AFE pro dry, Fram synwash, or Amsoil EAA.....

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Originally Posted By: RogerB

Given the Amsoil service instructions, and my driving habits, I'll only get about 24k out of this filter before it needs replacing. (I only avg about 8k/year.)

So, my question is why does it have to be replaced after 4 years? Does the nanofiber deteriorate? Does the gasket seal harden?

Someone commented that the filter has been shown to be effective beyond the Amsoil recommendations. How has this been shown, and to what extent? Or, in what way?

Otherwise, the AFE filter seems more attractive to me, as it appears to be cleanable and serviceable forever (or as far into forever as I'll ever need), while offering similar filtration performance. In fact I may never have to mess with it, if the AFE literature is to be believed. 50k before servicing? Lifetime warranty? Hmmm.

Thoughts appreciated.


No filter lasts forever. Amsoil says:

Quote:
When cleaned according to AMSOIL specifications and used in normal service, AMSOIL Ea Air Filters are guaranteed for 100,000 miles or four years, whichever comes first. EaA Filters remain effective for 25,000 miles or one year before requiring cleaning.


I think the 100K must be for eventual loading of crud that that can't be cleaned (sticky gooze and such) and the 4 years is for possible general deterioration of polymers and such.
 
Actually, I understand wear and tear due to mileage and use, but the Amsoil description basically says that after 4 years, it's a throwaway, even if you never drove the car. What is perishable?
 
Originally Posted By: RogerB
Actually, I understand wear and tear due to mileage and use, but the Amsoil description basically says that after 4 years, it's a throwaway, even if you never drove the car. What is perishable?


Honestly - if the car sat in some half-way decent storage it probably would last 6-8+ years or so. Eventually the edge seals would get brittle - probably depending on exposure to heat. Since it will be out of the sun, it should hold up pretty well. The media would last longer.
 
What about filters that don't have a gasket? The filter on my Integra just slides into the intake tube and has no gasket at all. The only gasket it has is a tiny 3/4" donut that just lets it rest inside the air filter box without rubbing on anything. I have a filter sitting downstairs that's 10 years old that I got 25% off, that I plan on using in a year or two. It still looks like new, it's a Purolator. Here's a K&N version of it, it's the only picture I could find:
E-2427.jpg


The only rubber on the entire thing is the tiny little piece that goes on the end of that metal plate, it's a tiny little donut. Mine's still pliable and you can re-use them from previous filters. They just slide on and off.
 
AMSOIL makes its recommendations for worst case possibilities.

Were it mine, I'd put it in an service it every couple of years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first. If a visual inspection showed the gasket becoming hardened, flaky, or otherwise suspect, I'd change.

Best guess-- the filter will last as long as your car, or at least 100,000 miles.

If the manufacturer says "lifetime", someone will always abuse it. On the other hand, a lot of manufacturers say their ATF is "Lifetime", and we know how that translates.
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
That rubber should last pretty long. I think what ages worst on any air filter is the closed cell foam seals.


Yeah I know what you're talking about. I checked the air filter on the Kia I maintain and all the foam was deteriorating and falling apart in my hands. The media itself wasn't that dirty however. He didn't know when he last had it changed.
 
Quote:
AMSOIL makes its recommendations for worst case possibilities.


I started thinking this this morning. My guess is that Amsoil is not considering the 4 years as a "shelf life," but is assuming that you are either 1) putting high miles on the filter (trucker) or 2) performing some other severe duty like a lot of idling (cop) or 3) some combination of the two (local delivery, taxi, etc.) This would be consistent with their tendency to design and market everything for the fleet user.
 
This may not quite be the best thread to ask this in, but the one with the most appropriate title looks a lot like an application listing thread now.

Why is Amsoil defying their entire line of bypass-filter reasoning with their pitch on the EaA filters? For these air filters, they're being very upfront about saying all the dirt is trapped on the surface, not throughout the depth of the filter. The entire concept of their bypass oil filters is that surface filtration is inadequate and will either load up the filter too quickly or restrict flow too much and be useless or harmful. Why do they not apply that logic to their air filters? I do understand that this design lends itself to a quick cleaning, but other than that this looks like a really bad idea all the way around. What am I missing and why are they not using this logic on their bypass filters?
 
Originally Posted By: bulwnkl
This may not quite be the best thread to ask this in, but the one with the most appropriate title looks a lot like an application listing thread now.

Why is Amsoil defying their entire line of bypass-filter reasoning with their pitch on the EaA filters? For these air filters, they're being very upfront about saying all the dirt is trapped on the surface, not throughout the depth of the filter. The entire concept of their bypass oil filters is that surface filtration is inadequate and will either load up the filter too quickly or restrict flow too much and be useless or harmful. Why do they not apply that logic to their air filters? I do understand that this design lends itself to a quick cleaning, but other than that this looks like a really bad idea all the way around. What am I missing and why are they not using this logic on their bypass filters?


Well they are constructed differently for one, I don't think the media and nano-media are the same for the air filters and by-pass filters. Also, the air filters are only cleanable for so many cycles, eventually the full depth of the media will load up.
 
Well, I don't think media type is the issue. I'm talking about the concept of surface filtration vs. depth filtration. Perhaps it's just a question of primary audience? I expect that most folks could run a paper filter 50,000 miles without seeing too much junk on them. For me, 5,000 miles (an that's fall-winter miles) has my air filter filthy and in need of replacement.
 
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