Steel Mesh Air Filters

[tunerinms]

Hello I am new to this forum but have been reading a lot and doing my research on question I had so I did not have to post many questions. One thing I did not find on this site was anything about steel mesh filters. Im talking about the solid wire mesh ones. Are there any pros to them or just cons? I had one because it was the cheapest ( may be my answer right there ) and I took it off today to put a new K&N on and when I turned it upside down a lot of trash fell out. Just wanted to get some opinions and facts on them.
Thanks,
Tuner

 

[eeeewidner]

I have had bad luck with Autozone, Advance A.P. cheapo tuner filters. They don't hardly filter anything out, the cone in one fell off and took out my old 14b turbo, they just aren't worth the hassle on our cars. I would personally use a oem style filter before one of those, at least they don't fall apart and they still do their job minus the looks.....Just my 2cents

 

[nuclearr]

I have never seen a mesh only filter. I have seen mesh with foam in it. I wouldnt run it on my car there are to much micro debris that will get through and reduce engine life. I have run k&n's on many cars, but when I was working for chrysler they stoped using k&n's for their performace line and switched manufacures. Chrysler now says that a K&N filter will void the waranty on a chrysler engine. They say to many small particals still make it trough.

 

[romeen]

I have a Blitz SUS (stainless steel mesh) air filter. Pros include:

1) Seems to flow very well considering it's relatively small size. But I doubt the difference (vs. a cotton mesh filter) is enough to be significant in overall performance.
2) You can really hear the air getting sucked through it (turbo spool) if that is something that appeals to you.
3) Extremely easy to clean.


The main con for my particular filter is price. Frankly, if I was to do this mod over I would probably get the K&N as the Blitz is just too expensive for an air filter. But it is extremely high quality and looks as new and shiny as the day I bought it 9 years ago.

 

[oVaBoost]

i used itg filters expensive but seem to work better than a cone filter from what iv seen

 

[davidalindsey]

I have an AEM Dry Flow filter on mine.

 

[LandoAWD]

i say k&n is for ricers even thoug i have a k&n filter and filter charger with an enjine technology turbo pipe but yea there cool to have...........c'mon guys

Moron. I warned you twice for grammar and you didn't get it.

Have a nice vacation, kiddo!

 

[pboglio]

Hello I am new to this forum but have been reading a lot and doing my research on question I had so I did not have to post many questions. One thing I did not find on this site was anything about steel mesh filters. Im talking about the solid wire mesh ones. Are there any pros to them or just cons? I had one because it was the cheapest ( may be my answer right there ) and I took it off today to put a new K&N on and when I turned it upside down a lot of trash fell out. Just wanted to get some opinions and facts on them.
Thanks,
Tuner

Best air filter is OEM. K&N filters let thru grain sized particulates, HKS foam filters allow pebble sized particles thru. I posted test results of intake testing on my 05 WRX STi here: STi intake pressure drop test - Page 2 - NASIOC

The tiny panel STI OEM air filter, about the size of a stock 2g DSM airfilter, produces 3" pressure loss at 300 h.p. compared to running no airfilter, and the same sized K&N produced the same 3" pressure loss within my gauges ability to measure a difference.

However, if you read the entire thread there were massive differences in pressure loss by removing duct work or exposing the filter element completely.

 

[dsm-onster]

More on the K & N:

Compared to the AC, the K&N "plugged up" nearly 3 times faster, passed 18 times more dirt and captured 37% less dirt. ​

From Debunking the K&N Myth - Why OEM is Better.

Especially note the dust loading curves close to the bottem of the page. Here's the conclusion:

The other filters, most notably the oiled reusable types, had an exponential loading response before reaching maximum restriction. These filters had a lower initial restriction, but they became exponentially more restrictive under a constant flow of dirt. ​

I would have to clean the filter AT LEAST 6 times for every 1 oem filter for it to show the same madian flow over the life of the filter. Where's the savings over time vs. an oem if I have to use that much cleaner and oil? I'd have to maintain the filter every week to get the maximum flow advantage. All for 18 times more dust into my compressor wheel???

