Do you guys recommend a replacement air intake for the 1.7L ? I am not looking for higher HP but a more efficiency in what could be a higher mileage motor

Everything I have read and heard says an aftermarket intake makes no difference at all. Exhaust has some effect.

Exhaust can have a lot of effect, but not a huge gain on a stock 1.7
The proper header exhaust is the only true bolt on power.

I use K&N but only because it's the simplest solution for carbs on my /6 and the ITB's on my bug.
For the stock 914 nothing beats the stock set-up.

Great, that will save me money.

cheers!

You could always add one of those magic vortex swirler gadgets.

K&N has nifty selling kiosks that show how much more air flow they give. But think about it... bigger pores equal more junk getting through. Protect your engine. If you are on a build one race one model, then throw the air cleaners away. If you want your engine to last, give it some decent filtering.

Great advice

The filters become a regular maintance chore with the cleaning and oiling. The filters should be pinkish in color. When they darken, it's time for some house cleaning. The 'special' K&N oil is NOT given away. Waiting for the filters to dry before oiling, which you need to do, can be an all day affair.

I replaced the stock with one simply so I could work on the fuel injection hoses and wires and see what I was doing. I worry about the big pores.

Save your engine. Use the factory filter set up.

What year is your 1.7?

Not sure if its an efficiency improvement but I always like to replace the pre 73 oil bath filters with the 73 paper element housing/filter. If anything it saves you a few pounds not to mention the mess.

Finding the elements can be a bit of a chore though

Auto Atlanta has a repro 1.7 filter and parts heaven in hayward ca. had some nos ones left a year ago.

I designed this twin high-flow cone for our T4 2L club racer (filter mods + upgrades allowable) and bettered our lap times by about 3/10ths sec. Helped us win the class ! Wouldn't use this style if living in a rainy or dirt road area
Click to view attachment

Unless AA has recently changed, the filters AA sells are NOT correct -- AA sells a NAPA filter that has the same OD as a stock filter, but is not quite as tall and the ID is much bigger than stock. However, the filters can be used with a simple adapter (see here for the adapter I made for my car).

oil bath filter FTW