Air filters of the engines are one of the most common and important parts in a vehicle. This part of your vehicle works the same way as the nose hair helps human in breathing, which is keeping the dirt and dust out. Proper working of an engine air filter greatly affects the performance of the engine and overall lifetime of the engine as well.
What Is the Function of Engine Air Filters?
In automobiles, air from the atmosphere is taken to produce the air-fuel mixture which is burnt to produce power. The atmospheric air contains dirt, dust and pollutant particles in it. These harmful particles cannot be taken through the air intake system inside the
The soot particles, oil, dust and pollutant lead to scale formation inside the engine and reduce the working capacity of the engine. To prevent these troubles, engine air filters are installed in the air supply system of the engines. The filters arrest the dirt, dust and debris contained in the air and let only the clean portion of the air particles go through.
Briefly, function of engine air filters is filtering the dirty air and providing the engine clean air which is free from dirt, dust and pollutants.
Best Engine Air Filters Review
There are numerous models of engine air filters available in the market. Some of the filters will be reviewed here, which are recommended by many users based on experience.
1. Toyota Genuine Parts17801-YZZ02 Air Filter
Model number of this Toyota filter is 17801-YZZ02. The product only weighs 6.6 ounces and has a dimension of 11.7x8x1.8 inches.
Features and benefits
This filter is a genuine OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) product. This assures the user of the built quality of the filter, as Toyota is a high reputation brand in automobile industry. The weight of the filter is also pretty light, that provides less resistance to the intake air in flowing.
The surface area of the filter is not the largest among all, but it is quite sufficient. This filter being a genuine OEM fits readily with your Toyota car. Also it is highly recommended for use with Toyota motor oil products.
This air filter can be used with Toyota motor oil brands as well as with other motor oil brands. This helps the filter to be used universally in most of the car models.
Cons of the product
The light weight of the product raises a question about its longevity, as air pressure may damage the filter sooner than others, requiring frequent replacements.
2. FRAM CA9997 Extra Guard Panel Air Filter
This engine air filter model comes from the manufacturer Fram. The filter is of panel air filter type and has some additional thickness. The dimension of this product is 9.9×6.6×5.1 inches. This filter weighs 8 ounces.
Features and benefits
This model of engine air filter has a considerable thickness, which implies that it has a greater contact area with the dirty air coming from the atmosphere. The larger overall surface area of this filter helps it to arrest more dirt and dust particle keeping the air to the engine cleaner.
The above fact provides double engine protection comparative to many filters. The effective cleaning of air by the filter increases the engine life. The filter also improves air flow quality to the engine. The thick filter can handle higher air pressure at elevated speeds with ease.
This item has clear directions and illustrations about how to install it on-pack. This helps the user to install the filter easily in his car.
The air filter should be replaced depending on the recommendation of the car manufacturer. However, the manufacturer of this filter claims an interval of 12,000 miles for replacing this filter.
The higher replacing interval of the filter helps to prevent decreased acceleration and horsepower. The overall performance of engine increases using this filter.
Cons of the product
This filter does not have the dimension to be used universally in most of the car models. It should be used in vehicles where engine intake air pressure is high. The user should check whether this filter can be installed in his car or not from the website of this product.
3. EPAuto GP075 (CA10755) Engine Air Filter
This engine air filter model has a weight of 12.8 ounces. The model has a dimension of 10.1x9x2.4 inches.
Features and benefits
This air filter model for engines has a dimension that allows it to be fitted in most of the car models. It can be used in many high displacement car models like Toyota Avalon V6; Camry V6, Lexus NX200t, Dodge Durango and many more.
This air filter model can be a replacement for many air filter models FRAM CA10755, Toyota Genuine part 17801-0P050, 17801-0P051, 17801-31130 etc. to name a few. The model offers a great protection against dust and thus provides extended performance.
This filter has ample thickness which is optimum to prevent dirt and dust without affecting air intake pressure considerably. This quality of the filter helps to improve the mileage of the car. The recommendation of replacement period of this filter from its manufacturer is 12,000 miles, which can be considered a sufficient interval.
Cons of the product
This heavy engine air filter may create resistance in incoming air flow if used in lower capacity engines where incoming air pressure is less.
4. ECOGARD XA10467 Premium Engine Air Filter
This air filter for engine comes from the manufacturer named EcoGard and holds the model number XA10467. The product has a weight of 13.6 ounces and has a dimension of 11.2×7.5×1.9 inches.
Features and benefits
This engine air filter model has a large surface area with optimum thickness. The 1.9 inch thickness of this product helps it to arrest impurity and dirt particles without creating a heavy resistance for atmospheric air to be sucked in engine cylinder.
