Rover 400 - K&N?
Discussion
I have a Rover 414i (103 bhp K series engine, im so proud 
). Other than the multitude of things that have gone wrong with the car, im relatively happy with it, and the performance is alright above 5.5k RPM.
The car has recently started using oil
(having not drunk any in nearly 10 months, 5000 miles). I suspect this is due to taking it high in the revs quite often to achieve any level of performance.
To rectify this, would an induction kit (K&N 57i) flatten the power curve enough to limit the amount of time I spend high in the revs, and therefore reduce the oil consumption? Or would the few extra horses under the bonnet increase engine stress and be detremental to oil use?
Any thoughts would be appreciated
Thanks
). Other than the multitude of things that have gone wrong with the car, im relatively happy with it, and the performance is alright above 5.5k RPM. The car has recently started using oil
(having not drunk any in nearly 10 months, 5000 miles). I suspect this is due to taking it high in the revs quite often to achieve any level of performance. To rectify this, would an induction kit (K&N 57i) flatten the power curve enough to limit the amount of time I spend high in the revs, and therefore reduce the oil consumption? Or would the few extra horses under the bonnet increase engine stress and be detremental to oil use?
Any thoughts would be appreciated
Thanks
Personally i'd think you'd be hard pushed to tell any gain in actual performance. You'll only get an extra growl, which kids most people into thinking they're going a lot faster. Might aswell drill holes in your airbox for a similar effect.
If it adds 3bhp, and it might even not do that, it'll give you an extra 3%. Do you think an extra 3% will really make a difference? It's a bit like taking a dump before you go out to improve your power to weight ratio, might make you feel better but i doubt it'll actually help.
Rob.
If it adds 3bhp, and it might even not do that, it'll give you an extra 3%. Do you think an extra 3% will really make a difference? It's a bit like taking a dump before you go out to improve your power to weight ratio, might make you feel better but i doubt it'll actually help.
Rob.
I think you've missed something here, fitting a K&N (which in my experience are excellent filters) will not change the torque curve of your engine, and it won't reduce your oil consumption. It certainly won't increase the performance so much you no longer need to wrag the engine.
If you do fit the K&N you won't have to change the filter ever again, just clean and re-oil periodically. I'm not familiar with the specific kit for the Rover, but if it's been well designed it should improve airflow potential, with a resultant small improvement in power. Hopefully it retains a cold air pickup from either the front grill or from a wheel well.
The whole "filter" thing is not so important with modern cars as the manufacturer has spent a lot of time and cash designing the best intake he can for any given model. If you have made a significant increase in the airflow requirement over standard then a filter kit may prove benifical. What it is however is realitively cheap and easy to do, and hence popular.
If you do fit the K&N you won't have to change the filter ever again, just clean and re-oil periodically. I'm not familiar with the specific kit for the Rover, but if it's been well designed it should improve airflow potential, with a resultant small improvement in power. Hopefully it retains a cold air pickup from either the front grill or from a wheel well.
The whole "filter" thing is not so important with modern cars as the manufacturer has spent a lot of time and cash designing the best intake he can for any given model. If you have made a significant increase in the airflow requirement over standard then a filter kit may prove benifical. What it is however is realitively cheap and easy to do, and hence popular.
So essentially, no it will not stop your oil consumption. Even if you fit it you'll still rev the teets off the engine...you know you will!
If it's burning oil rather than dropping it on the floor, buy the Haynes manual, pay a mechanic, or keep topping it up. If it's an oil leak, buy the Haynes manual, pay a mechanic, but dont take it on a track day or the engine may blow up......oops
If it's burning oil rather than dropping it on the floor, buy the Haynes manual, pay a mechanic, or keep topping it up. If it's an oil leak, buy the Haynes manual, pay a mechanic, but dont take it on a track day or the engine may blow up......oops
It will make a nice roar for want of a better word, but as for increasing performance or changing the power curve, you'll be lucky.
I ran one on a 214 16v (bubble shape) and it didn't do much. I also tried a Pipercross which made more noise, but again, nothing to write home about when it comes to power!
I ran one on a 214 16v (bubble shape) and it didn't do much. I also tried a Pipercross which made more noise, but again, nothing to write home about when it comes to power!
I found that the K&N cone really only improves torque at the top end of the rpm range like 600o rpm, when the flow of air is twice what it will be at say 3000rpm in a naturally aspirated engine.
Even then, the gain is small, but can make a huge difference to responsiveness in that area.
Just like a performance chip on a naturally aspirated car, all it really does, like the filter is optimise what it can, and increase responsiveness and smoothness a bit.
On a turbo car a K&N makes a huge difference to spool up and instantaneous spool up at higher rpm if the stock intake is a bit long and draggy. However, on my Tdi car I was testing a K&N on, it made it sound a bit like a tractor at idle and low rpm, but like I say, the response and top end lag free boost and grunt felt alot better.
Again, it's through the response and all that it feels quicker, but do your 0-60 or in-gear test and it'll be a negligible gain. But it'll be much nicer to drive fast
I'd say a fast revving small capacity Rover engine will never develop any significant torque at the bottom end without a turbo. So it's either fix the oil consumption, or just top it up lots
Dave
Even then, the gain is small, but can make a huge difference to responsiveness in that area.
Just like a performance chip on a naturally aspirated car, all it really does, like the filter is optimise what it can, and increase responsiveness and smoothness a bit.
On a turbo car a K&N makes a huge difference to spool up and instantaneous spool up at higher rpm if the stock intake is a bit long and draggy. However, on my Tdi car I was testing a K&N on, it made it sound a bit like a tractor at idle and low rpm, but like I say, the response and top end lag free boost and grunt felt alot better.
Again, it's through the response and all that it feels quicker, but do your 0-60 or in-gear test and it'll be a negligible gain. But it'll be much nicer to drive fast
I'd say a fast revving small capacity Rover engine will never develop any significant torque at the bottom end without a turbo. So it's either fix the oil consumption, or just top it up lots
Dave
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