CompTech Icebox; K&N vs CompTech

[ChaosMaster]

Hey guys, I've got a CT Icebox (CF one, yay). I've been running a K&N filter in it for a while now, but now that a service is nearing, I've been wondering if I should drop in the filter that came with it. Has anyone compared the two. Also note that I haven't' had any of the rattling or similar problems that CT was meant to have with the K&N. I have noticed that the intake noise is more audible between 2-3k rpm, but I doubt that's it.

[TheSaint]

i did a comparison - i have the older plastic box

i was very disappointing with the K+N filter and end up selling it off to the lady down the street after about 2 weeks
i put it in without any extra lining to see how it would go but it left a big gap all the way around the lip that just sucked in hot air
so i got some weather strips and sealed it in - the performance wasnt that great - it sounded louder but in a ricer gay sort of way
i lost a bit of the torque that the icebox is known for and lost even more top end
not to mention my fuel economy was worse as well

im just sticking with the Unifilter - bought a service kit for it from ebay and clean/oil it every time i service
auto1 now stock the Unifilter and service kits locally as well so thats a bonus for me

i also borrowed a mates Injen CAI kit for a bit and i didnt like that either
(my favorite civic/integra intake kit is the Fujita one which is similar to the Injen style CAI)
lost almost all of the low-mid torque, got worse fuel economy, and only got a marginal gain in the top end
it also lost that nice bmw/merc/audi sports car sound that the icebox makes - swapped out for a hissing and drone and a bit of a racey sound up top

maybe im just getting older and prefer the more refined things..
in saying that i have a whale type intake on my civic haha >.<

[d-Z1R3]

i have just a k&n panel filter in mine, makes abit more noise than the standard filter but much better on fuel and pick up has improved.

[ChaosMaster]

The problem I have with the CompTech one is that it's a foam instead of the cotton of the K&N. Seems like a downgrade.

[TheSaint]

i originally thought that as well - but the uni-filters have been proven to be better

and i can speak from my own experience that the foam filter flows better and filters better

[ChaosMaster]

Alright, might give it a go. I believe the part about the better air flow, it was just the filtering part that had me questioning it.

[Fredoops]

I have both, KN and Uni filter.

The Unifilter gives better response but hell, the K&N filters out more crap.

The unifilter looked pretty rough after a few thousand kay's and you can see the dirt slowing making its way through the sponge.

[TheSaint]

I have both, KN and Uni filter.

The Unifilter gives better response but hell, the K&N filters out more crap.

The unifilter looked pretty rough after a few thousand kay's and you can see the dirt slowing making its way through the sponge.

strange - i had the opposite results with unifilter vs K+N and i did a couple of trips up around lancelin and back down to busselton
one trip with k+N and 2 trips with unifilter - k+N had crap on both sides and airbox had debris in the upper half
unifilter wasnt even that dirty and only had debris in the lower half
K+N felt louder in a ricey way and slower and i got worse fuel economy
unifilter got better fuel economy, better response and nicer sound

serviced each one just before i ran a test period
and the k+n had to have rubber added around the lower lip of the air box after about a week (which only marginally improved things)
serviced the k+n with the normal off the shelf k+n cleaner/oil pack from auto1
and serviced the unifilter with the similar kit from ebay america

[ChaosMaster]

Maybe a difference between the older batch and new batch of Iceboxes. I recall the older ones have fitment issues with the K&N, which you seem to have. I haven't had any problems though, seems like a perfect fit for me. I'll give the Uni a try anyways, just to see if there's any difference.

[TheSaint]

it doesnt look or feel like theres a fitment issue unless you actually look for it
i only knew about it from reading TSX forums ...

[ChaosMaster]

Yeah, I've read about that as well. But you should be able to tell, and as far as I can see, there's no leakage around the edge, nor any noise from it not sealing properly. Idono, we'll see when I change over to the Unifilter and drive with it for a while.

[TheSaint]

mine didnt make noise - but i could feel a slight pressure change around the edge when the throttle was blipped

its very hard to detect if you dont know what your looking for - its not obvious at all - if you didnt know about it than the K+N filter would install perfectly

if you change to unifilter make sure you get the service kit and give it a good clean and oil first - and no the k+n one doesnt work lol

[Fredoops]

oh btw my K&N are weather sealed.

and I had the bad batch where the molding wasn't right so ended up pulling the metal screw guides out of the upper lid and shaved plastic till it fits properly.

So I probably had a better seal around the edges with my KN than even the large unifilter.

[TheSaint]

and u still prefer the K+N?

i duno - that thing just felt like a big waste of money on the euro =/

[Fredoops]

I got the k&n for $40 bucks.

I swap it around with other filters, so it's meh for me.

[ChaosMaster]

I got the K&N because I thought it was better value. Was $40 from the states, and you can wash it as many times as you need. Better than changing ever 20 000km as I normally do.

[TheSaint]

the unifilter is washable as well - its exactly the same as the K+N in that regard - and it comes with the icebox - so no extra charge there ...

[Fredoops]

the unifilter is washable as well - its exactly the same as the K+N in that regard - and it comes with the icebox - so no extra charge there ...
takes time to dry for both

so with the 2 I could clean one and use the other.

[TheSaint]

takes time to dry for both

so with the 2 I could clean one and use the other.

good idea - but i sold my spare K+N to somebody that could use it with a stock airbox