This model of engine air filter has a recommended replacement period of 12,000 miles which is sufficient to consider. The filter helps the user to avail the great performance of the engine without decreasing acceleration or horsepower over this long replacement interval.
This filter from EcoGard is specially engineered and tested for Honda OE (Original Equipment). This ensures the filter to fit, form and function properly with many of the Honda cars. It has factory fit for easy installation of Honda cars.
Cons of the product
The EcoGard filter is a great fit for Honda cars but it cannot be used universally for many other popular car brands and models. This decreases the appeal of this product for a great number of car users.
5. K&N 33-2438 High Performance Air Filter
This engine air filter from the manufacturer K&N is said to be washable and reusable by the manufacturers. The filter has a weight of only 1.38 pounds. Dimension given to this filter is 0.6×4.6×6.1 inches. This high quality air filter has heather red exterior.
Features and benefits
This engine air filter is designed with a goal to increase the performance of engine. The filter provides high rate of air flow with great quality of filtration. This helps the driver get smooth acceleration from the engine and to obtain desirable speed.
The high rate of air flow increases the suction of air. This indirectly helps to increase the flow of charge to engine cylinder. As a result, the horsepower and rate of acceleration of the engine is boosted. Overall, the use of this filter improves engine’s performance in producing power.
The manufacturer claims that the filter is washable and cleanable. They recommend that the filter if gets dirty, it should be cleaned and washed only before reinstallation. Depending on driving conditions, the filter may require cleaning after 50,000 miles coverage as recommended by the manufacturer.
As the lifetime of the filter is pretty long, this filter will definitely save your money in long run. Also, the user does not need to replace the filter on a frequent basis.
Cons of the product
The shape and size of this engine air filter does not make it a universal model. So unfortunately, most of the car owners cannot use this model.
6. Mann Filter C 3698/3-2 Air Filter Element
This filter comes from the manufacturer Mann Filter. Model number C3698/3-2 is given for this filter. Having a dimension of 14×5.3×2 inches, the filter weighs only 1.2 pounds. This filter has a greater aspect ratio and the thickness of it is optimum.
Features and benefits
This filter is designed very carefully for effective filtration of unwanted particles from air. The pleat stability in this filter is assured by providing specially embossed papers. All the unwanted particles of dust, pollen, sand and even the water drops or moisture can be filtrated by using this filter.
The filter provides extremely fresh air to the engine, which in turn increases the performance of it. The filter has special design and the materials used are specially selected. The optimum depth of the filter provides greatness in dirt separation efficiency.
This filter has one of the largest surface areas, which helps to have greater contact with the atmospheric air and cleaning the dirt, dust and debris from the air. The embossed paper pleat reduces noise of air intake, which provides better sound of the engine. Air flow towards the air flow meter is balanced by this filter.
Overall, this filter provides remarkable cleaning with great accuracy with optimum flow of clean air inside the engine. This benefits in the engine performance vastly.
Cons of the product
This thick air filter has a size that does not allow it to be fitted universally in most of the cars. The weight of the filter is also very less, which questions the stability of the filter under high air pressure and its durability.
7. ACDelco A3144C Professional Air Filter
This air filter for engines comes from ACDelco with model number A3144C. The manufacturer brands this model as a professional air filter. It has a dimension of 12.3×12.3×3.7 inches and it weighs 9.6 ounces. The intake surface area of the filter is square.
Features and benefits
This engine air filter is one of the largest in size. It has an intake surface area of more than 144 square inches, which is huge comparative to other competitors. This implies that the filter may be used in a vehicle where the air intake system has large surface area, i.e. the large displacement engines.
The weight of the filter is only 9.6 ounces in spite of having such a large dimension. This indicates that the filter provides minimum resistance to the air flow inside the engine. This filter has tight seals, which prevent unfiltered air from entering the engine combustion chamber.
Large surface area of the filter can handle higher intake pressure and higher air flow rate. It has excellent capacity of filtration with considerable efficiency. This provides the engine a clean air supply, which in turn increases the service life of the engine and the performance as well.
Cons of the product
This large dimension filter cannot be fitted in most of the passenger cars with less engine displacements. The heavy duty filter is difficult to clean as it will trap a large amount of debris and dust inside its grooves. The life expectancy of this filter is unspecified by the manufacturer. Reusability of the filter after cleaning cannot be expected.
