I have been ‘umming’ and ‘arring’ whether to do it or not, but got myself a K&N air filter and fitted it today. I’ve done this on many cars before, never had any issues, and like the fact it doesn’t need swapping every 12 months, just clean and re oil every few years.
I have read on forums about how they make no difference to power, and are worse than the OEM ones for filtering out dust etc., so I had my concerns, but then I spotted that the optional GR performance filter offered in the US appears to be the K&N filter, just rebranded. I thought to myself surely if Toyota are selling these as an option, there must be some benefit? So I bit the bullet and ordered one.
It arrived today, so I fitted it in my lunch break while at work (as I get to park my car inside, and could do it while it was pouring down outside).
This has got to be the most easiest air filter swap I’ve ever done, the position of the air filter couldn’t be in a better place to get to, and it really took less than 5 mins to do. The new filter fitted perfectly, it was exactly the right size and wasn’t a fight to get it to fit.
I started the car, no warning lights, no difference when revving it, all the same. Good news, I haven’t broken anything by doing it.
Time to drive home, start the car, sounds the same on cold start. Drive home, 20 miles, first half in traffic, second half nice country lanes. Could I feel a difference? Maybe slightly, probably all in my head though. Oh well, money not wasted as filter won’t need changing annually, was hoping for at least a difference in engine sound, but never mind.
1 hour later, head out with my wife to a restaurant (been emailed a 40% off voucher, and can’t resist a bargain meal at one of our favourite local restaurants).
I start my car while my wife locks the house. “Your car sounds louder than normal” she says. Must be because it’s still warm from earlier. Head down the road, definitely feel a difference now, and so does my wife, so it’s not just in my head! Seems to be more responsive and faster revving. Get onto a dual carriage way, and it my foot down. Even in 6th I can feel it pulls harder from 50mph.
I wasn’t expecting such a difference, but it’s definitely there, not huge, but noticeable. It wasn’t like that on my first journey, so I wonder if the ECU learns that it’s getting more air into the engine?
Also, just to add, it maybe just because of the combination of the K&N with my Milltek exhaust, as it’s never happened before, but I managed to set off the car alarms of the two SUVs that had targeted my car to park either side of, with the ‘cold start’ as I left the carpark!
