Best air filter?

[FoxProTwisty]

I've used the same Green for 5-6 years. I clean and oil it once in the fall as well as the throttle body. There might be a little scuzz on the back of the TB flapper but that's about it. If you find one for cheap, they're great.

 

[Johnson Johnson]

Yeah even a terrible supertech air filter should be around 98% efficient when new. Then after 5 to 10 thousand miles it will be around 99%.

I don't think that's how it works TBH. You can buy a good quality filter for the price of that junk.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Best to most of us means best filtering. That being said k&n is just about the worst.
On an iso5011 test k&n stoped between 96 to 97% of dirt. A typical cheap no name paper air filter stops over 99% of dirt.
ACdelco air filters stop greater than 99.9% of dirt.
So to be fair a k&n is probably better than nothing, but I have never seen an iso5011 test ran with nothing.

At what micron level?

 

[Krieg]

So I'm about to change my air filter on my 2019 Fiat 124 Spider, and was looking at a K&N performance filter. But i've seen lots of different opinions on what to use. Some say only use OEM filters, since mopar is saying that their filter is made specifically for this car, others are saying some aftermarket performance filters are better. What I've seen with some performance filters is that because more air can be let in through the filter, more crap can be sucked in and damage the engine. But also having an performance filter will not only increase oxygen and have better combustion, it'll increase a little bit of power. I was looking at K&N filters, but there's some mixed reviews apparently. What kind of filter is best for turbo engines, if that matters. I've seen BMC, K&N and another brand I don't remember. Is performance filters good for just street driving? Or mostly for racing. I don't race my car, but if it helps smooth out power and whatnot, I'll get it, but if OEM paper filters mean better filteration, then I'll get that. I've seen different answers so I want to know what yalls opinions are.

OEM

 

[oil pan 4]

At what micron level?

Idk whatever the iso5011 standard is. I think it's mostly 2 to 8 micron dust. Air filters are rated differently than oil filters.

 

[oil pan 4]

I don't think that's how it works TBH. You can buy a good quality filter for the price of that junk.

Except that's exactly how it works.

 

[Johnson Johnson]

Except that's exactly how it works.

Ok, I like to start off as well as possible then. Oiled pleat filters are terribly inefficient, and can damage MAF sensors.

 

[ChrisD46]

Man, I think I'll just stick with those paper/cotton STP and WIX filters if oil filters are need to be scrubbed then reoiled. I live in a dusty area, and I was told to use an oil filter.

* After market air filters are fine IF you get a good fit and seal . The STP aftermarket air filter I bought had a good price but had a sloppy fit and a UOA proved a high silicon reading was the result . I switched back to a more expensive Hyundai OEM air filter and next UOA the high silicon levels were eliminated . Since then , I prefer OEM air filters knowing I will get a good air filter with a snug fit good for approx. 30K miles on paved streets and highways .

 

[4WD]

They're cxxp, don't do it.

He left the building last June …

 

[DannyM]

Ok, I like to start off as well as possible then. Oiled pleat filters are terribly inefficient, and can damage MAF sensors.

Ah... is this the case? .. Everybody acts like they have something so incredibly special when they get these pre-oiled filters.. so I was looking at those LOL..

but you say not so great eh ?

 

[Johnson Johnson]

Ah... is this the case? .. Everybody acts like they have something so incredibly special when they get these pre-oiled filters.. so I was looking at those LOL..

but you say not so great eh ?

They're terrible, and can foul the MAF too

 

[DannyM]

They're terrible, and can foul the MAF too

but you are talking about even the OEM stuff like the Honda oiled filters as well.. right ?

 

[Johnson Johnson]

but you are talking about even the OEM stuff like the Honda oiled filters as well.. right ?

Do Honda make oiled filters designed to work with MAF sensors?

 

[DannyM]

Do Honda make oiled filters designed to work with MAF sensors?

I don't know. .. I just know that most of some of their engine air filters are pre-oiled.

 

[Johnson Johnson]

MANN

Mann aftermarket is very poor IMO. I'd go Hengst, Alco or OEM.

 

[Learn Ya]

I do not recommend using K&N. I tried K&N...once. I stopped using it after I noticed fine grit in the intake tube. Those ultra fine particles were sneaking through the properly oiled/maintained filter. The intake stayed clean after switching back to paper filters. Just my $0.02.

Another friend of mine rebuilt his old Jeep XJ motor after years of service. He ran a K&N most of its life. When he was cleaning the oil pan after removal, the inside of the pan contained a buildup of super fine solids. It had accumulated in the corners of the oil pan and was hard like cement. As we scraped it away, it was a tan clay-like solid. Not metal or oil sludge. It turned out to be super fine grit that got sucked into the motor and past the rings. Just his $0.02.

 

[Arc]

The density of an air filter only matters in a dusty environment. I've always used a no name brand high flow cone racing filters on my truck and its pushing 180k miles. If you have a stock airbox pull the paper off the OEM filter and use a foam pad or high flow filter material under the metal mesh that holds it in place. What matters most is getting colder air into the intake manifold so spending money on heat shielding from the filter to the intake is better than buying expensive filters.

 

[Johnson Johnson]

The density of an air filter only matters in a dusty environment. I've always used a no name brand high flow cone racing filters on my truck and its pushing 180k miles. If you have a stock airbox pull the paper off the OEM filter and use a foam pad or high flow filter material under the metal mesh that holds it in place. What matters most is getting colder air into the intake manifold so spending money on heat shielding from the filter to the intake is better than buying expensive filters.

I couldn't disagree more, some of the best air filters are also amongst the cheapest.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Lots of people saying OEM, but the NIssan OEM are made by Mahle, and I can attest there not very good - posted on this before. Well the Mahle ones the dealer sells are not very good. The ones that come from Japan seem to be - but there made by someone else. So it depends on the "OEM", since auto OEM's don't make filters.

I used WIX for a long time but they cheapened out. I won't use an air filter without a steel backing.

I bought a bunch just to compare - and the Denso and Fram Titanium seemed to be the best constructed and fitting at least. However that was a few years ago and FRAM with their issues wouldn't be on my list anymore.

So Denso I guess?

 

[Johnson Johnson]

Lots of people saying OEM, but the NIssan OEM are made by Mahle, and I can attest there not very good - posted on this before. Well the Mahle ones the dealer sells are not very good. The ones that come from Japan seem to be - but there made by someone else. So it depends on the "OEM", since auto OEM's don't make filters.

I used WIX for a long time but they cheapened out. I won't use an air filter without a steel backing.

I bought a bunch just to compare - and the Denso and Fram Titanium seemed to be the best constructed and fitting at least. However that was a few years ago and FRAM with their issues wouldn't be on my list anymore.

So Denso I guess?

Yes, and it seems odd their oil filters are generally very good. Air I'd go Hengst, Alco maybe Bosch.