Dryflow Airfilter Swap Results

[Shawn White]

So awhile back I was using a K&N air filter in the stock air box and noticed the filter was letting to much dust into the intake past the filter. I then switched to a Spectre to only see the same results. At that point I switched back to paper filters and dealt with more air restriction, but get much better filtration with a Wix filter. I've been looking for a better dry flow replacement ever since.



From reading another post, I decided to give the Amsoil EA dry flow air filter a try in the sock box, with the air silencer removed. I have also recently swapped out the stock exhaust with a Dynomax Super Turbo, and removed the resonator. With the WIX filter I noticed some mild drone around 70 MPH, it was nothing turning the radio up a bit couldn't avoid. However, with swapping out to the amsoil filter the drone was noticeable lower and was more of an exhaust note at 70 mph. The truck seems to have better throttle response, but that's tough to verify. So I ran a few high speed tests with the WIX back in the box, the drone was back between 65 and 75 mph. I dropped in the spectre and the drone was lower as was the case of the amsoil filter. All test were run with the engine andexhausts pipes at normal operating temp at highway speeds between 65 and 75 mph.



I figured I'd pass on the results, the filter does seem to flow better than a stock paper filter, but looks to filter much better than a K&N or Spectre. Holding both filters to the light the oiled filters have noticeable pin holes in them. The paper and amsoil have no pin holes. These filters seem to deliver good results and from my research have much better filtration. I've read some forums and blackstone labs seem to like the results of the filter as well from some folks posting UOA results. I plan on getting a UOA in the near future to check the health of my engine.

 

[H D]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. If I hadn't spent so much on the K&N, I'd consider trying the Amsoil. I'll probably be going Amsoil for everything on my '69 Cougar but hadn't considered the air filter. I'll have to see if they have one for that application. I'll also be replacing the air filter in the Tahoe at the next oil change, so I may try the Amsoil for that.

 

[Vic Sorlie]

Hmm...'69 Cougar. We have a Vintage Vehicle Lookup, and the link is below. Only AMSOIL part in the filter list is the oil filter. We also have a great oil called Z-Rod for older vehicles that need more zinc for valvetrain protection. We'll have everything for your Tahoe.

 

[H D]

Thanks, starting new thread in off-topic board to not hijack Shawn's.

 

[Richard L]

Shawn,

Curious as to how you determined that too much dirt was getting passed the K&N filter?



...Rich

 

[EddieS'04]

Shawn,

One thing to remember. Cotton gauze fiters. Filter better, when oils properly. Also after about 200 miles. the oil collects the dirt and plugs minor pinholes.

One other thing if you are seeing alot of pins holes. You may have rinsed the oiled filter with too much water pressure and too hot water temp.

 

[Shawn White]

I had switched from paper to K&N and in my Trac and my old S-10, and began to notice dust in the intake tube of both vehicles, there was a good layer of it also. The white towel test showed it as well. In the past I always used paper filters and never saw anything get past the filter. White towel tests didn't show much residue when cleaning the MAF sensor either in the Trac.



I had switched back to paper filters, but with the exhaust I was looking to find something that flowed better while providing filtration to lower micron levels. In the early 2000s Ford was using donaldson air filters in the Super Duty line, they flowed well and filtered great. However they were $$$, so Ford switched back to paper filters to lower the cost of ownership. The new amsoil filter to me looks like the same material as the donaldson filters, and I believe donaldson has/had the patent on the nano fiber tech used in this filter. I probably spent way to much time researching this nline:



The mechanic I trust the most always said cleanlyness is godliness.... I used to work the dirt moving business and keeping dust out of engines was nearly impossible sometimes. I used to tear down big Cat diesels and turbo wear from dirt ingestion was not pretty, neither was the cylinder and piston scuffing. Granted these were extreme cases coupled with poor maintaince.



Because of this I don't like seeing any particles past the filter, so to me the negligible gain in fuel economy and slightly better throttle response the oiled air filters produced wasn't worth it, I wanted better filtration. My goal is to hit 200K miles on this truck, over time additional dust and dirt entering the engine will must likely add up to additional wear. I know many people stand behind those types of filters, and in racing and performace applications have their place.

