Here's my latest - I did it at 6K (early) this time b/c I just upgraded to Stage 2 and a larger turbo/downpipe. I'll go 9K this time around.
21K miles, 6K OCI on Liquimoly Leichtlauf High Tech 5W40 w/VW filter (Mahle)
Interesting to note the filtration comments...I run a K&N and opened-up OE intake.
I'll go 9K this go around and see how she goes on the new tune and turbo.
2018 VW Golf Sportwagen tuned 1.8 TSI K&N 6K OCI LM 5W40
- Thread starter TiGeo
- Start date
Very good report. How does the tune feel?
Originally Posted by skyactiv
Very good report. How does the tune feel?
wemay
Site Donor 2023
That's a great report.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
In addition to being a great UOA, you use a bitog coined "rock catcher" K&N air filter? How dare this filter do so well? That's not supposed to be possible.
Enjoy your nice ride and don't change a thing.
Originally Posted by wemay
In addition to being a great UOA, you use a bitog coined "rock catcher" K&N air filter? How dare this filter do so well? That's not supposed to be possible.
Enjoy your nice ride and don't change a thing.
Originally Posted by Zolton
I believe the spectre of dirt plastering the hot dry DI valves outweighs any perceived advantage.
Explain why every single auto engine manufacturer uses a paper filter... 
Last edited:
There's no reason a disposable air filter can't be manufactured with cotton gauze as the media. "Serviceable" is just a design and marketing objective to get $50 for a filter. An inexpensive gauze filter could be applied to production vehicles just as well, but cotton does not meet mfg specs for media, paper does! Surely a pure race vehicle could afford a new filter after every event. They are not worried about excess wear or deposits anyway. So in my mind K&N is a product looking for a purpose.
Go back to the reason the mfg uses paper, it filters better. What is the primary of a filter anyway.....filtration, not flow. The mfg designs the intake around the flow rates of paper anyway, so what is there to be gained? Sure the perception of more flow sounds good, but really, once flow is adequate....more isn't better. The real difference is the .01hp the engine consumes sucking the air thru paper itself.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/wrOVFMtb.jpg)
Again, your UOA looks good and I intend to reference it when we got our UOAs going.....but it doesn't tell you anything about the dirt flowing onto the dry valves. Not that VW engines are difficult to clean the valves, I just use some CRC GDI every Spring for this. In my case am more concerned about excess wear in the upper cyl and rings. My DD is a Neuspeed 2.0T EA888 Gen2 Valveluft w/40 k that doesn't burn oil. in NO WAY would I risk dirt coming into the intake and wear my rings out. A tiny little part that would be almost undetectable in UOA until it was too late, nope. I doubt you'd disagree.
Again, your UOA looks good and I intend to reference it when we got our UOAs going.....but it doesn't tell you anything about the dirt flowing onto the dry valves. Not that VW engines are difficult to clean the valves, I just use some CRC GDI every Spring for this. In my case am more concerned about excess wear in the upper cyl and rings. My DD is a Neuspeed 2.0T EA888 Gen2 Valveluft w/40 k that doesn't burn oil. in NO WAY would I risk dirt coming into the intake and wear my rings out. A tiny little part that would be almost undetectable in UOA until it was too late, nope. I doubt you'd disagree.Originally Posted by Zolton
There's no reason a disposable air filter can't be manufactured with cotton gauze as the media. "Serviceable" is just a design and marketing objective to get $50 for a filter. An inexpensive gauze filter could be applied to production vehicles just as well, but cotton does not meet mfg specs for media, paper does! Surely a pure race vehicle could afford a new filter after every event. They are not worried about excess wear or deposits anyway. So in my mind K&N is a product looking for a purpose.
Go back to the reason the mfg uses paper, it filters better. What is the primary of a filter anyway.....filtration, not flow. The mfg designs the intake around the flow rates of paper anyway, so what is there to be gained? Sure the perception of more flow sounds good, but really, once flow is adequate....more isn't better. The real difference is the .01hp the engine consumes sucking the air thru paper itself.
