Hey guys im still trying to work out what is the best option,

A Panel or a Pod Airfilter.

Can you please leave your opinion and experiences with either and Advantages AND disadvantages of both options.

this is just so it can help make up my mind :)

Thanks
Matty

P.S. if you vote, PLEASE leave a comment

Im not going to even vote , look your new you so you can be forgiven for never having used a internet forum before but there is like 5 threads all about this just search next time :lol:

Anyway the jury is in and the Panel is better for power and not ruining your good NVH level's the Pod if for people who like heaps of engine noise in the cabin and who dont mind loosing power to get it.

Also the Panel is about $110 where as the Pod will set you back $270 or somthing stupid , well last time i checked RPW quoted me $270 plus shipping.

so in reality the option is up to you ask yourself this then get your answer.

A. Yes i just want a reusable air filter and maybe a bit more power, Then its the Panel filter.

B. No i want to spend a whole lot of money get more engine noise and loose power and risk being defected.

yes this topic has been beaten to death now... but no worries, u can find ppl's opinions in the older threads

i have still yet to get my panel filter... but i 100% agree with widow... a panel is much easier to fit, costs less and will not void the warranty (which is important for me).

according to some previous posts i read on this forum, the panel filter and the pod will give different power gains for ur car. the panel tends to increase bottom end response, while the pod will give better middle/top end power.

if u want to get the pod, u will have to install some sort of CAI (cold air intake), i.e. some sort of piping to direct COLD air to the pod, or else what u get is nothing but hot air from the engine's heat . a BIG NONO. there are 2 ways i can think of to achieve this:

1. u can run some piping from the vents of ur bumper (where the fog lights go). However this may be a hassle when it comes to installation

2. u can fit the pod at the bumper. However, u may get more dust build up. And when it rains, water may get into the pod and create serious problems

the pod is also known to give a deeper induction note. it all depends on wat u want to gain out of getting an aftermarket filter really... oops.... sorry to go on and on and on...... :p

POD = Lots of noise (nice growl) - Loss of low end power, gain of high end power.
Panel = Overall better perfomance (Only a little though)

Well I can only speak from both experience from fitting both systems as well as reports back from custoimers.

I have always personally found the specific pod filter increases power across teh range more than a replacement panel filter.

This is teh reason why I fit at leat 5 pods a week to mitsubshi vehicles V maybe 1 panel fitler a month.

It comes down to preferences - but no one has complained about the pod filter back to us and it is better for future mods as it will continue to improve performance.

David Thomas
www.rpw.com.au

It comes down to preferences

David Thomas
www.rpw.com.au

Exactly , that's why i say you have to ask yourself and get your own answer. But there is one question i want an answer to when ive seen Race Prepped magna's why when they have tuned the engine left the stock intake with a better Panel filter when it was within the rules you could change the intake ?

It'd be really useful if we had a dyno comparison here.

Alrite the pod does cost more and you lose a little bit of power down low. However you do get greater power higher up and its better when you start doing further mods too ur car. Also the pod can be cleaned and used for a longer time than the panel (dont think you can reuse a panel)

The panel filter does give bit of a power increase down low but minimal if not non existant higher up.

However im pretty sure that a pod vs panel test would show that the average power gain over the whole rev range would be higher in a pod.

But yeah like I said. Best way to compare is with a dyno test.

just one other thing. The rules for pods are just that they have to be enclosed. So nothing stopping you putting a shield around the filter.

It'd be really useful if we had a dyno comparison here.
Also the pod can be cleaned and used for a longer time than the panel (dont think you can reuse a panel)



Great idea lets get 1 car put a panel filter on it and do a dyno run and then pod a pod on the car and do a run with the bonnet closed.

And why cant you reuse Panel filters ?

[quote:296dc91b9d="GaMiSou"]It'd be really useful if we had a dyno comparison here.
Also the pod can be cleaned and used for a longer time than the panel (dont think you can reuse a panel)



Great idea lets get 1 car put a panel filter on it and do a dyno run and then pod a pod on the car and do a run with the bonnet closed.

And why cant you reuse Panel filters ?[/quote:296dc91b9d]

If some one wants to donate a K&N Panel and a Pod I am sure I can try them both for you all!!

Manual

widowmaker - nah i just wasnt sure if you can reuse it. RPW should do a comparison. Well i'd donate my pod but im in melb.

If someone gives me a panel filter... maybe I'll do the comparison.... :D

Yeah, ide love to so an independent dyno test before i purchase:)

I mean, the results could be biased if RPW do it, as to what earns them more $$$..

But please dont take offence david, you guys are after all in the business to make money. (Speaking of which, ill be getting some race design extractors off u guys shortly hehe :))


Matty

i love my pod, after replacing my high performance Panel filter that i killed, ive noticed better noise and abit more pickup after 3k revs

thats without cold air, gotta do that next week :D

It makes no difference to me if people buy a pod or panel because I do sell both.

I did a test ages ago on a magna which had extractors and exhaust already fitted to it.

We did a comparison between stock K&N panel filter V Pod filter MAS sensositive and on that dyn we gained 5hp at the front wheels for the filter change.

At the end of the day this figure could be higher than a car without any mods but as you all know, the idea is to do modifications that are sensitive to future mods as well as local mods as well.

David Thomas
www.rpw.com.au

David just out of interest when you did the dyno test did you do it with the bonnet closed and no fan blowing on the are filter ? thus replicating actual driving conditions ?

David just out of interest when you did the dyno test did you do it with the bonnet closed and no fan blowing on the are filter ? thus replicating actual driving conditions ?

The bonnet should be closed with teh fan blowing through the front of the car - throught the grill etc - this is how all the dyno runs were done on Sunday for MOGWA.

Manual

[quote=Widowmaker]
The bonnet should be closed with teh fan blowing through the front of the car - throught the grill etc - this is how all the dyno runs were done on Sunday for MOGWA.

Manual

Correct .... if you just leave the bonnet open and the fan is blowing cold air upon the air filter its gonna read heaps higher then it is actually going to ever on the road

And on this - the two VR-X's one had a pd/extractors/muffler change - and the difference between the stock on and the modded one was .7 of a kw!!!

Manual

Did they have the same transmission?

Did they have the same transmission?

Both were 5 spd tiptronic and both were 2002 models with 10k on each of the clocks - give or take 1k!!

Manual

The extractors made no difference? That's a bit disappointing :(

I guess it can only come in to its own with a re-tune.. ?

The extractors made no difference? That's a bit disappointing :(

I guess it can only come in to its own with a re-tune.. ?

It depends on how well the extractor's are designed and built and it depends on other mods to the car that might take power away !

The extractors were pacemaker - if anyone was swaying that way!!

and the car was running exceptionally rich - but so was the other VR-X

also - Black VR-X questioned mitsu as to his outcome and what not and they are saying the the air sensor is very fragile and hitting a speed bump too hard can break it - well maybe that is why the VR-X's were lower in power - but i still reckon it is the same engine same air sensor!!

Manual

It depends on how well the extractor's are designed and built and it depends on other mods to the car that might take power away !

You just won't give up about those pods will you? ;)

[quote:962400bfa9="Widowmaker"]

It depends on how well the extractor's are designed and built and it depends on other mods to the car that might take power away !

You just won't give up about those pods will you? ;)[/quote:962400bfa9]

what are you on about :p