Am I imagining this?

I'd say very possible. If the old filter was clogged to the point where it was restricting airflow, the new filter will allow more air through and hence help the engine to perform correctly.

Cheers

Dave P

Get a friend to refit the old one or maybe not refit it, without telling or letting you see then go for a drive. ;-)

Mark S.

Eminently possible. Years ago I was called out to a mini that wouldn't start. After checking various stuff out, I started it up with the complete filter and it's container missing. I put everything back together thinking I'd finished, and it wouldn't start. When I split the air filter and it's container, it was choked with oily crap from the breather.

Steve

In message , shazzbat writes

Many years ago I removed the air filter from a mini and shoved in a pair of the missus's tights as a token attempt at filtration. That made quite a difference to the performance although I think it was a reflection of the poor condition of the old filter.

Same thing happened with my car. I think the idle may have been slightly better too after changing the filter. I first felt the difference reversing out of my drive way, it was faster just reversing slowly :-o.

It's supprising how the filter suddenly clogged up. It was pretty good for a while and then a few weeks later it was oily.

If it made no difference we wouldn't bother to change them during services!

I just found it strange how the car feels a lot smoother picking up from low revs. There doesn't seem to be much increase in acelleration so the old one can't have been that bad :).

That'll be the breather pipe blowing oil into the airbox :).