Interesting air filter test...

[Dane]

http://home.usadatanet.net/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm



OK boys, let er rip!



:-laf

 

[Wiredawg]

Very Interesting

Wow! This is great news... I wish I would have known this before spending $700 on three trucks. I'm not real sure what I'm going to do now. I do have a prefilter on the AFE on the 03 and on the KNs on the 02 and 93.



I have an Industrial Technology degree and place a lot of credibility on ISO testing. That's why I've pretty much viewed facts on this subject to be subjective and inconsistent based upon the wide and varied experiences of TDR members and others.



Added to this is my own personal experience of operating in a dusty environment here in TX. I ran a KN Filter Charger on a '90 Toyota 4WD for over 10 years and 190K miles with great service. No ring problems or any other problems.



Now, I have to figure out if I'm going to stay the course w/ my reusable filters or go back to the stock type or a BHAF w/ paper element filter material.



Thanks for finding this... knowing the truth has a lot to do w/ decisions.



Wiredawg

 

[Elite1]

One thing you should note about the Chevy/GMC air filters (which is the vehicles being tested in this study), they have a better intake/filter system than the stock Dodge trucks have. They utilize a cylander type paper filter, not the flat filter the Dodge uses. Dodge owners shouldn't assume that this test has any bearing on our air filters. The old Apples to Oranges school of thought.

When I had my 96' Dodge TD, it came stock with a large air filter box and a large square filter. That truck had 160 HP. When I got the 03' the truck came with 305 HP, yet had a smaller air box and smaller air filter. I noticed after 10k miles, it was already getting restricted, pulling the filter minder down and hurting performance. IMO the engineers for Dodge did us a dis-service by downgrading the airfilter system instead of upgrading it! Chevy/GMC's come with a better air system than Dodge, I am sorry to stay.

 

[scotty1]

One thing you should note about the Chevy/GMC air filters (which is the vehicles being tested in this study), they have a better intake/filter system than the stock Dodge trucks have. They utilize a cylander type paper filter, not the flat filter the Dodge uses. Dodge owners shouldn't assume that this test has any bearing on our air filters. The old Apples to Oranges school of thought.

When I had my 96' Dodge TD, it came stock with a large air filter box and a large square filter. That truck had 160 HP. When I got the 03' the truck came with 305 HP, yet had a smaller air box and smaller air filter. I noticed after 10k miles, it was already getting restricted, pulling the filter minder down and hurting performance. IMO the engineers for Dodge did us a dis-service by downgrading the airfilter system instead of upgrading it! Chevy/GMC's come with a better air system than Dodge, I am sorry to stay.

I got this direct from a Cummins Engineer that worked as a liason with DC... "Dodge made the air box to fit the truck, not the engine. "



Scotty

 

[steved]

I had bad luck with my K&Ns... I could feel grit in the intake tubes after running it for a while. I currently run an amsoil filter with really god results.



I look at those results and find them very funny... notice that for the most part they are all within a persent of each other... the graphs make it look like one was clearly "better" than another... when they are all fairly close...



steved

 

[Wiredawg]

More thought on the matter: I have 75K on my '02 K&N and 48K on my '03 AFE; both have prefilters, both return excellent oil analysis and neither leave any film or residue in the turbo. I operate in an extremely dusty environment in Del Rio too. I guess as long I keep getting good oil analysis and no residue, I'll keep the oiled filters.



Good point about different size airboxes, although I would think you would see similar results in Dodges with the different filter mediums. I can't remember the cm2 flow rating of Dodge airboxes, but I never pulled the filter minder down on them (02 or 03) before BOMBing them, if that is any measure.



Finally, I've seen/heard good and bad about everything and I guess it all boils down to what you experience and what you believe. I believe the results are good on the test conducted, but my expereince and facts on using the K&N and AFE have good results, so I guess I'll keep 'em.



Good thread!



Wiredawg

 

[GLanduyt]

utilize a cylander type paper filter, not the flat filter the Dodge uses.

Not true. The GM Duramax uses a flat panel filter for the 2001-2005 Duramax. 2006 has gone back to the cylinder type filter. Also the person that had the testing might have been a bit bais toward the AC Delco.



The new Amsoil Nano Fiber air filters will blow that all away.



Greg

 

[GECCO]

I look at those results and find them very funny... notice that for the most part they are all within a persent of each other... the graphs make it look like one was clearly "better" than another... when they are all fairly close...



steved

Within one percent of each other?



