Air cleaner installation hints

[Paul in WI]

I had no issues replacing my diverters (one was bad) on my 02 until it was time to put the air cleaner assembly back in place. I've fooled with it for an hour already. What's the trick?

[Loren]

Most problems are becasue the two pins on the bottom of the air cleaner assembly are not located in the grommets - or the grommets have fallen out.

[Paul in WI]

Loren thanks for the quick reply.

I can't even get it back into the engine compartment, I'm about to remove the engine hood! I've tried every angle I can think of but it keeps interferring with the hood or the back of the car. I had it close once but I could not get the hose over the throttle body.

[Loren]

Is this a factory air box?

Check that the intercooler hoses are not blocking your access. I've had to disconnect them - put the air box in - then re-connect the hoses.

[wross996TT]

It requires a strange twist...easy once you know the twist, difficult if you don't

[Simi_996]

Box goes in vertically and then you twist/turn it down to the horizontal position.

[Paul in WI]

Finally had time to work on this again. I've been working on Porsches since 74 can't believe this one caused me so much trouble! At the suggestion of my son, we removed the engine hood struts and while I held the hood up he got it on his third try. Cleared the codes caused by the bad diverter and enjoyed a 30 mile ride through the twisties. Thanks everyone.

It is a factory box and I had already removed the MAF and the intercooler hose.

[DaveCarrera4S]

Yep, install onto intake plenum vertically, right end up, then rotate down 90 degrees and seat into aforementioned grommets.

[tben]

Is it worth buying some of the aftermarket cold air boxes or could the money be better spent elsewhere? Or how about buying the "performance" air filter for like $140?

[DaveCarrera4S]

Performance filters use oil to help trap dirt, which I've heard can foul the MFAS.

[Silver_TT]

Only use OEM filters. "Performance" filters = just marketing. You are not getting HP gains by just changing a filter -- even on the Turbo. There's no upside to using anything but OEM and it can only possibly cause problems (for example, oils in the filter as Dave mentions...big no no).

[wross996TT]

Let's please not just use internet information to extend the madness. There are aftermarket filters that work quite properly and their advantage is they don't need to be replaced, but cleaned and re-oiled. I have had the BMC for 9 years with NO blown MAFS. now wether the y produce any performance enhancements is up for debate.

[Loren]

+1 on wross996TT's comment... my BMC (oiled filter) is 14 years old.

It's all about good maintenance practice and NOT over oiling.

[Silver_TT]

Learn something new every day. A guy who has been working on Porsche engines for a living for 30 years has always given me good advice. He obviously has a lot of experience (and doesn't read internet forums). He owns a dyno at his shop and has tested a lot of the things for fun that you hear people or companies making claims about. He has told me in the past to stick with OEM filters. If there are rumors or "madness" as you put it, it might be largely unfounded but there's probably a reason for it -- obviously some folks had some problems. As Loren said, in many cases I'm sure it's a result of over oiling the filter. I guess you guys have saved some money on filters for the last 15 years.

[Simi_996]

OEM air filters are great. They may last 15-30K miles, but their peak performance is when new and with my other cars, that newness dies shortly after install (just like copper spark plugs). The BMC and KN filters are great since you can clean and reuse them (which should be better for the environment). I have a K&N filter...been 4 years. No issue with the MAF. I know a lot of friends rush the cleaning process, however, I let mine dry over night and when I oil, I let it absorb for some time before it gets reinstalled. I also rub a towel against the filter to pick up any excess oil.

[Franny]

Hi Paul,

Back to your issue... Next time you pull the airbox, be super careful to find the grommets the pins go into. Most of the time for me they pop out and end up in the crux of the serpintine belt and a pully! If I were to reinstall with that still there, the next start up would shatter the belt. I had a P-tech for a local dealership warm of this and he was spot on.

As others have mentioned, getting it in takes about eight seconds once you get the hang of it. Hold the box as it will sit in the car, then rotate it about 100deg counter clockwise so the right end is point up and a little to the left. Then fit the round hose connection as you rotate it clockwise back to horizontal. Feel underneath that the pins are in the grommets and in the grommet holes. lock it down with that single elongaded bolt and tighten the hose clamp. Re-attach the MAF connection and you are set. if the attachment bolt won't align up easly, then it probably isn't in the grommets. Get a visual on those puppies before starting the car.

I'm having a vacuum leak issue so I've had this out several times.

Franny