Some previous owner replaced the stock airbox with the cone type K&N. It is unsupported. Plus, with no airbox to direct cool air from inside the fender, won't this create some performance, gas mileage issues? Love K&N filters, but this one looks like the wrong approach. '97 outback wagon.

Some previous owner replaced the stock airbox with the cone type K&N.

 

Is it really a K&N? There are about a dozen companies that make cone filters that air oiled cloth/mesh. Personally I think it's a little un-fair to bad mouth K&N just because it's some poor knock off or for something that wasn't installed correctly. K&N makes drop in panel filters for the stock air box, and for some cars they make full intakes, but not for a 97 outback.

 

Keith

different vehicles respond better than others. Kevin (myphalyx, active on this board) did some extensive testing of differnt intake set ups. on the XT6 model he experienced gains with the K&N cone style filter exposed to the engine air over the more isolated stock set up. you could search the older model forums or http://www.xt6.net for his testing and dyno plots for the proof. that was debated for quite some time and his testing pretty much shows what works best. he tried a couple different set ups but my memory won't allow me to comment at the moment...can't recall the exact differences and results.

My intention was not to bad-mouth K&N. As I said, I love K&N filters, but thought this one was the wrong approach. I assumed it was K&N because of the filter color, but it's very possible I am wrong. Regardless of the manufacturer, I am concerned that it is not supported, and draws hot air from under the hood, instead of cool air from inside the fender.

Gotcha

 

What a lot of people do is make a box out of sheet metal that boxes out that area of the engine compartment up to the hood. This can also double as the needed support for the filter. Also, your car is an Impreza outback sport? If so there is probably a fake vent directly above where the cone is that you could make a real vent! That combined with boxing out the area with sheet metal would make for some fresh air.

 

Keith