Best air filter for FILTERING particles, NOT for most power

[AlVal]

Is anyone aware of air filter brands (ideally brands which cover jap cars, as the engine in question is a Honda K20A engine) which focus on the best possible filtration, rather than focusing on letting the most (dirty some might argue...) air through?

thanks

[kambites]

AlVal said:

Is anyone aware of air filter brands (ideally brands which cover jap cars, as the engine in question is a Honda K20A engine) which focus on the best possible filtration, rather than focusing on letting the most (dirty some might argue...) air through?

thanks

It's strange considering it's the only real purpose of the air filter, but I've never actually seen anything comparing their filtration qualities.

[eliotrw]

Most likely an OEM paper filter

[CrutyRammers]

kambites said:

It's strange considering it's the only real purpose of the air filter, but I've never actually seen anything comparing their filtration qualities.

There are a few articles on the web, I came across a couple (on USA sites) which compared restriction and filtration of the main filter brands. Needs a bit of trawling through, but they are out there.
K&N came out well in terms of not restricting, but lowest in terms of filtration as I recall. I went with Green which did fairly well on both, but I think there were ones which were better from one or other point of view.

[Defcon5]

There is a thread on some Japanese forum somewhere where they tested a load for filtration, the OEM paper was better by miles IIRC.

I think the worst was a HKS mushroom filter, its filtration was about as good as a sheet of chicken wire

[n90acc]

Oem paper, or k&n type cotton gauze seem to be the best. With oem being the most restrictive.

The link below is a restriction test but does talk briefly about filtration on some. Fairly interesting none the less...

http://www.fastcar.co.uk/2012/05/04/performance-ca...

[vtecyo]

I run a K&N panel filter in my EP3. Supposed to be a good all rounder.

I know it's fastcar but this may be a little help to you:

EDIT: link posted above..

[g3org3y]

eliotrw said:

Most likely an OEM paper filter

^This. Changed annually.

[Krikkit]

Why the focus on maximum filtration? Rally car?

[AW111]

This article also suggests that the air filter has actually very little to do with intake restriction.
I would say a good quality paper filter, pref. OEM, as some aftermarket paper filters are a bit shoddy in construction.

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_111486/article.html

We run oiled foam on the rally cars (racing on unsealed roads) and they are very good at keeping dust out, but then they get washed every couple of hundred km tops. I don't think that's what you are looking for.

Slightly off topic, but paper filters in cyclone style filter housings are very good in dusty conditions.

[anonymous-user]

You'll be wanting a vehicle filter system off a combine harvester then! They work at full load for hrs and hrs under the worst possible dust conditions. Generally, they will use a cyclonic 1st stage to take out the big stuff, followed by a dual paper element system. Not sure it will fit under the bonnet of your Honda though.........

[iloveboost]

eliotrw said:

Most likely an OEM paper filter

This. The paper air filter has the lowest pressure drop of any filter when new and filters better when dirty than any other filter with a similar pressure drop to other filters. So for best filtering just let your air filter get dirtier until power/mpg gets noticeably worse.

[AlVal]

Thanks for the comments, it's only a Honda FR-V family wagon (High mileage banger that I've just bought cheaply privately recently), but the K20A engine in it has just cost me £70 to diagnose and £277 at honda to replace the vtec solenoid, which is apparantly something to watch out for on this engine, and perhaps other honda engines of similar design - if there's crap in the oil, it can mess up / clog up the workings of the vtec solenoid, so it's important to make sure your oil meets or exceeds manufacturer's spec, and that the oil and air filters are OEM or better in terms of filtration (not to mention fit etc! no point having a filter with fantastic properties if a poor fit is allowing any dirty air to slip by!)

All part of the buying cheap used cars experience of course, but hopefully this explains why I'm interested in which filters do the best job at filtering. I've opted to fork out the nearly £30 for the original honda filter - ripoff sure, but peace of mind I guess.

[DaveCWK]

OEM paper element is almost always the best.

[Cerbieherts]

Best off with an original anyway. I've countless oiled (k&n type) filters choked with dust or overoiled causing damage to the mass airflow sensor.