Aftermarket Air Filter Test with data to back up the findings.

[Lorenz]

They tested a bunch of after market air filters for a duramax. I'm sure thier finding would apply to us. Sorry if it's a repost, it's new data to me



Air filter comparison

 

[TexBamBam]

I can't see the graphs... . ???

 

[EBung]

Looks like an AC Delco ad to me

 

[Bob4x4]

Sean,

That has been posted here quite a few times over the last few years.



Bob

P. S you up for a day at Glamis in Nov?

 

[Badunit]

The stated reason behind the test was to compare a stock paper filter versus aftermarket filters. The stock paper filter did well in comparison so it's no wonder it looks like an AC Delco ad. Assuming the data is correct, you could probably rearrange it so another filter looks better. For instance, the other filters had lower initial restriction and stayed lower for a period of time during the dust test. This might be even more true at higher flow rates.

 

[Lorenz]

Sean,

you up for a day at Glamis in Nov?

Went last weekend. Going this weekend, for Holloween.



I'll be out there on the weekend before ThanksGiving for sure with my regular group. We're debating the Thanksgiving weekend.



Let me know what date you can make it out? Your welcome to camp with us anytime... we should get the SoCal group out there!



Bob, When are you catching up? :-laf We'll have to run the LORENZindustries 2. 5 kit up against your Kore Race kit. Your longer bump stops are still installed right?



sorry about the repost guys... ?

 

[TexBamBam]

Does anyone know if the AFE filter was a 7 layer filter?

 

[rbattelle]

I post that link all the time, but it has certaily drawn criticism in the past. Personally, I like it because it helps people to realize that "nothing is free". Basically, you can either get the excellent filtration from a paper filter and sacrifice flow, or get excellent flow from a synthetic and sacrifice filtration.



-Ryan

Or, you can buy a BHAF and get both filtration and flow but sacrifice underhood space. But we won't get into that here.

 

[jwilliams3]

I am thinking about switching back to a stock airbox w/ac delco filter. :-laf

 

[ilovetrains]

OK - so most aftermarket filters do not filter as well. I thought that was the trade off you made, more airflow for slightly less filtration. The key word there is slightly. Those numbers do not mean much to me until you know at what point the passed dirt becomes harful. The author seams to say that any more dirt than the factory Delco is harmful, but is that really true?

 

[Mark Craig]

TexBamBam,



Yes it was PG7 we supplied it for the test to make sure it got run etc. The test was done last year. The PG7 is very very close to the dirt stopping ability of a stock paper filter. It is waaaaaaaaay better than any 4 layer filter by far!



Mark @ DPPI

 

[TexBamBam]

Because of this test I was prompted to take a look at my Tru Flow filter... and low and behold... there was dust around the sensor... AHHHHHHHHHHHHH..... the stock filter is now on... for a while. AFE 7... here I come

 

[Buffalo]

AFE ProGuard-7 System & Silicon Levels.

At my last oil change (Chev. Delo-400 & Fleetguard Filter) I had an analysis of the oil (oil sample test) done by a local Caterpillar testing lab. I,also, have an AFE ProGuard-7 System.

I live in Phoenix, AZ (dusty, desert environment). A fairly good test for an AF.



I had 8303 miles on the oil, with some trailer pulling.



The silicon level was at 5.



The labs remarks were, "No Action Required. No problems presently associated with this sample. Continue sampling at the normal interval".



I even went down to the lab & asked about that & other levels. They said everything looked normal & good.



I,also, checked on "bob is the oil guy.com" website & read many oil sample results. A silicon level of 5 seems to be pretty good, for that amount of mileage on the oil in a dirty environment.



After having the oil sample tested, I feel much more compfortable about the performance of the AFE ProGuard-7 System.



I know some of you guys have AFE PG-7's & have had oil samples tested. Please post your "silicon" results. I believe that really tells the story of what's getting past the filters.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Buffalo]

Another Air Filter Experience.

My '03, HO, is basically stock, other than the AFE PG-7 System with Torque Tube, and a 4' Magnaflow muffler. No boxes.

I, recently, reinstalled the stock air box & AF due to warranty injector issues involving trips to the dealer. I wanted the truck to be as close to completely stock as I could reasonably get it.

What I noticed with the stock air box & AF was that the engine seemed to be, ever so slightly, more responsive. I can't document this. It just feel that way with my "seat-of-the-pants dynomometer". I've read that the fresh air intake sensor (I think it's the AIT-air intake sensor) notices more fresh air coming into the intake than is needed and defuels, slightly. It doesn't defuel with the stock air box & filter. The difference is so slight that it could be my imagination. I do know that I did not expect the results I noticed.



