High flow air filters

Messages
342
Hi guys, I'm sure this has been beaten to death before my time on this forum but please bear with me: what is the consensus on this forum about using an oiled air filter versus the factory paper filter on our cars? some years ago I've read on the Audi forum I was part of that micro oil particles from such filters tend to cling to the thin wire in the MAF sensor and render it unreliable. Solution was to rub the wire with alcohol and hope you won't break it. I've read a post about cleaning the MAF sensor on the Maserati and it seems to be different from the wire on the Audi. But first things first, does it indeed make a difference from what you have experienced?

The Trofeo version of the 4200 used a K&N cone style filter. I mimicked that setup but used their oil free filter, as I’d read that was better for the MAF sensor.
Pretty sure I have a post on here somewhere covering the parts but the key part to know is the K&N part number is RU-3105HBK

Here’s the Trofeo intake drawing copied from Eurospares

IMG_4642.jpg



——-\|/——-
2004 CC “Siluro” the Italian Torpedo
2011 Audi A4 “mafia mobile”
 
Messages
342
Can confirm this setup works flawlessly - have had it out for multiple track days. Slight increase in intake-related engine noise, but my partial Larini exhaust promptly drowns that out.
Just need a few bits of silicone intake hose, a joiner, and some hose clamps, and Bob's your father's brother.
 

Mr S

Member
Messages
821
Will be a winter mod for me for sure. I want to clean my air filter, so imagine my airbox will disintegrate as soon as i touch it.
 

Enz0

Member
Messages
108
The Trofeo version of the 4200 used a K&N cone style filter. I mimicked that setup but used their oil free filter, as I’d read that was better for the MAF sensor.
Pretty sure I have a post on here somewhere covering the parts but the key part to know is the K&N part number is RU-3105HBK

Here’s the Trofeo intake drawing copied from Eurospares

View attachment 93715



——-\|/——-
2004 CC “Siluro” the Italian Torpedo
2011 Audi A4 “mafia mobile”
In my opinion, the primary purpose of the revised intake is to get rid of the air cleaner case and make room for the brake ducts.
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
In my opinion, the primary purpose of the revised intake is to get rid of the air cleaner case and make room for the brake ducts.

There are a number of advantages for getting rid of the box..
OEM filter box hangs low, and they are continually getting smashed on the floor...so leak water, stresses the intake ducts (which leads to CELs)..stresses the mounts and they fail to fit...
They are a pain to service...(fiddly and once destroyed because (see above), a pain to open, close and service )
They hang too low and gulp water, leading to hydrolocking...
The filters arent washable.
Heavy.
Restrictive.
I just serviced my pod filter yesterday..20 mins,( I had the wheels off to wash them before winterising the car anyway) incl washing the precharger. Its a no brainer..

That brake duct appears to circumvent the oil tank as it looks like it fits the other side of the car ? Or did they just throw out the oil tank too...?
 
Last edited:

Enz0

Member
Messages
108
I agree that the design of the 4200's airbox is bad, especially compared to that of the 3200.

Usually, having a well-designed airbox is good for performance as intake air temperature will be lower than a bare air filter.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
It is well documented, the efforts made by Ferrari to stifle the performance of the V8 to make it look better in their own range. The 4200 air box being just one example.
 

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
Can confirm this setup works flawlessly - have had it out for multiple track days. Slight increase in intake-related engine noise, but my partial Larini exhaust promptly drowns that out.
Just need a few bits of silicone intake hose, a joiner, and some hose clamps, and Bob's your father's brother.

Sounds a good idea - do you have a photo of the setup for a bit of a visual guide at all?
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Can you cite your source...?

many members on here and numerous independent centres; the 3200 being timed one tooth out on one bank for example, the 4200 throttle body and MAF having a clear passage of 6.300 mm2 and the opening of the air box being 2,800 mm2 at the point of the ‘rain deflector’ Hmmm… Oh and let’s put it in the area of the bumper that has the most deflected air!
 

Enz0

Member
Messages
108
It's getting like a conspiracy theory, isn't it?

4200's intake and exhaust are poorly designed, but Quattroporte 5's are much better. I assume that the development time for 4200 was too short to squeeze a big V8 in 3200's engine bay, which is the cause of poor design.
 
Messages
342
Sounds a good idea - do you have a photo of the setup for a bit of a visual guide at all?

ecddef81614741d452de1ecebb8e8dd1.jpg

Fairl
3907004d8474bea70ad24cc0894d1593.jpg
Fairly straightforward. Lower picture shows filter, silicone hose, and joiner, all attached together. This assembly is then attached to the mass air flow sensor through the same access hole in the wing. If it’s wobbly, tie it off with a long zip tie.
Upper picture shows the final installation completed.



——-\|/——-
2004 CC “Siluro” the Italian Torpedo
2011 Audi A4 “mafia mobile”
 

Mr S

Member
Messages
821
ecddef81614741d452de1ecebb8e8dd1.jpg

Fairl
3907004d8474bea70ad24cc0894d1593.jpg
Fairly straightforward. Lower picture shows filter, silicone hose, and joiner, all attached together. This assembly is then attached to the mass air flow sensor through the same access hole in the wing. If it’s wobbly, tie it off with a long zip tie.
Upper picture shows the final installation completed.



——-\|/——-
2004 CC “Siluro” the Italian Torpedo
2011 Audi A4 “mafia mobile”
Do you have an engine bay shot also?
 
Messages
342
768cda7db557f949a8a5f7e2cdcfb642.jpg

Photo showing MAF intake on left, standing over the driver side (US) of the car. Looking down the access panel area where the intake comes from, you can just make out the first hose clamp for the silicone hose setup. This connects exactly where the old air box formerly.
Let me know if you want to chat about it live, we can FaceTime through it.



——-\|/——-
2004 Maserati Coupe “Siluro” the Italian Torpedo
1979 MB 450SL “Greta”
2016 BMW x435i “Der Sonnenmaschine”
2022 Ford Mach-e “Macchiato”