Accumulative Capacity

Best = 573. 9 grams

Worst = 196. 3 grams

The worst one only holds 34% as much dirt as the best



Accumulative Gain:

Best = . 4 grams

Worst = 7. 9 grams

The worst allowed nearly 20 times more dirt to pass



Initial Restriction:

Best = 4. 54 in of H2O

Worst = 6. 23 in of H2O

a 27% difference



Restriction to flow at 150 CFM (what our motors flow at their torque peak of approx 1600 rpm)

Best = ~. 25 in of H2O

Worst = ~. 75 in of H2O

a 67% difference



Those are pretty large differences..... however, the bigger picture that all of these tests paint is that you can have either good filtration OR good flow, but you cannot have both (assuming the two filters have roughly the same surface area). You can make a restrictive, "clean", filter flow better by increasing it's surface area (by fitting an intake housing that breathes through TWO or more filters at the same time), but you cannot make a "dirty" filter remove more dirt without sacrificing airflow.



Basically what I am saying is that their numbers indicate that if you fitted an airbox such that it breathed simultaneously through (3) stock AC Delco filters you would maintain the far superior filtration of the more restrictive filter yet simutaneously bring the flow rate to roughly the same as the K&N type filters.



Food for thought...

 

[TurboFan]

GECCO, 1 long week for you I bet!



congrats

 

[Brock]

yep... . either high filtration or high flow but never shall the two meet... hahaha. That is why the high flow boys use an oiled filter medium hoping to catch more particulate matter as it flows through the multiple layers and hit multiple strands of the medium that is oiled to catch and stop the dirt.



I have K&N on my Indian motorcycle... . works great though after reoiling you might find some of the pink fluid getting into carb.



I think I might try the amsoil filter in my stock box for a bit... . and after my warranty is gone upgrade to the Scotty

 

[Diesel Power]

you guys need to look at the new synthetic amsoil filter, it flows like a k&n but filters better than anything on the market! go to amsoil.com or do a search, i've had plenty of posts on this. good luck :-laf

 

[GECCO]

GECCO, 1 long week for you I bet!



congrats

yup... . you'd win that bet... especially since the delay is caused by UPS dropping the ball and losing some stuff I need for my trade in before I can take it to the dealer... . otherwise I would literally be on my way to get it as I am typing this!



#ad
UPS

 

[blacksheep4x4]

The new Amsoil filter is the way to go. Flows damn near what a K&N will yet traps more dirt than a stock paper element.

 

[Diesel Power]

if you are a amsoil dealer you need to play by the rules and put amsoil dealer under your name, but your statement is correct amsoil filters can not be beat!

 

[JR2]

No offense but you are an amsoil dealer telling me that an amsoil filter can not be beat. Lets see some impartial testing in a lab, not your opnion on the product that feeds you.

 

[cojhl2]

I've been a Baldwin user and bigot for years. From what I can see from that test they performed very well.



Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.



They one time worked very closely to me on a filter problem. I havent forgotten it and I am a loyal user.

 

[Diesel Power]

go to amsoil.com and click on product info and then click on air filters every thing including the testing (done by donaldson) is there for all to see!

 

[steved]

Within one percent of each other?



Accumulative Capacity

Best = 573. 9 grams

Worst = 196. 3 grams

The worst one only holds 34% as much dirt as the best



Accumulative Gain:

Best = . 4 grams

Worst = 7. 9 grams

The worst allowed nearly 20 times more dirt to pass



Initial Restriction:

Best = 4. 54 in of H2O

Worst = 6. 23 in of H2O

a 27% difference



Restriction to flow at 150 CFM (what our motors flow at their torque peak of approx 1600 rpm)

Best = ~. 25 in of H2O

Worst = ~. 75 in of H2O

a 67% difference



Those are pretty large differences..... however, the bigger picture that all of these tests paint is that you can have either good filtration OR good flow, but you cannot have both (assuming the two filters have roughly the same surface area). You can make a restrictive, "clean", filter flow better by increasing it's surface area (by fitting an intake housing that breathes through TWO or more filters at the same time), but you cannot make a "dirty" filter remove more dirt without sacrificing airflow.



Basically what I am saying is that their numbers indicate that if you fitted an airbox such that it breathed simultaneously through (3) stock AC Delco filters you would maintain the far superior filtration of the more restrictive filter yet simutaneously bring the flow rate to roughly the same as the K&N type filters.



Food for thought...

I was speaking of the "top rated" filters... guess I have to clarify everything.



steved

 

[steved]

go to amsoil.com and click on product info and then click on air filters every thing including the testing (done by donaldson) is there for all to see!

I can say that I am impressed with my oiled foam Amsoil filter... the only thing I noticed is that I overoiled it and it has streaked oil into the intake tube... other than that, the inside of the pipe is absolutely clean.



steved

 

[Diesel Power]

well thats one of the reasons we changed our filter its a no oil, better flow, and better filtration. its the best overall filter the market has to offer! :-laf