Changing the Air Filter

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by Needspeed

I just spent two hours trying to fit the K&N into the stock air box. I finally gave up and put the stock filter in.

Congratulations.

You now have a filter that actually filters better, is cheaper to replace, and fits properly.

[Needspeed]

Originally Posted by etickt

Make sure the filter was in the right orientation. I seem to remember the writing being up-side-down when installed correctly.

-Andy

I had it in the correct way. I checked many times... I just couldn't get it to close

[NoFear99]

The solution is a 45 Degree Silicone coupler ....

Originally Posted by LotusUSA

I'm glad that you like the mod. It's the best $20+ mod we can get. I recently added a 90 degree elbow (from spectre) to the funnel because I was afraid that it might touch the clam when on high rpm. Sorry, no pic because I did it at around 1AM and didn't bother to take a picture. The clearance is good but sound has been dampened. I'm looking for other ways for the funnel to have better clearance from the clam. Is there anybody here with a good suggestion?

[Chris Mackey]

Replacing the air filter is a PITA. I miss my old Chevy with the wingnut clamped circular filter.

Like someone self mentioned, the worst part was getting the box to line up and then get the clamps on. I used a big pair of channel locks to do it after making sure the box was lined up.

I appreciate the thread a great deal.

[VINSTA]

I pulled the snorkel off to make it easier to change the filter. When I went to install the plastic screw at the top of the snorkel assembly, it would not thread back in. The screw just fell into the hole. I got a look at the hole and there is no fastener for the screw to screw into....just a hole. Either the fastener fell into the air box when I took the screw out or it was one of those expandable fasteners that fits into the hole before the screw (like the ones that hold the wheel well liner in place) and somehow I lost it when I removed the screw.
Anybody know what the hell holds the screw in place?????

Thanks,
2006 Elise Sport #46

[choi0706]

I believe its a screw rivit like the ones holding your fender liner in place.. maybe the base fell..

[RoadDad]

Originally Posted by VINSTA

I pulled the snorkel off to make it easier to change the filter. When I went to install the plastic screw at the top of the snorkel assembly, it would not thread back in. The screw just fell into the hole. I got a look at the hole and there is no fastener for the screw to screw into....just a hole. Either the fastener fell into the air box when I took the screw out or it was one of those expandable fasteners that fits into the hole before the screw (like the ones that hold the wheel well liner in place) and somehow I lost it when I removed the screw.
Anybody know what the hell holds the screw in place?????

Thanks,
2006 Elise Sport #46

It is an expanding fastener. It is slightly different from the wheel well liner fasteners in that the tips are attached to each other and it is narrower.

[RoadDad]

The base looks like this (but has a screw instead of this push type):



You can look in the air box but it couldn't fall through the hole on top that holds the snorkel on. The fastener is too big. I'd look all around the floor before popping the air box open again.

[VINSTA]

Thanks all for the help. Makes me feel more confident that the fastener did not go into the air box. I'll keep looking around for it.

Thanks again!

2006 Elise Sport #46

[apk919]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

yes, sorry I didn't mention that it does take 2 people to actually help keep the box closed. I think I could have done it all by myself, but aligning the back was such a b*tch that I didn't want to risk it popping out so I asked my pops to hold the back end of the box until I clamped it.

Also, mine is on an Exige S. Having the IC pipe in the way complicates things a little.

Can I just vent for a second? Thanks!





OK...



It's much harder to get the airbox to close on the "S", especially without anyone to help. I had to take the supercharger to intercooler pipe off, just to see the inner hinge... then with one arm in the engine bay, and one up through the wheel well, align the inner hinge and close the box.

I've used up enough four letter words for a month.

That said, I'm glad I changed the filter: 10,000 miles and very dirty...

[shay2nak]

which still amazes me how Ritchie was able to take my old green filter out and put the new one in all within 5-10 seconds! all he did was remove the wheel liner, swap out the filters and close the box. And it closed properly...

[choi0706]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

which still amazes me how Ritchie was able to take my old green filter out and put the new one in all within 5-10 seconds! all he did was remove the wheel liner, swap out the filters and close the box. And it closed properly...

I did a filter swap without taking the wheel off.. did it once, and never could do it again..

[apk919]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

which still amazes me how Ritchie was able to take my old green filter out and put the new one in all within 5-10 seconds! all he did was remove the wheel liner, swap out the filters and close the box. And it closed properly...

He must be a freakin' Lotus magician!

[VINSTA]

Tim,
If you are saying that the stock filter does a better job than the K & N, I might have to agree with you.
I have run two K&N's for a total of about 6000 miles. During that time, two Blackstone oil samples checks produced Silicon levels in the oil of about 30 PPM. The universal average is 9. Blackstone indicates the oil I use typically has about 12 PPM of Silicon so if I subtract that from 30, I get a true sample of 18. This is twice the universal average. Silicon can come from a number of sources, but a common one is dirt in the air. I looked at the K&N filters carefully and noticed that in some areas, the engine side of the rubber sealing surface has fine sand-like particles attached to it. These particles also show up slightly beyond the sealing surface on the engine side of the filter. Though I can't say for sure, it gives the appearance that the relatively incompressible rubber sealing surface does not contact the mating air box surface 100%. In other words, it looks like a leak.
The stock filter is soft and compressible at the sealing surface and might do a better job of preventing leaks.
I just switched back to the stock filter.
Any thoughts from other K&N users?

2006 Elise Sport #46

[EricH]

Originally Posted by VINSTA

I just switched back to the stock filter.

Any interest in re-running your test to see the result after switching back to a stock filter?

[ericwgexige]

Why do you need to remove the wheel liner? I just reached in from the top of the engine bay, unhooked the 2 clips, swapped filters, lined up the 2 airbox halves properly, and snapped the 2 clips back on. Viola! Sounds awesome on 2nd cam!

[PT17FLYER]

Finally got to experience the "joy" of changing the airfilter last Saturday. Spent about 20 minutes trying to get the airbox to close Then all of a sudden...tadahh!!! Still don't have clue what I did different.

[goelise]

i just cleaned my air filter out and closed it, again, in just a few seconds...not meaning to rub it in but really, its quite easy.