air filter

[Sexymeatball]

I had to replace my air filter yesterday due to chipmunks trying to make a nest rant (there were like 50 acorns in the bottom of my airbox). Anyone, i went out and bought a fram cause they're cheap and usually pretty reliable and they trap more dirt than most other disposable filters. Anyway, i open the box and look at the filter with a little bit of disapointment. About half an inch, all the way around the outside edge of the filter, the fins are packed together very very tightly. So tightly that they are restricting airflow at least, and maybe stopping it. The rest of the fins are fine. I guess what im trying to say is that my airflow capacity has been effectively cut by whatever area a half inch all the way around comes to. Is this gonna have an effect on performance? Should i complain to fram or ditch the paper filters altogether and get a K&N? My only concern is that since the K&Ns let my air flow, do they also let more dirt flow? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Machspeed]

The k&ns wont give you really anymore power, a paper filter will prolly do fine.

 

[TYSHO]

I'd rather have them closer to trap more dirt. Maybe that's why Fram traps more dirt. You ever see the ends of other filters where you can actually see where chunks of dirt can go through the side and then through the screen? Just a thought.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

within reason:

more folds = more surface area = more filtering without restricting flow.

I like my :cheap: paper filters.

 

[AutoSHO]

I'm using a Purolator Paper filter. My car made 234 HP corrected to the Flywheel. And its all stock. I like Paper filters.

 

[Sexymeatball]

I think you all missed my point (i probably wasnt making it very clear, my bad). the fins that are within half of an inch of the rubber lining of the filter are packed together so closely that they are no longer fins, they are solid. And by solid i mean no spaces between them. The inner fins are fine. My main question then, is will this cut down on performance? Or is it not enough of a surface area to really matter?

 

[AutoSHO]

I doubt it would truly harm performance. My advice is to get the Purolator model. I've had great luck with it.

 

[TYSHO]

If you want more air, to inhance performance, just take the filter out! It's there to protect the engine. If you want "small" gains from something like that, I'd suggest to look elsewhere. Wanting performance over protection isn't a bright idea.

 

[Sexymeatball]

alright thanks for the info. Again, its not that im looking for performance gains here. Im just worried about potential performance losses from a poorly manufactured filter.

 

[MichaelH]

Sexymeatball:
alright thanks for the info. Again, its not that im looking for performance gains here. Im just worried about potential performance losses from a poorly manufactured filter.

I like my K&N on my '93. Low restriction and great sound at WOT!

 

[Blackheart4355]

Sexy,

First I have to say I'm disappointed by the type of advice you are getting. As for the type of filter you use, it's pretty much personal preferance. That being said I have used K&N drop in filters in ALL the vehicles I have owned since I learned of then in about 1995 or 96. The only one that it made performace worse on was a 1996 F-150, and it sucked anyways..lol as for which filter's better??..I can't say, all's I will say is I have seen a bit better performance in most vehicles I've put them in and I believe they clean very well. Also you are protected by laws in the US should your engine fail and it's proven to be caused by ANY aftermarket part. Assuming of course you have manufacturer warrenty left...