Not suprising, a wix filter seamed to strike the best balance between initial restriction, time between servicing, and flow as dust is loading up to maximum capacity.

 

[tunerinms]

Thanks everyone. I think i will stick with my K&N and just keep it clean. I have had experience with them letting in a substantial amount of particles though. My dad's 99 Civic Si had a CAI with a K&N since it was bought and it had a VTEC control unit, full exhuast with headers, cam gears, and a couple other mods and still got beat by a stock 99 Si that we had as well. I was in the stock one but my dad taught me how to drive, so the driving was evenly matched. We ended up checking why it lost and found that the K&N had been letting in so much that it had worn down some things and made the engine not pull as hard.

 

[dsm-onster]

Keeping it clean is what makes it filter so much worse. . . Even you and your dad have a personal experience with the filtering ability of the K & N

 

[knochgoon24]

Interesting read. Makes you wonder how well those filters that come with the ebay intakes work.

 

[solidviper89]

so i should go buy an oem filter and ditch the K&N?

 

[daren_p]

I remember reading an online posting of aftermarket air filters years ago. They did test a Blitz SS mesh filter & while it did flow well, I also believe it let through the most dirt of all the filters tested.

I've used the K&N for years but I think I may try one of those AEM "dry" filters if I ever get around to it.

 

[dsm-onster]

so i should go buy an oem filter and ditch the K&N?

Are you asking for more data? because you can read the information and determine for yourself.

From my experience, there is faint chipping on the leading edges of my +$300 h1c compressor wheel (if holset even makes it any more) that wasn't there the day I switched from my oem filter to the K & N.

 

[rstchris]

I use a HKS style foam filter. It flows great and filters well, and only takes about 20 seconds to clean and you never have to use tools. Unscrew the knob/nut and shazam!

 

[pboglio]

I ran the HKS foam filters for years on my 91 GS Turbo. They definitely beat up the compressor wheel quite a bit. I also blame that filter for my old engine's extreme bad leakdown/compression results. One problem is the foam filters inability to seal around the edges.

Nowadays I run the standard K&N FIPK on my GSX and my 8 year old T28 had zero chips or nicks on the compressor wheel. Compression and leakage are less than 2-4% across the board over 116,000 miles and 12 years. So although K&N's don't filter as well as OEM, they are nowhere as abusive as an HKS foam filter.

I'd only recommend an HKS filter to someone I really hated.

 

[dsm-onster]

So as a humanitarian, you would have to have a genuine loathing, not just some one your irritated with

 

[pboglio]

Considering how bad the HKS filters, it would have to be a true loathing. I can think of a few people unfortunately they don't drive DSMs

 

[crimsondragon]

My ebay filter works fine. It was on my T-25 for a good 10k miles, never had a single chip in the wheels. Then I switched to the 50 trim. Wheel looks as good as new.

 

[rEclipserGST]

Damn, makes me kind of mad that I spent $38 on a K&N drop-in filter and my OEM is still white. Since I have the stock airbox I think I'm going to use the OEM for Daily Driving. Sounds like a plan.

 

[romeen]

Here is an interesting comparison. Not perfect science but it still gives a good idea of filtering performance.

http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/filters_test/2/

 

[DougR]

Get the prefilter bags and call it a day. For any open element type filter.

 

[dsm-onster]

Here is an interesting comparison. Not perfect science but it still gives a good idea of filtering performance.

http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/filters_test/2/

Yea. All that shows is that you can have a filter that removes more dust and it won't reduce the performance of an intake piping upgrade. That would only support the use of an oem filter with a better intake design as pboglio's data confirms .

 

[se0nz]

so the end result is that the paper style oem filters are the best to use? they make those as open filters for us too right? im guessing it's not for our cars persay however it would fit on our k&n Adapters