Air Filters Primer
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From: Socal
Air Filters Comparison
Oem Paper Element
Pro’s: OEM standards of quality. Filtration is excellent with efficiencies upward to 99% with ASTM course media and no risk to fouling of the delicate Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensors found in many of today’s OBDII equipped vehicles. Very high dust loading capacity and relatively low replacement cost. Because this filer uses very small holes to catch and retain particles, a high quantity of pleats and surface area is required to attain proper air flow so it is not a straight forward comparison to other types of filters such as the oiled cotton media filters.
Con’s: Restriction levels increase exponentially very as filter loads up with dust and debris. Because paper filters use very small holes and static to collect and retain particles, these holes get clogged almost immediately causing restriction levels to rise extremely fast. Overall performance is not optimal but adequate. Because these filters have a high loading capacity, they are often left running in vehicles for long durations as recommended by manufacturers which can result in decreased performance, less then optimal gas mileage and the possibility of particles finding there way into the air stream via small leaks due to high pressure differentials between the dirty and clean sides of the filter.
Oiled Foam Aftermarket Performance Elements
Pro’s: Air flow is much better then OEM filters after initial break in of the filter. Filter is washable and reusable. Initially, air flow is similar to stock.
Con’s: This type of foam media is like 95% air so a thick syrupy oil is required for proper particle filtration. The reason these filters do not flow so well when new is because of the high restriction caused by this thick syrupy oil but as the filter is used, the oil is gradually lost in the air stream since the foam media is ~95% air. Of all filter media types, oiled foam is the worst as far as filtration efficiencies are concerned and this efficiency actually decreases over the life of the filter. Usually, companies will report filtration efficiencies based on tests done to low air flows volumes in order to achieve results more in line with OEM filter results.
Dry Media (non oiled) Elements
Pro’s: Air flow is much better then the OEM filters initially. These filters are also washable and reusable and involve no messy oiling procedure. All that is required is a hand wash and thorough drying period.
Con’s: The air flow decreases as the filter loads up since for all intent purposes, this type of filter is very similar to the stock filter. But in order to make this filter flow so well without the benefit of a solution (such as oil) to retain particles, the initial filtering efficiencies are very bad. Therefore, the filtration efficiencies will increase as the filter is used more as debris is collected and fills the voids, but the performance gains are lost eventually.
Oiled Cotton Media Elements
Pro’s: Air flow is much better then OEM filters. These filters are also washable and reusable and usually require a manufacturer specific restoration kit. Oiled media filters are the most prevalent and come in all different levels of quality due to different manufacturing techniques and designs. The specific filter media and oil additives used contribute greatly to the air flow and filtering properties and vary greatly across the realm of different product offerings. Air flow is maintained linearly as filter loads up with dust and debris as compared to the exponential restriction graph of the paper element. These filters are also capable of catching very small particles and depending on the manufacturer, can even rival the OEM paper elements. However, keep in mind, that not all oiled cotton media filters are created equally.
Con’s: These filters use an oiled cotton media which when over oiled, whether from the factory or by the restoration process, has been attributed to the fouling of the MAF’s used on OBDII controlled cars. The restoration process involves cleaning the cotton media with harsh chemicals and can be messy. After cleaning of the cotton media, oil must be reapplied to the media which can be easily over applied by the overly zealous. These filters has have less dust loading capacity then the stock OEM filters (as measured by the ISO 5011 test) however, their capacity is more then capable of lasting upwards to 20K miles.
Cheers - "The Filter Guy"
Pro’s: OEM standards of quality. Filtration is excellent with efficiencies upward to 99% with ASTM course media and no risk to fouling of the delicate Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensors found in many of today’s OBDII equipped vehicles. Very high dust loading capacity and relatively low replacement cost. Because this filer uses very small holes to catch and retain particles, a high quantity of pleats and surface area is required to attain proper air flow so it is not a straight forward comparison to other types of filters such as the oiled cotton media filters.
Con’s: Restriction levels increase exponentially very as filter loads up with dust and debris. Because paper filters use very small holes and static to collect and retain particles, these holes get clogged almost immediately causing restriction levels to rise extremely fast. Overall performance is not optimal but adequate. Because these filters have a high loading capacity, they are often left running in vehicles for long durations as recommended by manufacturers which can result in decreased performance, less then optimal gas mileage and the possibility of particles finding there way into the air stream via small leaks due to high pressure differentials between the dirty and clean sides of the filter.
Oiled Foam Aftermarket Performance Elements
Pro’s: Air flow is much better then OEM filters after initial break in of the filter. Filter is washable and reusable. Initially, air flow is similar to stock.
Con’s: This type of foam media is like 95% air so a thick syrupy oil is required for proper particle filtration. The reason these filters do not flow so well when new is because of the high restriction caused by this thick syrupy oil but as the filter is used, the oil is gradually lost in the air stream since the foam media is ~95% air. Of all filter media types, oiled foam is the worst as far as filtration efficiencies are concerned and this efficiency actually decreases over the life of the filter. Usually, companies will report filtration efficiencies based on tests done to low air flows volumes in order to achieve results more in line with OEM filter results.
Dry Media (non oiled) Elements
Pro’s: Air flow is much better then the OEM filters initially. These filters are also washable and reusable and involve no messy oiling procedure. All that is required is a hand wash and thorough drying period.
Con’s: The air flow decreases as the filter loads up since for all intent purposes, this type of filter is very similar to the stock filter. But in order to make this filter flow so well without the benefit of a solution (such as oil) to retain particles, the initial filtering efficiencies are very bad. Therefore, the filtration efficiencies will increase as the filter is used more as debris is collected and fills the voids, but the performance gains are lost eventually.
Oiled Cotton Media Elements
Pro’s: Air flow is much better then OEM filters. These filters are also washable and reusable and usually require a manufacturer specific restoration kit. Oiled media filters are the most prevalent and come in all different levels of quality due to different manufacturing techniques and designs. The specific filter media and oil additives used contribute greatly to the air flow and filtering properties and vary greatly across the realm of different product offerings. Air flow is maintained linearly as filter loads up with dust and debris as compared to the exponential restriction graph of the paper element. These filters are also capable of catching very small particles and depending on the manufacturer, can even rival the OEM paper elements. However, keep in mind, that not all oiled cotton media filters are created equally.
Con’s: These filters use an oiled cotton media which when over oiled, whether from the factory or by the restoration process, has been attributed to the fouling of the MAF’s used on OBDII controlled cars. The restoration process involves cleaning the cotton media with harsh chemicals and can be messy. After cleaning of the cotton media, oil must be reapplied to the media which can be easily over applied by the overly zealous. These filters has have less dust loading capacity then the stock OEM filters (as measured by the ISO 5011 test) however, their capacity is more then capable of lasting upwards to 20K miles.
Cheers - "The Filter Guy"
Last edited by Battlewagon; Jun 30, 2007 at 01:44 PM.
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From: Socal
Bump for my new signature
Last edited by Battlewagon; Jul 6, 2007 at 11:05 PM.
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