Originally Posted By: bulwnkl
Quote:
-Do you have an efficient air filtration system?
Unfortunately, I have no idea. No filter manufacturers have been willing to provide efficiency data to me for any of my automotive applications. Do you know of a way to obtain this other than several thousand dollars to SWRI? This is something I think is likely more important to overall engine wear than most of the things I see people 'worrying' about.
I agree wholeheartedly! As I said, the intake system is the only place where outside contamination can find it's way into your engine. Eliminate that and a back door for dirt and you are a long way towards ensuring a long engine life, and longer oil life as well, especially if you live in a dusty area.
Originally Posted By: bulwnkl
One of the things that concerns me is backhand information a former Cummins lab person claims: That typical dry media air filters pass increasing amounts of particles as they age and load up. That doesn't appear to fit the claims or the very little bit of data I've seen on this board relative to air filters (I'm saying I've seen very little, not necessarily that there exists here very little) very well. Still, that person was in a position such that they _should_ have known what they were talking about.
Still and all, I find that people are people, which means that there are above- and below-average-competence people in every field, and no profession I've found is immune to that fact. So, I'm left unsure what to think since I don't have any data at all on my own filters, and the abstract data I have is not all in agreement.
A few years ago I had access to engineers and test labs involving major filtration companies and was able to gather info for a story on air filters. Everything substantive and trustworthy I have read, seen or heard, now or since, DIRECTLY contradicts what your guy, formerly and allegedly from Cummins, said. I discount it. If he can produce "dirt" (i.e. test data) to support his claim, that would be great and I'd be willing to change my mind, but an unsupported comment from a former so-and-so doesn't get any weight with me and won't keep me awake at night. Hopefully that allays your fears just a little.
Yeah, it's hard to get direct data specific to a particular filter but there are enough hints here and there, I think, to suggest that if you buy a premium product that claims high efficiency, it has a large number of pleats (for long life and airflow) and you install a restriction gauge, you are "good enough" to go. Back when I did the story, here's one version of the story that's still online:
Air Filters
What we need is another "Spicer Test"(Google it). Another guy with deep enough pockets to have SWRI test a boatload of filter brand (unfortunately only one part number, for an early 2000's Duramax in that case). While that test is dated now, it indicates that the better brands have the highest efficiency, thoug not necessarily the most flow.
And honestly, IMO, people are overly obsessed with "flow." And they tend to overrate the performance differences a few extra CFM offers. The way I drive, as long as the engine can attain rated power, I'll trade any fractional increase in power for clean air and do so happily.MIght even trade a littel of that rated power, since I so seldon need it. Plus, 95% of the time (my estimate in see a lot of dyno testing and testing of products) a simple filter element change has micro-minimal effect, often within the calibration and operator errors of a dyno test. It's usually the intake tract that impedes flow the most, and if you want power, that's where you need to look first. From there, you just need to increase the filter AREA of an efficient media to get the airflow (if space allows). Ultimately, you often have to choose flow or efficiency. For myself, I choose efficiency. Maybe it's my ever-decreasing testosterone levels
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