What filters better

What filters the best, stock or an afe dry air filter? I want the most protection. I have a k&n and I just found a pathetic amount of dust in the airbox behind the filter. I over oiled it the last time and I still find this.

 

I thought aftermarket filters were more for better airflow but if anyone knows for sure I'd be interested to know too.

 

Havent tried it yet but everyone raves about the pro-Dry.... i think eventually im gonna go for it

 

This subject has been covered in several threads.

The answer is that the stock filter removes more particulate from the airflow over any aftermarket unit.

 

What filters the best for filtering? I'd say, the stock filter with the secondary filter also. But for airflow - the stock filter is not as good as aftermarket.

I've had K&N's for years. #1) You have to make sure the filter is seated properly in the airbox. #2) You do not want to overoil it - the excess oil can cause other problems (I never had this problem with mine). #3) You've gotta clean it regularly and keep it clean. If the K&N gets too dirty, it won't filter properly and will allow dust to go past it (I never had problems with dust).

In terms of airflow - the K&N has more airflow. I currently have an AFE (without secondary filter) and it does not have as much airflow as all the K&N's I've owned.

 

This is a pretty good test of filters:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

 

This question is much easier to understand if you accept that airflow and filtering capability are trade-offs. Getting increases in both just doesn't work, more airflow means less filtering, more filtering means less airflow. Pick where you want to focus.

Unless you have, or can find, a pressure sensing setup for before and after the filter, the other measurable aspects are; airflow: 0-60/qtr mile times, dynos; filtering: oil analysis. From what I've seen of performance tests and filtering tests (vendor sites, bobistheoilguy.com, etc.) the orders are:

Filtering:
o paper
o oiled foam
o dirty Pro-Dry
o dirty oiled gauze (K&N)
o clean Pro-Dry (dirty K&N & this one actually may need to be switched, they seem to be pretty close)
o clean oiled gauze (a clean K&N filters worst, check silica levels on oil analysis')

Airflow:
o clean oiled gauze
o clean Pro-Dry
o oiled foam
o dirty Pro-Dry
o dirty oiled gauze
o paper

The above lists are from the research that I've gathered, and are my own. As far as the Pro-Dry, it doesn't filter as well as paper when it's clean (from oil analysis tests), but the filtering improves after 6-12 months to just bleow paper-like levels.

For airflow, Pro-Dry appears to be better, but it's based on subjective posts referencing mpg for the most part, along with some vendor tests (always suspect since they usually never use a standard test) on airflow. I have not seen a dyno or perf tests with only a paper to Pro-Dry filter swap.

 

Perfect thank you, back to stock it is

 

AFE PRO DRY S filter FTMFW!!!

 

For me it will be either paper or the Pro Dry. I do like popping the old out and putting a new one in, without jacking around with cleaning it.

 

I have an AFE Pro Dry and not a spec of dust behind the filter even with the deck plate mod.

 

so would it b better 2 go 2 the dealer and buy a oem 1 or fram, puralater etc. which is better?

 

If you are going to spend money on a filter it might aswell be aftermarket.. they keep shit out and increase performance..

 

Unless you are running at redline all the time or running a high horse race engine, performance gain from an air filter are marginal at best. On top of that, they do not filter out the finest of particles as well as paper. You don't see any dust in the intake tract because it all went into your combustion chambers.

 

i have a K&N filter, junk collects at firewall side of filter. i noticed secondary vapor filter does not show any wear or tear at all, will removing this filter allow more particles to get through, also improving HP and MPG, void warranty, fail smog in CA?? any help will help.

 

Do you have a v-6?

 

OEM is almost always better at filtering. Air flow on the other hand...no.

 

x2

Stock FTW

 

another x2

I think filtering is a lot more important than air flow...makes you think about what the A/M filters miss....

 

Save your money and stick with the OEM.

I've had aftermarket filters on other cars with no noticeable differences in both power and gas millage.