 

[EddieS'04]

Im using a K&N conical filter. I was a kit for a '94 5.0L 'stang.

Last week I pulled the filter for cleaning and re-oiling.

My intake adapter area and, the housing for the MAF sensor. Was as you say white paper towel clean.

 

[Richard L]

Shawn,

I don't think that wiping the inside of the intake tube with a white paper towel would be difinitive proof that the filter was letting too much dust to pass through.



First, there is the PVC tube that vents crankcase blowby gases and particles back into the intake to be reburned. Any dust that managed to get by the filter would be insignificant compared to the carbon particles that are injected into your engine by the PVC system.



If you are using an aftermarket intake tube, you may be seeing the combustion byproducts from the crankcase that entered the intake via the PCV vent tube



If you are using the stock intake hose that fits between the MAF and the Throttle body, it is made of black rubber. Rubber oxidizes in the presents of air and rubbing with a cloth or paper towel will show a black dust residue from the deteriorating rubber....perhaps that is what you are seeing and assuming that it is getting through the filter.



Finally, not all dust is damaging to the engine. The K&N filters, if properly oiled will trap any particles of dirt that might be harmfull to your engine...dust particles that manage to get past the filter are to small (smaller than the minimum micron particle size) to cause any damage and are considered harmless.



Of course it is your vehicle and you can choose to use any kind of air filter you want. However, since you posted that the K&N filter was not cleaning the intake air to your satisfaction, I am compelled to post that I disagree, and don't feel your evidence neccessarily supports your conclusions.



...Rich

 

[Shawn White]

Some folks have had no issues with dust, I think a lot has to do with where the vehicle is driven. My friend with an F-150 runs an oiled filter and his intake looks pretty clean. I take the truck to South, TX a lot and always noticed most dust in the intake then versus normal day to day driving. I performed the white towel test in the top of the stock air filter box.



I agree not all dirt and containments will damage an engine. Balancing flow, fliltration, and efficiency is pretty tough. The filters I used never made it to there first cleaning because of the particles I saw in the stock box lids in both vehicles. I had tried cleaning the filter for the S-10, but ended up trading it in before I finished cleaning the filter. I think most oiled gauze filters have between 96 to 99% efficiency, which is probably fine for most. To have better supporting data UOA would be needed to show one is better than the other.



To me the dry flow filter is another option, I thought it was pretty interesting to have noticable effect in lowering exhaust drone at highway speeds versus the paper Wix filter.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

I know that both AEM & AFE make dry flow filters. I was recently told that AirAid is also making dry flow filters. :driving:

 

[EddieS'04]

I thought it was pretty interesting to have noticable effect in lowering exhaust drone at highway speeds versus the paper Wix filter.

That is intresting to me. out of all my years of a gearhead hotroder. Never noticed a filter changing the exhaust note. The intake sound, yes..



Also an FYI, If you are not into performance. A good paper filter is good enough. Until it get really dirty the MAF tunes the motor fuel/air ratio. Most folks dont know this, but a paper fiter has to get very very dirty to affect drivability(performance and MPG) on a car with a MAF sensor. Too many paper fiters get changed that dont need to be.

If you are not a performance driver, but. Looking for MPG. The cost of a performance filter will not help. Weigh the cost of the filter against only gaining 1 mpg. Not worth it.

 

[Shawn White]

The change in exhaust drone was slight, but around 2400 to 2600 rpm I had a little drone.

With the spectre and dryflow filters the drone was less. No other changes in sound level while accelerating were noticeable. Seemed odd to me as well, the drone seems to help cover up my right rear door rattle. That's been driving me crazy for years .



Through paying money out of pocket ive learned paper filters are pretty good for the average joe running a stock motor. I mainly wanted a cleanable filter as I try to keep vehicles for ten plus years. Cleaning a reusable filter pays off in the long run in my mind.



I'm no hotroder by anymeans, my dad made me drive a 86 ford escort as my first car.