I have an icebox and thought I would follow the advice of several members and replace the Comptech foam filter with the ru-2590 filter from K & N.

But the diameter of the K & N was too great and I could not get it to slide onto the Comptech tubing. Is the fit that tight or did I possibly get the wrong K & N filter.


Thanks

03 silver CLS six speed
icebox:o

 

i had this same problem...you gotta take the silver ring off that is used to tightened the filter onto the housing....mine hasn't fallen off yet and the fit is pretty tight without the ring

 

i'm sure you mean the diameter of the k&n filter is too small. i had the same problem. i'm assuming it's cold where you are?

you just need to heat up the rubber part w/ a hairdryer and it will slip right on. definately use the hose clamp though, just loosen it all the way until you get the filter on.

davykim, you should put the clamp back on. just to be safe.

 

yea...this was just a temp fix cause i found out i had to be somewhere in the middle of putting it on so i had to make something happen. that and i've been too lazy

 

It just is a snug fit. Be patient and slowly work your way around when you put it on. The hairdryer is also a good trick.

It's a lot easier if you take out the elbow piece that it attaches to and put the filter on the 'back bench' -- then take it back to your car and clamp the elbow into place.

I'd recommend keeping the ring clamp on too. There's no harm and with it in place there is added safety of keeping the filter on. The rubber will potentially soften on a hot day or if the engine bay is real hot.

 

Is there any real gains in doing this? I need to cleam my foam filter in a few weeks. It's not really dirty, but I do it every 10K miles.

 

I doubt it. Many here seem to prefer cotton and K&N design over the Comptech/UNI foam. I think the foam one does it's job fine, despite it looking a bit ghetto.

I got the K&N because:
1) its real easy to find the cleaning kits (AutoZone, PepBoys...)
2) I have a K&N in the other car so I don't have to have multiple cleaning setups.
3) its nice to have an extra filter for the IceBox -- now when I clean one, I could just swap an already cleaned one in instead of waiting to clean/oil/drip dry...

 

Thanks for the info -- I will swap out the filters. Overall the icebox install was pretty easy and straightforward. Luckily, there is plenty of room to work in the engine compartment!

 

I've heard the K&N also brings back some of the AEM growl in vtec, I'm hoping for that

 

That I do not want. I went ahead & ordred one. If that happens it will be for sale in black market.

 

I thought there was a change in the engine sound at first (maybe a bit deeper), but after a couple days I didn't notice it anymore. It definitely still is an IceBox and is quite quiet without adding to the VTEC scream or growl.

 

Finally installed the K&N filter. Didn't add any more noise then the CT foam filter. It was a BITCH to get on the tube. Had the use the clamp the CT filter had. The one with the K&N just wouldn't go over the tube. Been running for a few weeks actually. No difference in perforamnce, sound, MPG or anything.

 

it slides on no problem if you heat up teh rubber.

 

Does anybody else occasionally run with the top off their icebox just cause they miss their old CAI vtec growl? My first CAI was a custom short ram….. it was scaring a lot of older drivers and some small children on sidewalks. I do like how tame the icebox sounds but still find myself removing the top occasionally. Just wondered if anyone else does this

 

Not on mine. I meesed with it for an hour. But all is good now.

 

 

Doing that makes the Icebox basically useless because you are sucking up hot engine air. The Icebox doesn't sit real low like other CAI that suck up air through the fenderwell. Running with the top off is useless unless you enjoy the sound of rice