Help! Cai dry filter vs regular
 

I'm about to purchase the Gen 3 CAI but on Stillen there is an option for Dry Filter.
What is the difference and does it really matter?

Thanks in advance!:eekdance:

To my understanding the wet filters with oil on them are less restrictive allowing more airflow. They also last longer because you can clean them and re-oil them via the k&n recharge kit. I've done that a few times and it seems to clean out good. You just need to let them completely dry so for me it has to be a day I'm not driving anywhere. Dry filters aren't reusable and have more layers so supposedly have more restriction.

^^ not necessarily. R2C has some amazing dry filters and you can spray them off with a hose to clean them and your done!! I don't know how good stillens dry filters are though! If I was you, I would get the oiled filter and then contact r2c to see if their dry filters will fit your gen3

I have the oiled type and its a pain each time having to clean them because they have to be left out in the sun an entire day to dry, you cant drive the Z during this down time unless you have a spare set of filters on hand.

ahhhhhh why dont they just make an intake where everything is incorporated haha

Just washing them off and letting them dry isn't a problem! haha just hope they fit...

How many miles do you usually clean them?

I always do my filters once a year just to be sure they don't get gunked up. When I brought my preowned '09 home the first thing i did was check them and they were beyond cleaning so I threw them away and started new.

Gen 3
 

So you have the Wet filter and every year is recommended to change.
Thats not bad at all! haha

K&N Replacement Air Filters are Reusable & Designed to Add Power to Your Vehicle

In there it says "Depending on your driving conditions, we recommend cleaning your air filter every 50,000 miles". But I'd rather be safe than sorry and keep it clean.

I'm right on the same path as you man haha
Do you take your car to the dealer to get it cleaned?
I only drive the Z on weekends because I work an hour away mon-fridays lol

Dry filters FTW IMO

So the wet filter and dry filter, it doesn't matter if you live in a humid area or not righ?

I do it myself. It doesn't take long to drop your bumper and access the filters. Less money going to the dealer the better in my opinion.

I never researched the topic to be honest. I have just always used K&n because that's what was always most available to me. Any reason you say that?

I would like to know as well lol
Also, say I wanted to change to Dry Filter and I have the wet one. I can always change right?

aFe Pro Dry S filter /thread

Keeps your MAFs oil free, and just so much easier to deal with. Pull the filters hose them out, let them dry in the sun for a little and your good to go. I am not saying that K&N filters are bad, I just prefer a dry setup. Run them in my DD and the Z with no issues.

Would the decision help if I live in a wet state? hahaha xD

AFE custom ProDry. You can get them custom made to the spec and size you want, so you can actually get a longer and bigger around filter in that cavity if you so choose. I am planning on going this route later this year. More filter surface area.

I've been debating between the wet and dry filters for the Stillen Gen 3 for almost a week now!

It looks like the dry filters on the Stillen kit are AEM. How do these compare to the AFE filters?

Also, how well do the dry filters handle water? Do you need a hydro-shield (or whatever it's called)?

Also also, is there any kind of performance difference between dry and wet filters?

So many questions!

Yea I have the Takeda/AFE dry filters on mine. I have had K&N's in the past and haven't really noticed much of a difference between the two. I prefer the dry filters because all you need to do is wash them then let them dry. No oiling to mess with. I clean mine every six months

Yea. You could change from dry to oiled or oiled to dry at any time

No air filter handles water well, whether it's oiled or dry. As far as performance difference, not really. The only thing is, a clean filter performs better than a dirty filter. And difference between afe and aem, I couldn't tell you. The only dry filter I've ever used is the r2c filter and it's outstanding!

i thought the gen 3's came with k&n... and at the stillen website you have the option or oiled or dry...

NICE!
I think I may try the Wet filter for about a year and see how I like it lol

This is a hotly debated topic -- to cut to the chase, both perform about equally well, and you will be hard pressed to find evidence of superiority without a manometer.

I find the oiled filters a bit happier in wet weather (oil is hydrophobic), but really, either kind will do.

Now, what I find really interesting is this little graph that AEM used to display on their website, trying to hype up their dryflow filters.

http://www.the370z.com/members/jordo...aem-vs-k-n.jpg


You will note that the dryflow media appears to offer superior flow when saturated with dirt -- assuming these data aren't fabricated, and they probably are not (for reasons that will become obvious in a moment).

