Issues with non OEM air filters?

[BAC5.2]

Having realized that it's been nearly 20,000 miles since my last air filter change, I stopped by the local Autozone to pick up a filter.

 

The highest quality one they had was made by STP, and looked pretty good.

 

When I got home and went to swap them out, I noticed that the OE filter had far fewer ribs (less filtering surface area), but the material seemed to be the same.

 

Since installing the new filter on Friday afternoon, the car seems to stumble MUCH more. It pulls so much timing, you can barely accelerate under some situations.

 

I did an oil change on Saturday, but didn't notice any change before or after. Same oil, same oil filter I usually use.

 

I already threw out the OE filter (it was DIRTY!), but the car was TONS smoother with the OE filter than with this SPT.

 

Has anyone had drivability issues with using a non-oem air filter element? Seems kind of crazy to me.

 

It has been really hot here, in the mid 90's so I've had the A/C on. It was in the mid-70's the other morning, however, and nothing changed.

 

I thought it might be fuel, but I just filled up at a station that has proven reliable and consistent in the past.

 

Anyone?

[BAC5.2]

So, while Auto parts stores DO list the part numbers for all air filters as being the same, they are in fact very different.

 

The filter sold in autoparts stores is the N/A filter. The Turbo filter IS different. The car still seems to be struggling a little bit, but it is MUCH better than it was. I figure it'll learn itself out.

 

Totally lame, though.

[TSiWRX]

Posts number 5, 6, 8, 17, and 28 are highlights, but I encourage you to read the entire thread:

 

http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107711

 

As with intake systems, not all filters are equals, and results can vary.

 

Since you're Cobb Stage I, you should follow Cobb's recommendations.

 

Their "by-Hoyle" recommendation, as cited on their "Map Notes," is that your intake tract, including the panel filter, be factory-stock, unmodified.

 

Unfortunately, their personal/off-source recommendations, including recommendations as-posted on various discussion Forums, via person-to-person phone conversations or e-mails, seems to vary a bit: if you searched in the "Tuning" and "Intake/Exhaust" sub-Forums, you'll find that many have not only been directly advised by such - but also were actually recommended for-purchase - aftermarket panel + AccessPORT combos.

[BAC5.2]

That would be valid, except I never re-married the AP after my last visit to the dealer. Running bone stock right now.

 

What kind of problems was your wifes FXT having when the motor blew?

[TSiWRX]

That would be valid, except I never re-married the AP after my last visit to the dealer. Running bone stock right now.

 

^ Ah, good.

 

There should be enough of a buffer, with factory mapping, to prevent trouble - but remember that some here have logged '07+ BL/BPs to run strangely lean at times; if your vehicle sees such similar behavior, and if it is combined with an aftermarket panel filter that somehow makes things just a little more lean than they are supposed to be...well, that's definitely less than ideal. If you have the ability to datalog, with access to a WBO2, it may not be a bad idea to do so, particularly if you do want to keep pursuing the intake variable.

 

What kind of problems was your wifes FXT having when the motor blew?

^ Literally no problems at all - it just "went."

 

Complete and detailed thread, REF: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f88/09-turbo-engine-failure-62103/

 

^ Underlying cause? Production defect, per the "Stop Sale." How did it get through the supposed inspection? Anyone's guess - like I said there (here, and elsewhere), you can either take the cynical view, or take things at face value. Both are valid and cannot be refuted by logic.

[BAC5.2]

My car is SUPPOSED to be outside the stop sale realm, but it does make interesting vibrations at times. There have been other cars outside the stop-sale that had blown motors.

 

Since I have the day off, it's going to the dealer next week to have the half-dozen rattles taken a look at, and I already mentioned the running issue. If nothing else, I want it on record. Fuel economy is in the crapper right now, which is more frustrating than anything else.

[Whatisit]

mine was "outside the stop sale" according to SOA, but i still blew my motor.

 

its like a game of roulette. you never know when all of a sudden your engine will sound like a loud unbalanced blender.

 

http://www.nesseler.org/pages/uploaded_images/russian-roulette-755910.jpg

[Wang Lung]

Nobody plays roulette with a .454 Casull.

[TSiWRX]

^ - or, rather, nobody that lived to tell the tale.

 

 

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BAC & Whatisit, I know just what you two mean.

[AARON05LGT]

Has anybody had problems with their car pulling timing just from removing the intake resonator? And what are some safe drop-in filters?