Is a pod filter bad for the 1.5 4G15?

[Juiced_Lancer01]

my mechanic said that a pod filter is really bad for a 4g15 lancer is this true

 

[SDate42]

Generally speaking, pod filters arent any good for any car/motor. To have improvement over stock (aka being worth your time) it must filter the air at the same rate or greater and flow at same rate or greater than the standard pannel filter. You would also need to make or buy an enclosure for the open filter as they are illegal.

Cheap pod filters from auto outlets may provide increased sound and claim to add power, but without providing the info above, no claims can be substatiated. If you like the sound, remove the baffles from the n/s/f guard and route the inlet of the airbox to this location.
Cool air
Max noise
Adequate Filtration
Legal
Cheaper than a pod filter

 

[donki]

I'll play on the other hand here, most cars of this era are tuned fairly rich, hence they'll "pick up" one or two kW when changing the intake system due to the higher flow. A pod filter will tend to flow more than stock, allowing the air-fuel ratio to lean out and bring with it more power. This has the side effect of generally less filtration, technically a performance mod (especially if you place the pod in a location where it gets colder-than-engine air), as well as a few legal requirements.

Pod = good if done right

 

[Spetz]

I am against pod filters personally as they sound silly and more importantly used engine oil analysis shows that they introduce contaminants into the oil by not filtering as effectively as OEM panel filters.


Moral of the story: OEM is best most of the time.