8. Motorcraft FA1884 Element Assy-Air Cleaner
The brand Motorcraft offers this engine air filter of model FA1884, which has a weight of 12 ounces. Dimension of this filter is 12.5×7.5×2.7 inches, which is quite large. The exterior of the filter is chrome type.
Features and benefits
Having a large intake surface area, the filter can have a large contact area with the unclean dirty air from the atmosphere. The thickness of this filter is 2.7 inches, which is quite thick to arrest the dirt, dust and impurities from the air properly.
The filter is designed for an easy fit, which makes it easy to install under the hood of your car. The leak proof finishing does not allow any fluid, liquid or aerial to pass through the filter without the dirt and debris being arrested. This filter sufficiently and efficiently provides clean air to the engine.
The filter comes with a 12 months warranty period, which is amazing because that long should be life time of the engine air filter of a vehicle at service. The user may have a replacement of the filter sooner than that depending on the recommendation from the manufacturer of the vehicle.
So, this filter’s warranty period theoretically should cover the average lifetime of it, having the user less to think about.
Cons of the product
The shape of the filter will not allow it to be a fit for many car models. The weight of the filter is pretty light, so it raises a question about it being able to work under high amount of intake air pressure in the vehicle.
9. ACDelco A3181C Professional Air Filter
ACDelco offers this engine air filter which they claim to be of professional range. The filter has a dimension of 12.6x10x2.5 inches. The air filter weighs 1.42 pounds.
Features and benefits
This engine air filter has an intake surface area of 126 square inches which comes in contact with the atmospheric air. The thickness of it is 2.5 inches which is sufficient for catching and removing dirt, dust, soot particle and debris from the unclean air.
The filter has excellent filtration capacity and efficiency. This in turn boosts up the performance of the engine. The filter has tight seals to prevent unclean, dirty air from entering the engine. This extends the life time of the engine
The filter can clean a large volume of air and supply it to the engine, which makes it suitable to be used in turbocharged or supercharged engines.
Cons of the product
This filter has a high weight comparative to the other models discussed here. This makes the filter suitable to be used only in heavy duty vehicles. The dimension of this filter does not allow it to be fitted with most of the passenger car models.
What to Consider Before Buying Engine Air Filters?
There can be various shape, size and models of engine air filters availed in the market if anyone checks, but the user needs to choose the proper one for his vehicle. We are going to discuss some criterion here based on which the decision should be taken.
The Model of the Vehicle
There are various shapes and sizes of air filters but your vehicle needs a particular size and shape. Compatibility of the air filter with your engine must be checked. This is not a big problem these days as air filter manufacturers also specify the compatibility information with the filter model both online and on the packet of the filter.
Temperature Resistance
The working temperature of the engine and the atmospheric temperature affect the performance and longevity of the filter. The user must check whether the filter is able to serve in the geographic area where the vehicle is used.
Surface area
The engine air filter is used to trap the maximum of the dirt and debris from the intake air. The more the surface area of the filter, it could trap more of the unwanted particles. That is why the engine air filters are pleated. If the user can avail an option of engine air filter with maximum surface area that fits in his engine, he definitely should go for that one.
Weather conditions
The weather conditions like atmospheric pressure and the moisture in the air affects the working of the filter. Also the working pressure of the engine affects the performance and lifetime of it. The user should keep these things in mind.
Price
Engine air filters require frequent changings, so the economic point of view comes up. One should opt for an air filter for his engine, which possesses all the above requirements and has the best suited pricing as well.
How to change engine air filters?
By this far of discussion, you should know that the engine air filters generally need frequent replacements. The method of changing the engine air filter will be different for the different engine models. The manufacturer provides necessary instructions in the owner’s manual of the vehicle about it.
Though the various air filters of the engine fit in different methods, the general approach to change them is the following:
- First step is checking out whether the filter’s life has ended and whether it needs replacement. The filter should be removed from the air supply line of the inlet manifold and checked for it manually
- The replacement for the worn out filter should be selected carefully gathering all the information required. The proper model should be obtained
- In order to remove the filter from the car it should be parked in a proper area having the car locked and the engine shut. The hood of the car should be opened using the lever inside car
- The air box is now to be located, usually in modern vehicles the air box housing can be found near the engine along a duct travelling from the car’s front end
- The air filter cover is now to be removed. There should be hose clamp that seals the air conduit. Air filter cover should be removed undoing the screws. There can be wing nuts depending on the car model or elsewhere the filters are just clamped with quick release system.
- The nuts and cover removed from the air box housing should be kept in a safe flat surface. Then the air box cover is to be pulled out so it comes to the lower part of the housing.
