So which air filters are the best????

[SVOboy]

is it hard to change an air filter these days?

Did my friend's 03 civic and it was a piece of cake. 4 screws.

[diamondlarry]

The cost for an Amsoil air filter for a '99 Nissan Altima is $26.00. They are good for 4 yers/100,000 miles. It works out to about $9.53/year over it's lifetime.

[Compaq888]

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

The cost for an Amsoil air filter for a '99 Nissan Altima is $26.00. They are good for 4 yers/100,000 miles. It works out to about $9.53/year over it's lifetime.

The important question I have for you is are you using an Amsoil air filter???

And how long you had the same filter in your car and how often you clean it and how you clean it?

[GasSavers_Ryland]

I clean my foam filter every time I think of it, about 5,000 miles, and have a paper filter that I slip in when I'm cleaning it as with foam filters you wash it with soap and water, dry it, and re-oil it with high-tac filter oil, so it's best to have the filter out of the car for a few days.
I personaly like the idea of the foam, it has a few differnt layers, going from corse to fine, and I figure it must be doing a good job of getting grit out, as the car still has 185psi + or - about 5psi acrose all the cylenders, and it's the origonal engine with 221,000 miles, and have found that useing foam filters on my motorcycles leaves the carburators much cleaner, as I understand it, foam filters are not standerd because they cost a little more, amaricans don't like things that are washed, and reused (recycle your bottles, don't buy returnable) and there is less to mess up if you just replace the part with a new one.
I can't tell exactly how much restriction it has, as I don't have a good way to compare it, the printing on the filter is gone now, but I think it was something like a True-Flow, only it doesn't look exactly like what they are selling now under that brand name.

[diamondlarry]

Originally Posted by Compaq888

The important question I have for you is are you using an Amsoil air filter???

And how long you had the same filter in your car and how often you clean it and how you clean it?

Yes, I got one of thier foam air filters soon after I got the car. I have cleaned probably 3 times.(?)

[rh77]

Originally Posted by rh77

OK, so I hear that replacing a dirty filter will improve FE; however, I have a restrictor device that blocks the flow of intake air considerably, and I seem to be getting better mileage due to forced, slower acceleration. Am I killing the potential for better FE on the highway?

RH77

Yes, I'm quoting myself -- any ideas on air restriction before combustion vs. FE???

[diamondlarry]

Originally Posted by rh77

Yes, I'm quoting myself -- any ideas on air restriction before combustion vs. FE???

It sort of makes sense. With increased velocity of oncoming air I think it may promote swirling in the cylinder. Air rushing in so fast may slam against the opposite side of the combustion chamber and cause turbulence? :? I suppose it's possible that there could be a limt to how much you could restrict airflow before FE could start to drop.

[rh77]

I may do a small experiment to see what works -- it seems to be a lot like exhaust backpressure, which varies by car and isn't fully understood. All kinds of advice from the EPA on down to the filter manufacturers say to change the dirty air filter and get better gas mileage: read restriction. I might try a small trial this week to see what happens (depending on the weather -- lots of rain predicted). The current restriction is down to about the size of a quarter with air temps ranging (I really need a grille block) -- and I've maintained MPGs in the low-30's. It definitely requires more pedal pressure, which the auto-trans doesn't agree-with on really hot days and/or with the A/C running.

RH77

[VetteOwner]

hmm i have a high flow intake on my truck... i wonder if i put back my stock air struff i would see better MPG. (im getting 25mpg witha 2.2L 5speed s-10) deff worth a try IMO

[GasSavers_Red]

Originally Posted by VetteOwner

hmm i have a high flow intake on my truck... i wonder if i put back my stock air struff i would see better MPG. (im getting 25mpg witha 2.2L 5speed s-10) deff worth a try IMO

I'd be interested in the results