Oil Bath vs. K & N Filter

[Spyderman]

I have a 1981 Series III Diesel. What are the pros & cons of replacing the oil bath air filter with a K 7 N. I have been told elsewhere that the engine will be smokier with the K & N. The engine smokes like a train already, don't want to make it worse as MOT coming up. What do you think?[/b]

[hobbit]

Try running with the oil bath out and see how much less smokey it will be one day, that'll give you some idea

[Spyderman]

Won't that risk sucking dirt into the engine?

[hobbit]

Only briefly on a tarmac road, long term it would, you could warm her up, then take the pipe off the intake, and see how it looks in the tail pipe when running down the road

[Spyderman]

Ok, will try that thanks, Have you used a K&N filter?

[tomarse]

ive got a k&n on my 2.5 n/a D 2Aand it works fine and doesnt smoke.

it means i have less stuff getting in the way in my engine bay ;)

the landy definately goes better on the rare occasions that i clean and re-oil the k&n, so it probably gives more go than the normal filter.

[Spyderman]

The main reason I was thinking of doing it was to free up some space in the engine bay and hopefully a bit more BHP but obviously not at the expense of not passing the dreaded MOT

[tinca]

surely it would run leaner with the k&n on it, more air flow and all that, so i would imagine it will run with less smoke, not more

[Robbo]

don't forget to warm up the engine loads and loads and loads and loads and loads and loads...getting the picture yet? loads and loads and loads before the MOT - it helps with the emissions if the engine is really hot when tested.

Cheers

Robbo

[Spyderman]

That'll be LOADS then. Thanks. I've heard that if you run the tank right down and put a small amount of 50/50 mix of Diesel/Parafin with a bottle of Cetane booster just before you take it to the MOT that does the trick. Might give that a practice go first.