1996-2005 VW Passat Air Filter Delivers Clean Engine Air
- Aug 4, 2016
Volkswagen owners may not all be enthusiasts, but the Volkswagen Passat could make an enthusiast out of you, even if yours is simply a family car with chores to do. The Passat got a good start in 1973 with a new front-mounted, water-cooled engine, front wheel drive derived from recently acquired Audi technology, and a unique fastback hatch design from Italian genius Giorgetto Giugiaro. Within its first year on the road, it was tagged as the most modern family vehicle of its time; the people's car with pizzazz, if you will, stepping in where the aging Beetle was stepping out. Fast forward to 1996 and generation five of the Passat was introduced as an all-new vehicle on the VW-Audi B5 platform. Aerodynamic engineering on the sedan (saloon) brought its coefficient of drag down to 0.27 percent. It returned to the shared Audi transverse-mounted engine in five versions (including a 2.3-liter V5 Audi-derived gasoline power plant) plus turbocharged direct injection (TDI) for both the diesel and gasoline-powered models. All wheel drive became an option in 1997 with the Torsen limited slip differential for the 1.8-liter, 2.8-liter v6, 1.9-liter TDI, and 2.5-liter V6 TDI, plus four transmissions (two manual and two automatic). Independent four-link front suspension and a semi-independent torsion beam for the 4WD cars and a shiftable manumatic 5-speed trans option brought the car further to the turn of the 21st century with distinction. The Passat family grew to 13 engine versions by 2001, including the 4.0-liter W8, a new technology (the block was shaped like a "W") being tested in the top-of-range luxe Passat until 2004, when it formally debuted as the W12 in the Volkswagen Phaeton and Audi A8.
Still positioned between the Beetle and the Golf/Jetta, the Passat holds down an important people-mover market segment for VW worldwide. Wherever you drive yours, you will be maintaining it on a regular schedule to keep it reliable, which includes an air cleaner service. Replacing the engine air filter is a routine, but vital part of ensuring the longevity of every car. Even with such an array of different engines, these 1996-2005 Passats all share the same air filter, and replacing it is a straightforward task requiring no special tools. What has been available for some time is a replacement filter that is also easily washable and reusable: the K&N 33-2125 engine air filter. It is a panel style, rectangular cotton gauze filter that brings a greater surface area and increased air flow to the engine. More air to the engine equates to more horsepower and torque for a crisper throttle response in whichever engine version your Passat has. Additionally, the 33-2125's design and engineering provides outstanding protection for the engine. When tested by K&N's in-house laboratory, it worked at 98.73 percent capacity, trapping dangerous particles that could harm the engine. You may inspect and clean your 33-2125 as often as you wish, but it will last up to 50,000 miles between cleanings, depending on driving conditions. The process is simple and a set of printed instructions accompanies each filter. There are even videos available online to walk you through the simple filter service process. To clean this filter most efficiently, use the K&N 99-5050 Filter Care Service Kit. Spray with Power Kleen spray; rinse in running water; let it thoroughly air dry, then re-oil it with the Air Cleaner Oil before refitting it to the air box. K&N engine air filters are even warranted for 10 years or 1 million miles, so you won't ever need to buy a new engine air filter for your Passat again. Your loyalty to your Passat deserves an investment in engine protection from K&N. You can view all the air filters that K&N makes for the VW Passat at the Air Filters for the Volkswagen Passat page. You can view all the K&N performance products for any vehicle by using the Search by Vehicle tool and you can find a local K&N retailer by plugging your location into the K&N Dealer Search as well.
The K&N 33-2125 replaces these part numbers: The following VW Passat models can be fitted with the K&N 33-2125 replacement engine air filter: |
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