Are More Expensive Engine Air Filters Worth It?

The high-performance air filter is not only capable of providing a slight increase in horsepower, but it can also improve the fuel economy of your vehicle. This is because these filters draw air from outside the engine compartment, where the air is colder. According to Stack Exchange, a network of 180 communities from Q26A, including Stack Overflow, the largest and most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge and develop their careers, you can expect to get about 1BHP more from a good quality filter.

However

, unless you have a very sensitive ear, you won't be able to notice the difference.

What better quality filters do have is that they take longer to clog. This means that they don't actually give you more power, but rather they are better at avoiding energy loss once you've driven a couple of thousand miles. Whether or not they are worth it depends on the application. I paid good money for a K&N air filter for my old traveler, an 18-year-old Subaru 4-cylinder.

After installation, I heard a pretty clean grunt noise from the engine when accelerating, but the idle and mileage and gasoline performance were the same. On the other hand, a K&N air filter installed on my Kawasaki Concours not only gave me that cold grunt noise when accelerating, but I noticed a smoother idle and a small, yes small, increase in top speed performance above 7,000 rpm. So there you go, I think they're worth the money and time spent cleaning them every few thousand miles if used in a performance application, but for a normal old car, the standard, cheap paper filter is the way to go. You'll pay more for a washable air filter because it should last for years instead of months. While this is a good idea in theory, it has multiple problems such as lower MERV ratings (Minimum Efficiency Report Value), frequent maintenance requirements and the potential to attract mold to your air unit.

Longer runtime means more energy usage and will cost you additional money. Any expensive and durable air filter will not only increase the life of the engine but will also protect you from costly engine repairs. This means that by using the MERV or the manufacturer's recommended minimum efficiency report value filter, you will not only improve the performance of the air conditioning system but also improve the overall performance of your vehicle. One of the benefits of a high flow air filter is that unlike normal filters, it doesn't need to be changed every year. All you have to do is clean it approximately every two years.

This is because they don't clog as quickly or as easily but they offer better airflow and better filtration of the air entering the engine. And if your engine gets more air then it can perform better. In fact, a high flow air filter can increase your horsepower by about 3 to 5 HP and also increase your torque. At the same time this can lead to higher fuel efficiency. How? In some of the more expensive units, the filter comes with a cold air intake unit which is installed to extract air from outside of the car instead of using hot air from inside the engine compartment.

Going back to science class, cold air is denser and therefore will burn better thus improving your engine performance. This type of air filter is oil coated which traps dirt and debris and prevents them from passing through its oiled layer. An oiled filter provides cleaner engine performance than other types of filters and is also reusable. These replacement filters require occasional cleaning and re-greasing but should last for the life of your vehicle. For an economical selection that still delivers excellent filtering performance consider EPAuto GP013Extra Guard hardboard engine air filter. It's like a vacuum cleaner; when you notice a decrease in power then a dirty filter can be one of the causes because it's literally pushing through your vehicle's energy. Your home's air filter blocks problems in the air; ventilation systems can pump from outside.

The cheapest filters are made of spun fiberglass which does very little to filter out particles compared to materials such as paper, cotton or polyester. FilterBuy offers more expensive air filters for a reason; they are worth it for quality and comfort. Here at Filter King we offer affordable filters that look expensive but provide protection equal to what you pay for. You'll read elsewhere that pleated filters restrict airflow leading to harder working ovens or air conditioning units which increases energy costs and burns out engines faster. However it was necessary to spray my air filter with oil and getting to it was a big problem (it was placed on right front fender). Expensive filters may seem like luxury but their role is too important to settle for lower quality filters. Finally look for online retailers that offer discounts for setting up recurring air cleaner shipments (ours is 5%, for example).

This is especially true in homes with older HVAC units which weren't built to accommodate thicker air filters. Whether you use cheap or expensive air filters both will filter out particles as it passes through choke body through carburettor of older vehicles or through ducts of newer models. You can also change your air filter every year when you change your engine oil or when you feel there is an abnormal decrease in mileage offered by your vehicle.