If you have been buying air filter replacements for your vehicle, you may encounter higher performance products and other products that are more affordable. What is the real difference between different types of air filters? Is one better than the other?
You can find the three most common filter elements in your local parts store:
● Paper.
● Cotton.
● Foam.
Let's check each kind of performance in your car and which one is best for your car.
The engine or cabin air filter that comes with your car is likely to be a paper filter. Since your filter should be replaced every 12000 to 30000 miles, it should be as affordable as possible. Woven wood pulp provides good airflow while reducing the amount of dust and debris that may enter the engine and clog the work.
Paper automatic filters are relatively cheap and are thrown away after each use.
If you are a do-it-yourself person, maybe you want to save some extra money and try to protect the environment. Some cotton or gauze automatic air filter replacements are designed to be cleaned, oiled and reinstalled every 5000 miles. Long-distance trucks or high-mileage vehicles working in dusty environments benefit from the use of cotton filters because you can continue to reuse them until the filter elements are worn or damaged. In high-performance vehicle applications, air filters are designed for cleaning and then coated with special oil to improve the filter's ability to capture more debris.
Cotton filters cost about twice as much as paper filters, but buyers will recoup the cost after the first few times of cleaning and reuse. Even better, this type of filter can maintain the service life of your vehicle through proper maintenance. Up to 150000 miles!
Finally, you may find foam filters or filter packaging in the car filter replacement area of your local parts store. These are the least popular filters because foam does not provide the same trapping power as paper and can limit airflow. Foam is also the least environmentally friendly element type. You will often find foam filters on farms and lawn equipment. In many of these applications, the foam part is coated with special oil to improve the filter's ability to remove debris. If you live in a dusty area, your service center may recommend adding foam filter packaging to your standard paper filter to help reduce debris in the engine.
In the end, most drivers who want to take care of daily drivers will be satisfied with the cost and performance of paper air filters. To improve long-distance performance or extreme conditions, you may want to invest in reusable cotton or foam air filter replacement.
