Are All Car Air Filters the Same Quality?

In addition to the brand or type of filter you get, it could also affect your replacement needs. Your car's oil filter works differently than a filter in a coffee maker. It is a common misconception that dirt particles in a car filter are filtered the same way as through a filter in a coffee maker. That is not how an oil filter functions.

The design of the media in an automotive oil filter forms a kind of labyrinth through which the fluid must “negotiate” its way. With careful engineering, a filter manufacturer like Purolator designs the media as a kind of labyrinth through which fluid will pass, but particles will not. The engine air filter does not need to be changed as often as an oil filter. Most vehicle owners are aware of the need to change oil and filter at regular intervals, but few understand the importance of changing their car's engine air filter.

A vehicle ingests 10,000 gallons of air for every gallon of fuel it consumes. In other words, the volume of air entering the engine is ten thousand times the volume of gasoline. Imagine if the air entering the engine is dirty, and the air on roads and highways contains all kinds of pollutants, such as soot, dust and dirt, what will this unfiltered air need to damage critical engine components and possibly cause cylinder wear? While you may not notice the effects right away, over time the presence of contaminants will cause a much greater chance of needing major repairs or a new engine. Therefore, it is essential to change the engine air filter at least as often as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. However, if you are driving in particularly dusty conditions or off-road, it's a good idea to change your air filter more often.

Always follow the “normal” service schedule in your owner's manual when replacing the oil filter. The fact is that most of us, most of the time, drive short distances, which really requires us to follow a “severe”, not “normal” service program. The reason is that if your vehicle doesn't drive on the road for long distances, the oil doesn't have a chance to heat up enough for water, condensation, and crude fuel to evaporate from the crankcase. Over time, this condensation builds up and can cause costly damage to internal engine parts. All filter media are the same.

Each type of filter requires a unique medium to work properly, explained Kevin O'Dowd, Director of Marketing & Communications for MANN+HUMMEL Purolator Filters. Nothing can be done about unpleasant odors on the road, for example, in a construction area or in a farm country. Many motorists don't know that if their vehicle is a 2001 model or newer, it is probably equipped with a cabin air filter, a device that is designed to keep the air inside the car clean and free of dust, smoke and even unpleasant odors that enter through the ventilation grilles even when the windows are rolled up. All filters are practically the same. Filtration is about capturing and retaining debris and contaminants that could otherwise cause gradual wear and tear or even catastrophic engine failure. And since most of the oil filter features are buried inside the filter, it's easy to assume that all oil filters are the same.

When it comes to filters, brand name doesn't matter. It's a good idea to trust manufacturers who place their decades of reputation on the design, construction and performance of components, materials and engineering that for the most part go unnoticed once assembled. Therefore, motorists and do-it-yourselfers should rely on engines to filters manufactured by those who have pioneered innovations such as Purolator who invented the first automotive oil filter, first full-flow oil filter and screw-on oil filter. Unfortunately when you look at air filters they seem too often for everyone to look alike. Low-quality discount filters contain very thin filter material with fewer creases, less dense paper and higher micron rating so they filter and trap less debris and abrasives. Like air filters different vehicles use different cabin air filters.

You need to make sure you choose the right one for your vehicle. You can search for right filter for your vehicle with Premium Guard Filter Search Tool. In short No! The air filters are model specific which means you should get a filter that is designed for your car model. For vehicles with similar engine models and ranges you can use your air filters interchangeably. Some air filters come with air restriction indicators these indicators are installed inside engine compartment or in cab of car they monitor airflow released by air filter and alert you when it needs to be cleaned or replaced. Make sure air cleaner has sealing gaskets attached to steel caps during installation in housing gasket presses and clamps against flat surfaces effectively and securely sealing tiny dust particles cannot escape air filter and reach engine. Modern vehicle engine technology is exponentially more complex than machines our grandparents drove in their youth with range distributed systems that manage all functions of vehicle it can also be much more expensive to repair them best way mitigate these potential problems is keep abreast engine air cleaner maintenance. Change engine air filter at regular intervals even if it doesn't seem very dirty risk just isn't worth it just keep in mind all air filters not same when comes modern engines very important ensure replace old dirty filter with an air filter designed built original equipment specifications any air filter constructed different media different number folds additives such as oil etc could affect airflow.