Again, your UOA looks good and I intend to reference it when we got our UOAs going.....but it doesn't tell you anything about the dirt flowing onto the dry valves. Not that VW engines are difficult to clean the valves, I just use some CRC GDI every Spring for this. In my case am more concerned about excess wear in the upper cyl and rings. My DD is a Neuspeed 2.0T EA888 Gen2 Valveluft w/40 k that doesn't burn oil. in NO WAY would I risk dirt coming into the intake and wear my rings out. A tiny little part that would be almost undetectable in UOA until it was too late, nope. I doubt you'd disagree.
Again, your UOA looks good and I intend to reference it when we got our UOAs going.....but it doesn't tell you anything about the dirt flowing onto the dry valves. Not that VW engines are difficult to clean the valves, I just use some CRC GDI every Spring for this. In my case am more concerned about excess wear in the upper cyl and rings. My DD is a Neuspeed 2.0T EA888 Gen2 Valveluft w/40 k that doesn't burn oil. in NO WAY would I risk dirt coming into the intake and wear my rings out. A tiny little part that would be almost undetectable in UOA until it was too late, nope. I doubt you'd disagree.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
I always ran K&N in every VW (6) I owned throughout the years. All of which were tuned to some degree. My 1995 VR6 GTi was nearing 250k miles with Schrick cams, Autotech exhaust and chip tune plus a K&N panel filter, from nearly new. It never consumed oil and was still running strong 3 years after I sold it because everything else was breaking. It's a personal choice.
My best friend owns a BOSCH Service Center and does work on customer's cup cars. So, from that and my background at the local VAG dealership, my tendency leans towards OE-type service. It is, as was said, my preference. I do like the way Fram air filters seal with that orange foam gasket.
Just worth noting, the 1995 VR6 doesn't suffer from the DI intake valve deposit issues, which plague later engines.
Anyway, the dyno results are something to look froward to.
Widman has plenty of bad UOAs from people monkeying with the air filter. 100x normal wear rates is alarming....
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/M0YSIKL.png)
https://www.widman.biz/English/Analysis/Oil_bath.html
I think about all of the K&N users who never do a UOA, it seems risky. It's not like I am imagining it. I also DNL guys who change their air OE filter excessively. Few seem to appreciate the downsides.
https:/Originally Posted by Zolton
My best friend owns a BOSCH Service Center and does work on customer's cup cars. So, from that and my background at the local VAG dealership, my tendency leans towards OE-type service. It is, as was said, my preference. I do like the way Fram air filters seal with that orange foam gasket.
Just worth noting, the 1995 VR6 doesn't suffer from the DI intake valve deposit issues, which plague later engines.
Anyway, the dyno results are something to look froward to.
Widman has plenty of bad UOAs from people monkeying with the air filter. 100x normal wear rates is alarming....
https://www.widman.biz/English/Analysis/Oil_bath.html
I think about all of the K&N users who never do a UOA, it seems risky. It's not like I am imagining it. I also DNL guys who change their air OE filter excessively. Few seem to appreciate the downsides.
https:/Originally Posted by Zolton
My best friend owns a BOSCH Service Center and does work on customer's cup cars. So, from that and my background at the local VAG dealership, my tendency leans towards OE-type service. It is, as was said, my preference. I do like the way Fram air filters seal with that orange foam gasket.
Just worth noting, the 1995 VR6 doesn't suffer from the DI intake valve deposit issues, which plague later engines.
Anyway, the dyno results are something to look froward to.
Widman has plenty of bad UOAs from people monkeying with the air filter. 100x normal wear rates is alarming....
https://www.widman.biz/English/Analysis/Oil_bath.html
I think about all of the K&N users who never do a UOA, it seems risky. It's not like I am imagining it. I also DNL guys who change their air OE filter excessively. Few seem to appreciate the downsides.
https:/Similar threads
