vararam letting dust past through
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 24
From: Austin TX
vararam letting dust past through
I decided to check my filter tonight on the vararam, pulled it out and it looked fine. It could probably use a cleaning but nothing urgent. In the process my maf came out of the top part so I took them both off the car to reconnect them.
The upper part of the vararam had dust on the inside in back (toward the engine). It was all the way up to the MAF. The filter showed no signs of dirt passing through or around it so I'm not sure how its getting in there.
I'm thinking about either a K&N or paper filter for the street and keep this foam one for the track.
Any thoughts?
Eric
The upper part of the vararam had dust on the inside in back (toward the engine). It was all the way up to the MAF. The filter showed no signs of dirt passing through or around it so I'm not sure how its getting in there.
I'm thinking about either a K&N or paper filter for the street and keep this foam one for the track.
Any thoughts?
Eric
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Re: vararam letting dust past through (66ImpalaLT1)
I have long been suspicious of the Vararam filtering capability, especially after some of the comments about a "noticable decline in performance" when the K&N is put in instead. I really believe that someone should do an oil analysis with one of these things in place to see how much is getting through the filter. This is the main reason I have stuck with my Donalson, and the oil analysis on the Donaldson has come back terrific so it is indeed doing it's job of filtering.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,292
Likes: 0
From: Md
Re: vararam letting dust past through (66ImpalaLT1)
I noticed when I changed my filter (Patrick made one and overnighted it to me at no cost-just unbelievable service he provides), that the back of the part that fits over the filter doesn't fit all the way down over the filter. We have had more rain than dust here on the east coast, so maybe that's why I didn't see any dust. But I usually have to take the airbridge off to be able to pull the top off so I can get to the filter to clean it. Does yours fit all the way down in the back over the filter?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk, Long Island NY
Re: vararam letting dust past through (Dope)
What did you expect? That foam vararam filter is basically 'race only'. Were you running it for daily driving?
Dope
Dope
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 24
From: Austin TX
Re: vararam letting dust past through (Z06 Quin)
I took it out tonight to clean it and found the problem. The edges are falling apart and I can see how air would pass around the foam. The glue isnt holding at all. I ordered a K&N.
Eric
Eric
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,580
Likes: 1
From: Shelbyville KY
Re: vararam letting dust past through (66ImpalaLT1)
Good move, Eric. I ordered one of the K&N's from Patrick almost immediately after seeing the foam filter. I've had the K&N in from day one, and have been very satisfied with it. Peace of mind is worth the 5 HP or so.
I don't see how the foam filter keeps out anything smaller than a marble, figuratively speaking. ;) Lay the foam down on a newspaper, and you can dang near read the print. :crazy:
I don't see how the foam filter keeps out anything smaller than a marble, figuratively speaking. ;) Lay the foam down on a newspaper, and you can dang near read the print. :crazy:
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 2
From: Plano TX
Re: vararam letting dust past through (AllCammedUp)
...I ordered one of the K&N's from Patrick almost immediately after seeing the foam filter. I've had the K&N in from day one, and have been very satisfied with it. Peace of mind is worth the 5 HP or so.
I don't see how the foam filter keeps out anything smaller than a marble, figuratively speaking. ;) Lay the foam down on a newspaper, and you can dang near read the print. :crazy:
I don't see how the foam filter keeps out anything smaller than a marble, figuratively speaking. ;) Lay the foam down on a newspaper, and you can dang near read the print. :crazy:
With the foam filter, I suspect oiling is critical.
[Modified by TooManyIDs, 7:25 AM 8/5/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 7
From: Woodbridge Ontario
Re: vararam letting dust past through (chukzukisilver99)
K&N for Vararam: Part# 33-2522
The race filter should be used for just that. Racing.
K&N for the street, where 5HP not going to make a diff.
The race filter should be used for just that. Racing.
K&N for the street, where 5HP not going to make a diff.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
Re: vararam letting dust past through (66ImpalaLT1)
Silly question...but..
Did you oil the filter good before you installed it?
I used the K&N spray oil on mine. I sprayed the air inlet side of the filter only. I covered it real good. Then I pressed an old rag on it to blot up the excess. I can see dirt having a better chance of getting through that than my K&N's..
The oil is what makes the dirt and dust stick....It has to be there.
Did you oil the filter good before you installed it?
I used the K&N spray oil on mine. I sprayed the air inlet side of the filter only. I covered it real good. Then I pressed an old rag on it to blot up the excess. I can see dirt having a better chance of getting through that than my K&N's..
The oil is what makes the dirt and dust stick....It has to be there.