What the best air filter for horsepower ?

Usually the stock paper filter.

 

You could take the filter out.... but then engine life will be short.

 

Depends on the air quality where you live.

The OEM air filters are best for MAF life and engine life, and should be changed every 3-5 years again dependent on air quality where you live

 

A filter with less filtration than what's in the air box now.

 

Using a K&N (or similar) oiled cotton air filter MIGHT result in a few more HPs vs. an OEM filter, but it's debatable and, like most things, it depends. Go on Youtube and you'll see multiple videos on the subject, although I haven't seen any as yet featuring a 550 or 575 Maranello that also answers the question "does a K&N filter produce more horsepower." Again, it might, but it might only be, say, 2-5 extra ponies. Are you going to notice that on your "butt dyno"? Doubtful. In some cases these filters actually reduce power. But, hey, it's your car, K&N filters are not super expensive (relatively speaking), so go ahead and try them out and see what you think. Better yet, find a reputable shop with a chassis dyno, do a before & after test, and let us all know your results.

 

On a highly tuned naturally aspirated car, best to find HP else where.

 

I have to say it. This is a stupid conversation from the start. Its based on some school boy belief there would be a gain of consequence by using a different filter .

 

Mike C and I did a Dyno test and posted it here back in about 05. a K&N did show a consistent 5ish hp increase.

But so what? You cannot perceive any difference behind the wheel. You will get more of a performance increase with just leaving your gas tank less than a 1/4 full.

If you want a minimal on paper number increase go K&N. If you want to protect your engine use a paper filter like you are supposed to. The risk vs reward is off the chart.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/dyno-s-this-weekend-for-308-intake-tb-mod.88743/

Go to post #107 for the graphs.

 

Nice research and data.

 

The 308 uses a very different intake design then the 550/575. I honestly doubt we would see similar results for our platform but want to be clear - I completely agree with your overall assessment and respect the labor/effort to confirm.

I had extensively researched this and technically there is a way to improve the volume of air flow while preserving the flow characteristics, and and that is to adapt a 599 upper air box tube/MAF intake assembly with its slightly larger diameter.

It is a swap on upgrade for the 612 which uses the same basic engine as the 550/575.

The problem with this approach is it is NOT a direct swap upgrade on a 550/575. Rather it requires extensive custom fab work on our platform. When your done you will still need a custom tune to accommodate the change in airflow. All that work would yield at best a 2% increase in power per my estimation.

Not worth it when a proper engine remap+headers can give 80-100hp

 

@180 Out paging you on this comment…I thought I vaguely recall you had done this upgrade on your 612?

Hope your conversion is still coming along well (enjoying your thread).

 

Noticed a slightly quicker throttle response and more induction acoustics with BMC on 575M. I did not notice substantial power gains like on certain cars with choked intakes or multi-layered filters (or both). But high flow filters are one of those items that work in conjunction with other changes to the car (exhaust, tune, etc.), so ultimately there was likely a small power gain at higher RPM given the OE filters' metal mesh covering surface area of the filter.

BMC and K&N have filters available for the 456/456M/550 and BMC is the only filter available for 575M.

 

Conversely, I swapped back from BMC to OEM paper in my 456 and I did not notice any difference. Maybe the slightest more air induction sound with BMC, but I’m not entirely sure if it was real versus placebo.

 

Only applies to 575:
Either supersprint for Fabio’s headers + Trev’s tune.

 

550 manifolds on a 575M have significant power gains - no dyno sheets, but dropped .5 seconds off 60-130, which is substantial. Fabio definitely has the biggest gains.

 

0.5 is significant?

 

Not to me but to those who look to lose a hundredth or thousandth of second, half a second is a big number.

 

Yes, half a second difference in 60-130mph is significant.

 

On paper I guess.

 

More so in real life.
The difference is comparable to a F430 vs. 458 (.5 second difference 1/4 mile), which is, significant.

 

Lol, No one can tell a 0.5 sec difference on a 60-130 sprint until they look at the numbers.

Every 10 mph incriminate is averaging 0.071 sec quicker.

That is "significant" on an F1 lap. Not to the human in the seat.

Anyone can get that type of performance increase in any Ferrari just by losing 10 lbs on a diet.