Stainless Steel Mesh Air Filters

[Elanlover]

Anyone have any insight into these? Just saw one the other day and was a bit intrigued. I've got a K&N open filter on my intake now and was considering replacing it with one of these SS mesh filters as this one comes with a cover so I can plum the intake back to the original source to get cooler air.

Any thoughts, experince or knowledge someone can share?

[nitroman]

I tried one of these (not on the Elan) a couple times. They definately flow more air, but let through large particles & only keep the "I can see that" objects from entering your turbocharger's blades & eventually the engine itself.

I can see using one if you have money on the line or are about to drag down the 1/4-mile, but for day-to-day use you will definately lower the life of the engine if you don't have a "proper" air-filter in place.

[Elanlover]

Thought as much. Probably better used on an N/A engine as opposed to a turbo charged one for fear of damaging the impellers. I read somewhere that SS mesh filters with oil applied were used in the past but replaced with more efficient paper filters. "Efficient" being the term used in that day to describe paper over SS mesh