Added power with new air filter!

nene
Senior Member

Posts: 354

Added power with new air filter! Feb 19, 2002 16:31:19 GMT -5

Post by nene on Feb 19, 2002 16:31:19 GMT -5

So, I had a Starbucks mini-GTG with Ivan today, as we usually do daily, and decided to bring up a point that was on the back of my mind. Here is an excerpt of our conversation.

Back in October, I had decided to change my engine oil to Mobil1 0W-40 from 5W-30. About a week or two later, I had noticed that my engine felt a bit restricted. It definitely felt that it was not performing as usual.
Being stupid as I normally am, decided to test and see if Clair really put the oil there as requested. Went to Pass&Weisz in Burlington with my own Mobil1 0W-40. Car felt exactly the same, and it's been running like that about 75-80% of the time. Some days actually seemed better then others.

I got Clair to do my 30K mile maintenance service about a week ago, and put in Mobil1 5W-30 engine oil. Car has been running very smooth since then. I thought I was going crazy, on top of being stupid. How could the oil change make it that it would perform better?

Fast forward to today, and while talking to Ivan, he told me that most likely it was the air filter change that really made the difference, and not the oil. Now I figure that it's just me being stupid, but not yet crazy!

It seems that Audi only replaces the air filter every 20K miles. So to check, I called Clair, and even though my paperwork did not mention it, they did change the air filter on it. So, now that explains it.

I wish I had posted the question to Ivan earlier, because I would have had it taken care of much earlier. I'm thinking about keeping some new air filters at home to do my own change in case I feel it is necessary! I do it to my AC/Heat home system, so I should be able to do it to my vehicle.
It never really crossed my mind, that the air filter needed to be changed. Duh!!!

CrazyINP
moderator

Posts: 303

Added power with new air filter! Feb 19, 2002 16:59:24 GMT -5

Post by CrazyINP on Feb 19, 2002 16:59:24 GMT -5

Like i told you before i think this is the reason,
The same you can fill more power if you replace the stock with some aftermarket cone air kit..... but here is the important part you need to have good heat shield other ways the intake will breath a lot of hot air from the engine bay...

and believe me you will feel the performance only when the car is cold..... Because of the turbo you and all 1.8T onwer have hoter air in the engine bay then the 2.8 owners...

I hear so many coments about Air intake and just the performance Air firter like ABT K&N and many more.... But if i don't try i will never beleive of what i read.....

For one thing i am more than 100% sure if you air filter is dirt your car will not perform good.....

-ivan

Last Edit: Feb 19, 2002 17:01:43 GMT -5 by CrazyINP

-Ivan Petrov&&A4 2.8 12V&&

kirath Administrator Audi 2.8q And don't forget it Posts: 1,152	Added power with new air filter! Feb 19, 2002 17:09:18 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by kirath on Feb 19, 2002 17:09:18 GMT -5 Thats why I was considering going with a Cone intake.. On my 2.8 it can make a difference since its on the side and not sucking in hot air. Something I am going to graph and look into!
	--------------------&&Kirath -Administrator-&&Audi A4 2.8

CrazyINP moderator Posts: 303	Added power with new air filter! Feb 19, 2002 18:28:51 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by CrazyINP on Feb 19, 2002 18:28:51 GMT -5 Yep, I have whole parts to make custom one, but is still don't find time to done it..... -ivan
	-Ivan Petrov&&A4 2.8 12V&&

S4toR8Wish
Full Member

Posts: 158

Added power with new air filter! Feb 20, 2002 21:34:52 GMT -5

Post by S4toR8Wish on Feb 20, 2002 21:34:52 GMT -5

I hear alot of things about the oil. Alot of folks say that we should be running 0W30 in the cold and maybe 0W40 during summer.

As usual, I forgot the rationale behind it. Farging oil. Now I need to buy a farging filter too ;D

~v^^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^~&&2001.5 Brilliant Black/Onyx S4&&6spd/cold/prem/Bose&&xr8tedS4

dotorg
Junior Member

Posts: 72

Added power with new air filter! Mar 1, 2002 7:02:44 GMT -5

Post by dotorg on Mar 1, 2002 7:02:44 GMT -5

nene said:

I got Clair to do my 30K mile maintenance service about a week ago, and put in Mobil1 5W-30 engine oil. Car has been running very smooth since then. I thought I was going crazy, on top of being stupid. How could the oil change make it that it would perform better?

If it was *really* dirty, then this could be the cause. I've always found, however, the car feels smoother and faster after an oil change.

Under normal circumstances, though, changing the air filter shouldn't be noticable, for the same reason that (at least on the 2.7t) intake upgrades are a waste of money -- Audi did a damn good job designing the intake system, and its fully capable of providing all the air the engine (even chipped) needs, without any significant restrictions. Thats why everyone who has done *real* testing hasn't found any performance benefit to any of the intake kits.

kirath
Administrator

Audi 2.8q And don't forget it

Posts: 1,152

Added power with new air filter! Mar 1, 2002 9:52:02 GMT -5

Post by kirath on Mar 1, 2002 9:52:02 GMT -5

Intake kits can make a difference. It matters on what sort of car you are dealing with..

On a NA car a less restrictive intake can make a noticable difference on the torque band. I have a kit sitting in my garage, I plan on doing data logging with the VAG to see what differences I get. But also, my intake is off to the side on my car, so I can get much cooler air then you can on a 1.8 or an S4... Less heat = cooler air= better response to the engine.. I will let you all know

--------------------&&Kirath -Administrator-&&Audi A4 2.8