VW 2.0T K&N Air Filter @ 43k Miles

[The Critic]

Friend w/ the '07 GTI was visiting and told me that he recently had a 40k service done on his car. After looking at his invoice, he actually did not have a full 40k service performed-- he only had the oil and filter change performed. So, I decided to help him out by replacing both his engine and cabin air filters for him.

I'll create a separate thread on this later, but replacing an air filter on a VW 2.0T FSI is quite a PITA. So, it often gets overlooked since dealer techs and quick lubes do not check the filter during routine oil changes.

This is a K&N filter from the vehicle. My friend installed this shortly after he bought the car new, and I assume it has not been touched since installation. The filter is about 3 years out and has ~43k miles on it, and has been used in OC for all of its life.

The filter media is originally red/purple, not it is as dark as wet pavement!

I replaced the K&N with a $20 NAPA Gold air filter that looks very similar to a new OE filter. The K&N has been set aside for now.

 

[Audi Junkie]

I wouldn't run anything but paper in a DI engine, especially this one.


They are a pita to change on FSI. TSI is really simple, and there was a restrictor/diffuser I popped out....

 

[JHZR2]

Looks a lot like out 2.5 air filter. To do that we need to remove the engine cover, but it is fairly easy besides that.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Looks a lot like out 2.5 air filter. To do that we need to remove the engine cover, but it is fairly easy besides that.

It isn't that easy to line up the door to the filter, as you have noticed. Also, once the cover ages and goes through enough heat cycles, it becomes brittle.

 

[fj610]

The filter media isn't red/purple, thats the colour of the filter oil. I can see white sections on your friends filter, so those spots are dry and there is a good chance dust went through the filter since there is no oil to catch the particles.

 

[cryption]

Plugs are a good idea too

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I wouldn't run anything but paper in a DI engine, especially this one.


They are a pita to change on FSI. TSI is really simple, and there was a restrictor/diffuser I popped out....

Audi, could you tell a difference after popping out the restrictor/diffuser?

 

[crw]

I stopped using K&N after I noticed that my engine oil was getting much dirtier when I used them.

 

[SLCraig]

That looks pretty decent considering 3 years.
I replace my air filter every year.

 

[Virtuoso]

IIRC K&N says the oils may loose their color after time, but the filter should still be "effective"..heh

 

[CBR.worm]

I think more problems arise from over oiling than underoiling. And the dirt absorbs the oil and can make the filter look dry after a while. When I used K&N I would put just enough oil on to make the media pink, not dripping red.

 

[bigmike]

I think that filter looks pretty bad for 43k miles. I've never had a K&N that filthy in 40k miles.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: cryption
Plugs are a good idea too

I'll be doing the plugs and cam follower the next time he is in town.