You guys that are a lot sharper, than me, may have a good explanation for this.



Regarding the infamous "Spicer Air Filter Test" on the Duramax website. I believe I read that the stock air box & Delco AF are larger on the Duramax. They are supposed to breathe better, in the stock form, than the Dodge's do. The Dodges are supposed to respond better to AF upgrades than the Duramaxes. Have any of you guys heard that, also.



Getting back to my truck, though. I did notice a lowering of exhaust gas temps. after installing the PG-7 & 4" Magnaflow muffler. I, also, think the PG-7 will work better once fueling performance upgrades are installed. But, if you're going to stay very close to stock, with no boxes, the stock AF & air box is, probably, adequate.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Matt400]

I've read that the fresh air intake sensor (I think it's the AIT-air intake sensor) notices more fresh air coming into the intake than is needed and defuels, slightly.

Can't help but wonder if that may be why an increase in mpg's is seen with an aftermarket filter.

 

[ttreibel]

This is an old test... ... as I stated before I have used Mopar filters from day 1 and my turbo vains show plenty signs of dust. Paper is not the end all for filters when I use all my mopar filter (2 more) I will probably get an airaid or AFE drop in. The truck has 45K on it now.

 

[BigGunZ]

Personally, I don't believe filters make a significant difference in power on a FI engine. Well at least peak HP. The gains are most likely "under the curve". It's easy to see a 15-30 HP difference at the wheels when the engine is NA but a FI engine is a different animal.

A turbo'd or SC'd engine wants air... and is going to get it one way or another. A turbo's spool-up speed can be greatly affected by the ease at which it can breathe through the filter, and pressurize any plumbing post-turbo. My guess would be that if 2 manual trannied engines, were run side by side on the dyno..... one engine with a free flowing intake..... one engine stock... the engine with the induction system would show a better HP/TQ curve below peak (or under the curve). Any peak HP gains would likely be insignificant. That said, IMO, power "under the curve" is usually more valuable than peak HP from a useability standpoint.

It seems to be a common belief regarding turbo Diesels, that improving airflow does nothing but lower EGT's and possibly increase economy. I don't buy it... not with the current OBD II ECMs. These ECM's learn, and they will make more power with airflow mods... under the curve.

 

[BigGunZ]

This is an old test... ... as I stated before I have used Mopar filters from day 1 and my turbo vains show plenty signs of dust. Paper is not the end all for filters when I use all my mopar filter (2 more) I will probably get an airaid or AFE drop in. The truck has 45K on it now.

I agree with you completely on that point. But my concern with oiled filters is the fact that these engines are intercooled. I'll admit up front that my fears may possibly be unfounded but I base this on the following...

When I was just a young squid (Navy), I worked in a shop that cleaned heat exchangers (basically an intercooler used to cool air feeding a turbo used for air conditioning). These heat exchangers would be pretty clogged after what amounted to 100-300 hours (albiet, there was no inlet filter). What would happen is that oil from various parts of the system, and the ambient air, would coat the plumbing... including the small passages of the heat exchanger. As you know, dirt sticks to oil and these heat exchangers would clog rendering the AC systems ineffective.

All that said... I'm still nervous about oiled filters on intercooled engines. I know they flow better but I've seen what that oil can do to an intercooler in a relatively short periods of time. What I'd like to see is someone with a higher mileage IC'd Cummins that pulled their IC and examined it. As I said my fears may be unfounded but it would be nice to see some evidence of that.

I ran a K&N in my Banks turbo'd F250 for 100k miles but it didn't have an IC to clog. Anyone have any insight to this?

 

[BigGunZ]

Additionally... . after viewing those charts, I have to wonder how much of a factor is "the ability to trap dirt". I ask that question because there's a factor that I never see considered... .

Being... how dirt tolerant are these engines? In other words, is the ability to trap particles of a certain micron size, and in a certain volume, critical to the longevity of a Diesel engine. While most of us would answer a resounding yes, I'm not convinced that the ability to trap dirt (considering how good even a cheesy filter is) is even a factor. In other words, the reasons that diesels last so long is that ...

1. They are overbuilt. Forged cranks, pistons, rods etc.
2. The fuel is a lubricant (moreso in the past obviously)
3. They're very dirt tolerant because of items 1 & 2

I'll go out on a limb here and state that a modern Diesel is so "overbuilt", that the variances between filter manufacturers concerning filtration ability, is fairly meaningless and the real issue is flow and the ability to reduce pumping losses.

What say you?