tabs on engine wear/etc. As for provable power gains... perhaps yet is it 'worth it' to send contaminants through your engine? If you are racing and the engine only needs to last a race or three between rebuilds, sure. If this is a street vehicle... you're call. i don't for my street vehicle. i did for the race car pictured below in my signature.

 

thanks for the response. .that's what i thought about the oil but I've read on other forums where people swore by bmc vs k&n and didn't know why.. .esp on porsches

 

Well, there MIGHT be power gains with the foam filters along the lines of a mere 1% to perhaps 3% (if the stock system is designed properly to begin with). Nowadays manufacturers know how to design intake systems. Exhaust systems on street vehicles, on the other hand, are riddled by emissions and of course manufacturer do program their engine management systems to be on the 'safe' side.

Anywho... for racing sure a 3% is HUGE per se for just changing an air filter yet for a street vehicle in exchange for additional contaminents... no thanks.

 

I have seen several testimonials advocating changing the exhaust and ECU to gain performance but I have seen very little talk about the intake of the motors. In an effort to move more air and fuel through the motor I would expect to see the intake addressed as well. Do you all think the stock air filters/intake can accommodate the more open exhaust and ECU changes?

 

Have seen no data if the intake is a limiting factor, though somehow i doubt it as obviously others are getting MAJOR gains via increasing the turbo.

 

I know i don't have to explain the internal combustion engine to you as an air pump.

By this we must assume that the intake has more capacity to allow high flow volumes than it does in the stock configuration.?

On my Harleys when we changed the exhaust flow(increase) and remapped the ecu we had to install a high performance more free flowing air filter.

 

What is a combustion engine? Is that like a Wankel?

Ok, seriously, if guys are easily getting 100+ HP/TQ boost in power while the stock intake is left alone... but of course if you REALLY want ALL the power you can get from a combustion engine than yes intake/exhaust/etc needs to be optomized. Am sure you know that optomization/tuning is better than just throwing bigger or more free flowing things on an engine.

Am curious... Just how much power do you really want from the W12 6 liter engine? At what point are you willing to sacrifice the engine's lifespan for gains in power? Sure, mod the intake and exhaust and everything you can if you are seeking the very last bits of power, yet i'd hate to know what a new engine or rebuild costs. Honestly, just changing the intake to gain a mere ~2% while allowing contaminents in the engine is not my preference for a STREET car. Is 650HP and 600TQ not enough?

(Friendly humor) Have you considered a 1000 HP Bugatti?

Of course the above are just my opinions, as would love to know the limits of the tranny before it implodes from too much power. So far i have never seen anyone say exactly what the strength of the tranny is and the durablity-to-power ratio.

 

(Friendly humor) Have you considered a 1000 HP Bugatti?

Yes I need three more dollars and I'll have enough to buy one.

To be honest I would never NEED more power but that does not mean I will never do a simple pipe and tune especially if i was convinced it would not harm the long term reliability. Mostly just yacking on the site wasting your time.

 

Tune away and have fun... provided you accept both the wanted and possible unwanted outcome. Me? i'm always willing to enjoy watching others get the most they can out of a car.

Sorry if i sound like a wet blanket about those filters, just that i have laboratory proof they increase pollutants contaminating your system.


(Humor) But hey, it is not my engine at risk here so got for it


Still, we do have 'scientific' (dyno) proof tuners are getting impressive power increases without the need for those engine air filters. This is why my feeling are strongly against using such things.


Your engine, your wallet, your call.

And by all means yak away, as maybe this thread will help others who are considering such air filters yet want to know the real pros and cons.

 

Ok so we have objective evidence to keep the stock filters, good to have one variable understood.

Now what negative effects do occur with the pipes and ecu tune? We have some board sponsors that advocate and perform these services they should know if there are risks to the cars wouldn't they?

Steven would you have any objective findings to tell us about regarding risks too longevity?

 

So we went from foam/oil air filters where we have lab proof of damage to now the modders? You may want to ask your questions to the modification companies via a new thread. Am sure they can chime in, include info on their warrantee, etc.

Frankly, i'd love to see someone truly 'torture test' the W12 and see just how far the eninge can be stressed, what breaks when it does implode, and of course the tranny and where the limitations may be on that system. So yes, please start a new thread so the modders can post their data.

 

Yes the new questions were quite an evolution of the thread I realized that. Since it's just you and me listening here I dare say no one doing the mods would like to say much in the negative. So be it I rest.

 

Others are reading, too ;-)
Honestly, you can be sure if the intake was a bottleneck, there would be many companies offering expensive full carbon intakes with golden screws and whatever...
Personally, i prefer the stock paper filters over the K&N and others. Why? Quite simple: therw ill always be a very slight oil spray coming from them. Maybe invisible, but enough to mess up the MAF sensors some day.
And bad MAF sensors are tricky. The throw no error codes. You just loose some power over the time. You wont even feel the power going, because its a long, slow process. Finally, the fuel consumption will go up some day.
And you wont find the problem until somebody logs the MAF readings and knows how they should be...
And when you finally put in new MAF sensors, you suddenly feel the bump and know what you were missing.
That need not happen, but it may and it did before. Especially after you woash the filters and apply new oil. MOst people probably use simply too much or dont apply it correct.

 

Montyfd, thanks for chiming in and adding info. Much appreciated and a good warning to those who oil their foam air filters too much and then have problems with their car.