As I will be getting paid out for my car due to a crash which has caused an "uneconomical repair", I decided to take the air filter off my Weber and see if it makes much difference (I had been told some time ago it should do).

Well, it seems tio have increased the power by 10 - 15%, although it could just be a placebo.... Oh and it sounds like it has a modded exhaust (I am not really into loud cars, but its certainly different to be driving one hehe).

Anyway, I am just wondering whether its actually legal to drive without an air filter? Also, I assume if it was driven like this for a long period of time, it would cause dirt etc to become lodged in the engine? (Dont bother me anyway as I am getting rid).

Also, should there really be as big an improvement in power, or is it just a placebo? Either way, it feels and sounds nice

WTF is a placebo??

IT may increase power,depends on the rest of the engine TBH.It will give a great intake noise. IT does damage the engine but not huuugely fast. It'll last ages still

placebo is a pill thats given to people to cure/help something, since people assume there medication is helping the syptoms go away - The illness is all in there head and the placebo actually does nothing.

Watch you dont get any grit/water/dust etc sucked in as it will score the block of bend conrods - Thought of getting a sock filter?

Yeah a placebo is when you think/imagine something is different due to the suggestion by others that it will be, but in reality it is not.

It deffo feels a fair bit faster, other people who have been in the car have though so as well. Sound awsome when I put my foot down, people walking past must think I am running a modified exhast exhaust or something, then they see the lil standard pea shooter on the back haha!

It has been running sweet although blew a coolant pipe yesterday, replaced easily enough though, I think the pipes are original (14 years old) from the looks of things so I kinda expect things like that to happen when I push it hard.

Dazza, whats a sock filter matey? Thanks

That noise is induction noise mate.Mines quite loud due to having the front section of airbox cut out and a 2.0Throttle body

does dazza mean a pair of tights stretched across the carb??? or a genuine proper item?

I thought you were talking about a set of twin 40s or something similar, if you are you can get a sock filter - Its a filter that 'strenches' over the carb so to speak

Its just a standard TDLM, not sure on the size, I think its a 32/34 but wouldnt really know.

How much better does it sound without any filter over the plenum, you can hear the air getting sucked in!!