Scientific Testing of Air Filter Media

[Don Williams]

I apologize if I overlooked it in the forums but can any forum member, TDR or Geno point us to scientific testing of air filter media. The only thing I could find searching the internet was a qualitative test done on Bob is the Oil Guy website: https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm. The qualitative aspect is that observation of dirt or particulates passing the filter is compared by color on a secondary media. Bob's methods make sense and in reality the difference in his testing between paper, foam and cotton is subtle suggesting that there is not a big difference provided that each are serviced properly. As a retired civil engineer and in another life a graduate student doing scientific testing at the university in my field (water & sewer) it's hard to imagine that the automotive/truck industry hasn't done quantitative testing testing of each material, dry and oiled. If so why can't we find it to downplay some of the hype?

 

[Bob4x4]

From what I have been told Cummins main test is oil analysis along with dirt holding capacity,and flow rates

 

[p-Bar]

I apologize if I overlooked it in the forums but can any forum member, TDR or Geno point us to scientific testing of air filter media. The only thing I could find searching the internet was a qualitative test done on Bob is the Oil Guy website: https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm. The qualitative aspect is that observation of dirt or particulates passing the filter is compared by color on a secondary media. Bob's methods make sense and in reality the difference in his testing between paper, foam and cotton is subtle suggesting that there is not a big difference provided that each are serviced properly. As a retired civil engineer and in another life a graduate student doing scientific testing at the university in my field (water & sewer) it's hard to imagine that the automotive/truck industry hasn't done quantitative testing testing of each material, dry and oiled. If so why can't we find it to downplay some of the hype?

A test was done using oiled gauze filter and the paper variety. I will try to find the link It was an ISO test.
Here is the link http://www.billswebspace.com/AirFilterTest.htm

 

[Don Williams]

Thanks p-Bar, I found it. I was originally thinking of academic testing at a university and hadn't considered an enthusiast teaming up with a testing lab.

 

[Tuesdak]

A test was done using oiled gauze filter and the paper variety. I will try to find the link It was an ISO test.
Here is the link http://www.billswebspace.com/AirFilterTest.htm

Good Find! Got to be one of the last holdouts for that old study. The original site with this info doesn't exist anymore. Regardless here is additional info on testing where K&N invited SPICER to their testing labs... Regardless it's a good read about the ISO 5011 tests and explains how K&N looks better using the tests. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/3-...aust-emissions-upgrades/66536-k-n-report.html

The long thread with the study's origins is here:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/63...004-lb7/10372-air-filter-study-completed.html

 

[p-Bar]

Good Find! Got to be one of the last holdouts for that old study. The original site with this info doesn't exist anymore. Regardless here is additional info on testing where K&N invited SPICER to their testing labs... Regardless it's a good read about the ISO 5011 tests and explains how K&N looks better using the tests. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/3-...aust-emissions-upgrades/66536-k-n-report.html

The long thread with the study's origins is here:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/63...004-lb7/10372-air-filter-study-completed.html

Yes I'm glad I found it . We discussed this a lot back in the day. Still interesting

 

[p-Bar]

Thanks p-Bar, I found it. I was originally thinking of academic testing at a university and hadn't considered an enthusiast teaming up with a testing lab.

Yes we all found that interesting.