- At this point, the filter should be seen of round, rectangular or any other shape. The filter should just simply be removed from the housing. Removed filter should be cleaned if it is washable or reusable before installing it back
- The housing should now be cleaned properly. After cleaning the housing, the new replacement filter should be installed in the housing
- Now the air filter cover should be kept back to its proper position from where it was removed. Air filter cover should be fitted the way it was before using the screws or nuts. Now the air box cover should be pushed to lock it in its position
This entire process can be found as tutorial in YouTube videos as well as in visual instructions in the owner’s manual book. Help from experts or mechanics should be taken in case the owner is not comfortable or unsure whether he can perform this replacement.
How outdated engine air filters affect engine performance?
The air intake system of the engine works as the nose of the engine. As human use their noses to breathe, the air intake system is quite the same in the case of engines. The engine air filter is most essential to ensure that in this breathing of engine only clean air is inhaled.
The use of outdated engine filter affects engine performance greatly as we are discussing now:
- The outdated filters do not have sufficient filtration capacity, so the dirt and dust particles pass through it. In the long run, this dirt and debris may form scaling inside engine affecting its performance
- Due to formation of scaling caused by improper filtration by outdated filters, the engine may need more servicing and raise the maintenance cost
- The outdated engine air filters may contain unwanted particles trapped with its surfaces, which block the entrance of fresh air. This may cause a reduction in the rate of air flow to the engine
- Outdated engine air filters cannot help to supply required amount of pure and fresh air to the engine. This in turn decreases the power output and performance of the engine
- Outdated filters let undesirable particles inside engine, so the components of the engine are affected and may have damage
- As outdated filters lead the engine to produce lesser power, to generate required amount of power more fuel is needed. This decreases the mileage of the engine
How to know if engine air filter is not working properly?
There are always recommended intervals from both the vehicle and air filter manufacturers about the frequency of changing air filters of engine. However, there are some symptoms that help you understand if your filter has some trouble.
- The mileage of the vehicle will decrease due to dirty or improper functioning filters. This will lead to more fuel requirement
- The power produced by the engine will decrease. Same can happen in the case of speed of the engine
- There can be some missed firings in engine cylinder
- For the same speed generation, more rpm of the engine will be required
- There may be some noise instead of smooth air suction sound of the engine
It is always recommended to clean and check the condition of the engine air filters in intervals prescribed by the manufacturers.
How frequently Engine Air Filters need replacing?
The air filters of engines need frequent replacement comparative to most of the other parts of a vehicle. Mostly the changing interval depends on the run time of the vehicle. In a common way it can be considered that, the more mileage the vehicle covers, the sooner the filter will need replacement.
However, the vehicle manufacturers have broad researches on this issue and they generally suggest the frequency of the replacement of this part. The manufacturers commonly provide this frequency based on the mileage of the vehicle covered as well as the time period.
Generally, the filters need to be replaced after 12,000 miles of vehicle running. Also an idle vehicle will need the replacement of engine air filter in 6-12 months of period as mentioned by the manufacturer. The filters may also not function properly due to uncertain reasons.
Best way to decide whether the engine air filter needs replacement or not is to dismount it from air supply system and check it manually whenever the user suspects of ineffective functions of the filter.
Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does engine air filter affect AC?
The engine air filter and the filter for the AC are completely different. The filters used in cars for air conditioning are ‘Cabin Filters’. But as engine air filter affects the power generation of the vehicle, it implicitly affects the power that drives the compressor of cars AC, thus affecting its performance.
Are cabin filters and engine air filters same?
No, they are not. The cabin filter is used in car Air Conditioning system and engine air filters are used in air intake system of the car. Some of the filter models are however designed such a way that those could perform both functions.
How do I know which filter is a fit for my car engine?
There are many websites from the engine air filter manufacturers, where you can get the required information about this by providing details of your car.
Are engine air filters costly?
Generally engine air filters are not very costly.
What interval should engine air filters be changed?
This varies on the recommendations of the manufacturer of both the engine air filters and your car. A standard interval generally is 12,000 miles and minimum once in a year.
Can I just clean and reuse my air filter?
This completely depends on the recommendations of the filter manufacturer. In some cases you may be able to do so. This information should be on their website.
Conclusion
From the various engine air filter models available in the market, the user needs to carefully choose the right one only. However, care should always be taken to check whether the filter is working well or not for the sake of engine performance.
An outdated or improper functioning engine air filter may harm your car in many ways. This is why always keep them checked, clean and enjoy the performance of your car.
As all the information about the filters is available in the websites of the manufacturer, it should not be a tough job to choose the proper one based on this review.
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