Air filters - paper vs foam vs K&N types
Submitted: Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 21:35
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viz
This has probably been done to death elsewhere but I spoke to a that diesel mob down Berrima way at the 4x4 show in the weekend. They said stay with paper OEM filters - which surprised the hell out of me. Apparantly foam kills turbos and does not have the surface area and oil type K&N's get blocked.
I am a fan of K&N filters - used foam at one time, but did not find them all that flash. Got to use K&N and found them very good, though I have yet to get into the bulldust with one.
Anyone else's experience?
/viz
Reply By: Member - Cocka - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 23:12
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 23:12
Don't know much about the others but K&N have kept me breathing a long time. Just service them according to conditions & like the way you look after the rest of the rig.
Degree of dirt inducted depends on where the intake is located. Normal dirt driving where you pass the occasional vehicle, but stop for a road train & wait for the dust to settle again, wont cause any overdue mess up of the filter.
Also avoid following closely in someone elses dust cloud and you will also avoid filling the interior with that stinkin' dust, but then again it's a part of the outback, isn't it ??
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Reply By: trolute - Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 10:38
Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 10:38
I think of it this way.
Earth moving equipment works in very nasty dusty environments, and some of the bigger machines are worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars. The manufactorers go to great lenghts to ensure they are
well protected, and both CAT and Komatsu (and others probably, but I know of these two for sure) use paper elements.
I race a motocross bike, and we use foam filters in these, but the filter in my 0.450 lt bike is almost the same size as my 4.2 lt patrol, and the foam filters get changed between each race meeting, and when really dusty, between each race. We use them because paper ones would send us broke.
And as for a drag car using K&N, they are in big trouble if they get into the dirt. They are after outright flow thru, and can afford to trade off protection.
I reckon paper elements are the best solution, foam is good is its big enough, but you would need a huge airbox for a car, and K&N I don't really know about, but why would CAT not use them in earth moving equipment if they are better?
Just my thoughts :-)
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Reply By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 14:18
Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 14:18
Interesting. As I suggested in earlier posts I use the foam filter for the cost saving rather than a perceived better performance that I didn't think really existed.
However it is intersting to note that the expensive AC Delco far exceeds the Uni filter and the majority of paper filters... How many of you guys are using AC Delco paper filters? Or are you using the Ryco, or other cheap copy... From looking at those figures a uni filter would probally be giving you the same sort of protection as the cheaper paper filters. I don't know about you but with the ammount and kind of k's I do I can't afford to spend $100 every 5k's just on an air filter...
I'm going to stick with my uni and clean it after every trip or 5k as I've always done...
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Follow Up By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 18:32
Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 18:32
Yep,sticking with my Uni Filter also.One of my mates work in the bush and constantly drives on gravel road,a Rodeo T/D.He was noticeing alot of fine dust on the air inlet behind the air filter(paper) and got his boss to buy a Uni Filter.After installing this the fine dust was gone.Good enough for me.
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 18:37
Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 18:37
The other thing with my uni I noticed is that where the
snorkel inlet is in the air box is a round black oil type circle each time I clean it (after city driving). I never had any signs of that when blowing compressed air through my paper filters... It's catching some kind of gunk in their, it's not comming from MY motor as it's straight after the
snorkel. Makes you wonder what we're all breathing everyday...
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Reply By: Member - Duncs - Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 23:14
Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 at 23:14
When I bought my GQ (many years ago) a trusted friend and excellent diesel mechanic said I should get rid of the foam filter that it came with because they do not filter adequately. I said what about the rtace cars that all use foam. He said they rebuild the engine after every race, do you want to do that? Ichanged to paper.
I had a problem with the car while in
Perth and took it to a diesel fuel injection workshop. Asked what he thought. He said stick with paper, same reason as that stated by my mate.
I took the car to Berrima and he said the same as everyone else.
My GU uses paper and always will.
While on the subject of filters many aftermarket fiter systems don't match original equipment specs. The after market fuel filter on the GQ was 10 micron the OE is 5 micron and that is a big difference, enough to affect warranties. It pays to
check before you buy.
Duncs
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Reply By: Flash - Monday, Jul 11, 2005 at 14:59
Monday, Jul 11, 2005 at 14:59
There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.
The same goes for tests like the above mentioned ones.
Q>How do you prove it's authenticity?
I could publish a paper that said there were people living on Pluto- proves nothing.
Q>What about a
well maintained oiled foam versus a SLIGHTLY clogged paper one. I have conclusively proven which breathes better on the Dyno-both by HP at the wheels and manifold pressure. After all, a paper filter is not new for long, and we will all try and stretch it out a little bit before fitting a new one. (Are you going to replace yours every 5,000 klms or even less on dirt- I'm damn sure I wouldn't) What about the cost of the extra fuel because it's a bit clogged???
Doesn't filter
well enough???
Well why do I have two diesels in the family, both extensive dirt work, both run on oiled foam, one with 490,000 klms and the other ONLY 286,000 (barely run in!!)... BOTH in perfect mechanical condition and use no oil.
(BTW- BOTH have always had bypass filters fitted.)
Like I said, lies, damned lies and statistics???? You choose, but be carefull.
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