Air Filter - I didnt have one lol!

[Lee J]

I just serviced my van. First time I've done my own service. Imagine my shock whe I went to change the air filter and the air box was EMPTY

Yes, for the last 6 months i've been running me van with no air filter. However, I have now fitted one and the van seems slower. Where as before I could accelerate and feel the turbo kick in and pull the van but now I dont get the turbo kick anymore.

2 questions:

1. What harm does running a van with no air filter do?

2. Should I be worried about the lack of turbo kick?

I also changed the fuel filter, oil filter, oil and used a fuel treatment. I topped up the diff oil and the gearbox oil (i have a small leak)

edit: this is a 350 lwb 2.4td

[AndyG]

The air filter simply stops things like sand stones and the like, going into the engine
It doeas exactly what it's described as- filter

A good quality filter shouldn't reduce the air flow to the extent you describe

[nitroman]

i have just removed the old air box completly and cut a small section out of the old air box to keep the air flow meter and vac pipe working this enables any of the after maket k&n filters or simalar to be used........the result was well worth it! defo more power especially higher up the range and lots of cool noises from the air being sucked in!!!! do it its the cheapest mod i did and well worth the effort!

[edy]

yes, i would advise you to get an k&n or even them ones thet look like a k&n, you get more power coming through

also the air filter is quite important as it stops grit of the road coming into the engin and scratching the cylinder lining and even damaging the cylinder!