It seems that there are a plethora of air filter makers out there making products that promise to reduce restriction and increase flow rates, producing better power and a more noticeable induction sound. These include high-performance companies such as AEM, aFe, Airaid, Injen, K&N, True Flow, and others. Some OEMs, such as Toyota's TRD division, even make so-called "high-performance" filters.
There are also many companies competing for the standard filter replacement market, such as Fram, Purolator, Wix, and others.
In the heavy-duty market, Donaldson has interesting products based on synthetic media. Amsoil brought some of this media to the passenger car and truck market with their Ea filters, but those seem to have been discontinued for some reason or another.
My research thus far has indicated to me that these OEM filters are typically the most efficient in filtration, but I thought it would be worth further investigation. After all, the oil filter market has seen a recent proliferation of products with synthetic, wire-backed media that allow for superior flow and filtration relative to the previously-ubiquitous cellulose media.
My question is therefore: does anyone know what the state of the art in filters these days is for customers who want the best filtration available, or are we still recommended to go with the cellulose OEM filters over any other option?
If better options aren't available, is it because there seems not to be much of a business case for making better products or is it because the characteristics of an air filter, and the lower pressures they operate at, allow for cellulose to shine in ways that simply aren't available in oil filtration? In a naturally aspirated engine, the intake manifold pressure presumably never exceeds atmospheric (~14.5psi). Based on restriction gauge usage, air filters are considered clogged well before they reach even 1psi of pressure drop. By contrast, oil systems regularly run at 30-40psi (higher at startup) and, as I understand it, bypass valves are set to allow for 10, 15 or even 20 psi of pressure loss across the media, depending on the application.
I can understand why there might not be as much of a business case for air filters as oil filters; there's a greater variety of airbox designs, they don't get changed as frequently, and - from the efficiency numbers I've seen bandied about for OEM filters - there simply doesn't seem to be as much room for improvement. Yet I am certain that I cannot be the only person who would be interested in a higher-efficiency, better-filtering product; surely someone in the market caters to people like me?
Thanks in advance for any input anyone might have.
There are also many companies competing for the standard filter replacement market, such as Fram, Purolator, Wix, and others.
In the heavy-duty market, Donaldson has interesting products based on synthetic media. Amsoil brought some of this media to the passenger car and truck market with their Ea filters, but those seem to have been discontinued for some reason or another.
My research thus far has indicated to me that these OEM filters are typically the most efficient in filtration, but I thought it would be worth further investigation. After all, the oil filter market has seen a recent proliferation of products with synthetic, wire-backed media that allow for superior flow and filtration relative to the previously-ubiquitous cellulose media.
My question is therefore: does anyone know what the state of the art in filters these days is for customers who want the best filtration available, or are we still recommended to go with the cellulose OEM filters over any other option?
If better options aren't available, is it because there seems not to be much of a business case for making better products or is it because the characteristics of an air filter, and the lower pressures they operate at, allow for cellulose to shine in ways that simply aren't available in oil filtration? In a naturally aspirated engine, the intake manifold pressure presumably never exceeds atmospheric (~14.5psi). Based on restriction gauge usage, air filters are considered clogged well before they reach even 1psi of pressure drop. By contrast, oil systems regularly run at 30-40psi (higher at startup) and, as I understand it, bypass valves are set to allow for 10, 15 or even 20 psi of pressure loss across the media, depending on the application.
I can understand why there might not be as much of a business case for air filters as oil filters; there's a greater variety of airbox designs, they don't get changed as frequently, and - from the efficiency numbers I've seen bandied about for OEM filters - there simply doesn't seem to be as much room for improvement. Yet I am certain that I cannot be the only person who would be interested in a higher-efficiency, better-filtering product; surely someone in the market caters to people like me?
Thanks in advance for any input anyone might have.