Engine Air Filter Test Results

[pawpaw]

Seeing as how our engines air filter is a prime ingestion point for corruptive debris & it's often an ovelooked maintenance item, I thought maybe these nicely written up & graphed ISO 5011 tests, done on various brands of engine air filters, might prove to be interesting reading.
EDIT: New link to the test, Seems Spicer has moved his test file. http://moto.lexp.net/wiki/ISO_5011_D...er_Test_Report

[spridget]

Good study.

I'd like to see how a K&N with 25,000 miles compares to a brand new one.

[pawpaw]

Originally Posted by pawpaw

Seeing as how our engines air filter is a prime ingestion point for corruptive debris & it's often an ovelooked maintenance item, I thought maybe these nicely written up & graphed ISO 5011 tests, done on various brands of engine air filters, might prove to be interesting reading.

EDIT: New link to the test, Seems Spicer has moved his test file. ISO 5011 Duramax Air Filter Test Report - MotoWiki

[Blkfordtaurusman]

I just bought and installed the K & N air filter. I hope it wasn't a lousy investment.

[behlinla]

I think the WIX filter wins in that test for having the best balance of performance and efficiency. It has a decent efficiency and it has the best dust loading curve of the bunch, so it will have the least impact as it gets dirty. I was surprised the K&N filter had such a low dirt capacity despite having a much lower efficiency. So if you don't clean your K&N regularly you might be worse off than using a regular paper filter!

If you don't mind the slight drop in HP, the AC Delco filter would be the best choice for engine longevity. I was surprised it took the longest time to clog while passing the least amount of dirt. That's impressive.

[pawpaw]

I was impressed with the test & how well it was presented.

I stick with the specified Motorcraft air filter, but I'd kinda like to know who made the "brand x/no name filter, as it did surprisingly well also. Too bad the Purolator was found to have had a defective seal, so that corrupted its findings, even so, it did pretty well even with that defect.

[downhill]

Been on the Wix program for 40 years. I have used Wix, oil, fuel and air filters as a first choice. They are branded as top line in some different auto chains, the Napa gold line is Wix for air, oil and fuel filters.
I have the best access for the Wix versus a long drive to civilization for more choices.
My closest Napa is 25 miles away !!

[mjhpadi]

Originally Posted by spridget

Good study.

I'd like to see how a K&N with 25,000 miles compares to a brand new one.

My thoughts exactly, since I've read that these filters (and most of the cleanables) work better after they have some miles on them.

[pawpaw]

Most filters work/filter better after a few miles & deposits clog up the larger pores some. Thats when filter surface area comes into play. The more filter area available, the lower the pressure drop/restriction flow across the filter media during its change intervial.

Our factory cold air air intake system isn't restricted for the factory engine at the RPM range most operate in, so there is plenty of air flow margin as the factory filter loads over its scheduled change intervial. No need to fix what aint broke, the old timers use to tell us kids!!!! lol

But there is a difference in how well a filter removes & holds particles over time & the Mfgr specs are still the ones to meet or exceed & only so much filter media can be stuffed into the factory air box. So a filter that removes smaller particles is gonna need a larger airbox, to fit in more media surface area, so pressure drop doesn't get out of hand as the filter loads. We've already paid the factory to do the math for us when we bought the vehicle, so all we have to do is follow the instructions we've paid for!!!!! lol

A few years ago on the Cummins site, they were saying that warranty for scuffed cyls would be denied if oiled foam or cotton gauze air filter was used & they put up photos of scuffed up engine cyls as an example.

I'll just stick to the factory specified paper filters, changed as called for in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide, as those filters have to meet or exceed Fords specs.
Who knows what specification aftermarket filters meet, nor when the vendor will decide to change them to help his profit margin!!!!!
Same for oil, fuel, tranny, power steering & cabin filters that Ford specifies. Ever wonder what spec aftermarket filters are made to????