But... that's a LOT of dirt. Like over a cup of it (110 g = 1 cup!). Like the filter would have to be CAKED in fucking dirt.

In reality, you'll clean it or toss it before that happens, unless you are rally racing through a swamp or something.

When you look at flow in no to moderate dirt conditions, the K&N outperforms them all by a mile!

AEM took that graph off their site, probably because I am not the only person who noticed what the data were really suggesting...

No idea what to make of the AFE dry intakes... if those findings aren't just made up, they are definitely not the best choice for filtering (although, again, the difference on a dyno is going to be less than 1 whp...)

Nice...you have helped me make a decision haha I live in louisville, ky where we can get all 4 seasons in 1 week haha I'll have to give the wet one a try for about a year then try the dry filter.

Now another question is (This may be a stupid question), With the wet filter, say I'm at the car wash I can just drive-off but with the dry filter, I would have to wait?

well if you look at where the filters are located relative to the grill you dont have to worry. unless you wash by yourself and you take a hose nozzle stick it into the grill point it up and spray the filters.... then no you can't drive off...

in fact a lot of people like to wash then drive to a speed to air dry. i usually dry as much as i can. do a rip around and then QD the water spots (friken side mirrors seem to soak up water and pee it out after grrr)


tldr; conventional washing will not hamper you from driving right away

Nah you wouldn't be hosing down your filters at the car wash haha. Drive in, do your wash, and drive out. These are all behind the bumper or under the hood and should remain dry.

..... Mishuko you beat me to it haha

lol it's all good!

i have even tossed a bucket of light soap water and sponged the underside of the hood and sprayed it down inside at the end of the driving season and drove off with no issues either.

the intakes are placed in a location thats relatively shielded from the elements!

There should be a link where everyone can search and this pops up for their answer haha

yea the search function isn't the best here... i'd suggest googling the370z + search words... =P


but i'll give you credit in trying to do your DD before jumping in. lots of people do something and regret it because they forgot to read up on something or another... :(

Yea..im trying to just do a few mods, nothing to serious. First its gonna be the CAI, still debating on the crank pulley, transmission cooler and exhaust.
After that, the exterior haha

I wouldn't worry about the tranny cooler (unless you're doing crazy sht) as much as I would on an oil cooler if yours doesn't have one already. I love mine. I did a 24 row from z1. Best thing I've installed right along with my F.I. exhaust.

I just read that some people said it would extend the transmission life lol
and whats a 24 row?

Just how many rows are on the cooler. The more rows, the more cooling. 19 is the smallest, then 24, and followed by 36. At least through z1. I'm sure you could find other coolers with more or less. They aren't wrong, it will prolong the life of the tranny but I didn't think the tranny had heat problems until you go big power or consistently track the car. All Z's seem to have high engine oil temps. I wouldn't consider cooling the tranny unless I was a track guy. Just my opinion.

You don't need a trans cooler.

You may or may not need an oil cooler.

Search on here for ARC cool fins and try that first. Looks jerry-rigged, but does actually work. It's under the car, is inexpensive and JDM (bonus!)-- if it works and you need to drop oil temps closer to water temps, give it a try.

Anyway, If you aren't hitting 250+ F* in normal driving, and aren't tracking the car, leave it be.

Also, if you are new and learning about mods, dynos, etc, search for my Proven Power dyno thread. Lots, and lots, and lots of detail, dyno graphs, commentary on the effects of various modifications, interpretation of dynamomemter output, etc.

IMHO, a good read. I'm long winded, so bring a few beers to keep you focused :tup:

hahaha even when i push the car fast the highest on oil temp its gone was 200

Sheesh I sit in daily bumper to bumper traffic in 75 degree weather here in Florida and I reach temps of 210-230 unless I turn the a/c on to get the fans pulling air through. It's totally the traffics fault, and I probably didn't HAVE to install it but I'm much more comfortable when I want to get up and going quick in hot weather knowing I'll be cool all day long. You just wait till summer Joker. You'll see what I'm talkin about lol

Well, I'll most likely just go with the oiled filters for now. Might switch to fry filters later.

The intake kit on my last car came with a "Drycharge" wrapper to go around the filter to protect against water. Does the Stillen kit come with filter covers, or are they not needed?