Just thought I'd share this information with you:

 

Last May I had a full engine rebuild with new turbos, new air filter etc. (Due to some ring problems (not piles) I'm having to do another one). Anyway, whilst taking everything apart, I was quite shocked to see the damage apparent on the leading edge of the compressor wheels - This I can only attribute to the high RPM of the compressor wheel chopping into particles of dirt etc in the air line.

 

Now, as I say everything was as air tight as (insert simile here), and the only way foreign matter could get in is through the air filter as intended. So what could have caused this? Well.. thinking back to last year somebody posted a thread on here related to the performance issue of all the leading brands of after market filters for the Z, and I clearly remember the comment that the HKS had the worst filtration of the lot. At the time, I just poo-poo'ed this remark thinking "those holes are tiny" - but it turns out that the HKS lets particles through about a hundred times larger than say the K&N (with its oiled filter)!!

 

So not sure what filter to replace mine with, since after only 3500 miles in 11 months this damage is noticeable, I hate to think what it would be like in 5 years time.

 

Anyway, I'm going to have a look for that thread now, and see what filter came up top!

 

If you read this far, cheers :)

 

p.s. Might post a picture in a bit, if the macro mode of my digital camera is able to capture it..

Picture came out just fine:

Hello Mate,

 

I have to agree with you!

 

We had a HKS filter on the engine we pulled apart to rebuild!

 

The filter looked like it hadn't been changed for a while, but when we pulled the turbos out, the fins of the impellers had small dents in them where dust particles had hit them at 100.000+rpm they rotate at!

 

I must admit my one was worse than the one in your picture!

 

Mark

 

Macca I won't blame this one on Irridium plugs:D :D

I can quite believe it Mark! Like I say I'd done 3500 miles, of which the first thousand was under quite conservative conditions since I was running the engine in.

 

Have been having a look and the Apexi filter - looks pretty cool, and sounds like its got the best filtration on the market, but I have a open mind, so if anyone has a better suggestion that would be great.

 

Thanks again

Apexi ;)

 

 

According to that article which you refered to which said HKS had the worse filtration, the APEXi came out on top with the best filtration by far and the 2nd best power increase.

 

They look cool because they are cool. ;)

 

Stuart

well just to throw a spanner in the works lol, when i had my turbos of, after the turbo failure my impellor blades were in perfect nick? I had done god knows how many miles with HKS filter.?

 

(not saying your wrong as i actually agree with you) but i had no signs of any damage on impellors like that.

 

And before anyone says anything the turbo failure was due to oil starvation which resulted from the famoue Breather kit.

 

here is a link to read, makes for scary reading lol, think its time for a change lol.

 

http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/filters_test/2/index.html

Cheers Warren - that link was exactly the sort of thing I was after.

 

Funny you should mention that breather kit - still got mine unopened at my mums house, as far as I'm concerned it can stay there - lol

 

Stu, you got the Apexi then I take it! (Cheers for the email reply the other day btw!)

Originally posted by WillyEd

Cheers Warren - that link was exactly the sort of thing I was after.

 

Funny you should mention that breather kit - still got mine unopened at my mums house, as far as I'm concerned it can stay there - lol

 

Stu, you got the Apexi then I take it! (Cheers for the email reply the other day btw!)

 

Was it you? I cant remember now it was so long ago LOL. At least over a week ago. ;)

 

That place is in Ipswich too, isnt it? You can save on the postage then.

 

Stuart