Air Filter

[patomlin76]

Hi

I'm guessing after nearly 5 years and 49K of motoring, my Passat's air filter is overdue a change (I got the car second hand last year). Looking at the service book it is one of two filters that has not been changed - the other being the fuel filter.

Any recommendations for the air filter, or just a bog standard halfords one, or a VW OEM one?

thanks..

[patomlin76]

just checked it out and it seems the petrol FSI engine has a lifetime fuel filter, so it's just the air filter I need to change now...

[Amsel]

Buy the OEM, get a pollen filter at the same time , can almost guarantee if the air filter hasn't been changed then neither will the pollen

[patomlin76]

that's the funny thing - my service book from the last independent service shows pollen filter changed, but not air filter. now they may have forgotten to tick the air filter box, but i've ordered a Bosch one for £10 and will fit it just in case.

I haven't got any of the symptoms of a worn down pollen filter (yet), but will try to grab a look at that over the weekend.

thanks.

[gribbo]

Seriously recommend the K and N replacement air panel filters. 2 minute job to fit as well.
Initially you may have an initial outlay of around £37.00 but these things pay for themselves. Its permanent, needs cleaning roughly every 50000 miles, but the vast improvement is seen in fuel return, if driven sensibly. I have noticed an increase of 6 miles per gallon on a fairly flat run of 8 mile to work (same on return journey) in my 57 plate 2.0 tdi sport. Alternatively if you want to drive it hard, there is a noticeable increase in performance, but the fuel economy suffers. Driven sensibly you have the best of both worlds!!

[Trojan1948]

Agree with fitting K&N filter. It will pay for itself in two ways - one, you don't have to buy another for 100,000 miles and two, decreased fuel consumption. While I don't claim 6 mpg more, I definitely get at least 3 mpg on shorter journeys. Long distance cruising at indicated 77 mph, (just under the +10% speedo error officer !) I get 52-53 mpg easily with my 2005 Passat 140 SE. Added bonus - it pulls cleanly right round to the red line.

[patomlin76]

thanks for those suggestions. tomorrow i'll pull the old one out and see what state it's in, and replace it with the bosch one. i'll probably live with that now i've bought it, but will keep in mind K&N - i never knew it would have such an effect on consumption - still, it will be interesting to see how the new bosch may, or may not, improve my average 36-38mpg i get at the mo...

[nick.king]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I've read some bad things about K&N air filters and Passats and the oil used on the filter getting sucked in and causing damage. How true that is I don't know.

I've had a K&N on a few of my old cars without a problem but never on a VW.

Just had a service today on my Passat and VW haven't changed my air filter even though I think it needs doing so I'm going to buy a K&N I think.

Are you guys still using a K&N and have you had any issues?

[Cylon2007]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I've read some bad things about K&N air filters and Passats and the oil used on the filter getting sucked in and causing damage. How true that is I don't know.

I've had a K&N on a few of my old cars without a problem but never on a VW.

Just had a service today on my Passat and VW haven't changed my air filter even though I think it needs doing so I'm going to buy a K&N I think.

Are you guys still using a K&N and have you had any issues?

as long as the filter is cleaned and reoiled as per the instructions I can't see there being any issue with the oil used or it beinf sucked in. You would have to seriously overload the filter for that to happen.

[Quatrelle]

Getting the oiling right is very important - too much and your fuel consumption will go up, not down. But as Cylon says, it shouldn't affect the engine.