Something that we've done a lot of testing on here is pod air cleaners, also known as pod air filters.

People put pod air cleaners on their car and there is a real misconception that instantly "i've got more power". What we generally find is that they hear a lot of induction noise, so all of a sudden they feel they've got more power because they can hear the noise.

One common problem we do come across when pod air cleaners are fitted, is that the original air box is designed to pick up cold air, often from in front of the radiator or from behind the headlight area. The original manufacturer has designed the intake to ensure that only cold air is brought into the start of the intake system.

If a pod air cleaner is fitted after the radiator, we are going to have 80 degree air temperatures going into the engine. Even if the engine runs an intercooler, why heat the air up before it goes into the engine's intake system. Why not try and keep it as cold as possible.

Our recommendations is to try to keep an EOM factory style air filter and air box. You can put your K&N or rechargeable air filters into them, but try to keep the original air box to try to keep the cold air intake system happening.

If you take hot air from behind the radiator, every part of the engine, the turbo, the intercooler, all have to work harder. And the intercooler has to work harder to try to get the air temperatures down.

Cold air temps, are what you need for power, and economy. The more we have cold air, the better the engine is going to run.

So, having a pod air cleaner may sound like you are making power. It may perform better than your original one, because you hadn't replaced the element, or your element was restrictive, but it in effect, no good when that bonnets, you've got 80 degree celsius engine bay temperatures, and it's no good for your tune.