Does dirt getting past high flow filter really hurt anything?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
Does dirt getting past high flow filter really hurt anything?
This thread is a follow up to a recent thread titled "High flow filters? Do they really filter anything?"
(http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=911828) . While this thread raised the question of just how much of a measurable performance improvement high flow filters really make (a subject still open to some debate, apparently), it also touched on the subject of the actual filtering capacity of high flow filters. While some interesting data was shown as to the amount of "dirt" which got past different filters (http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm) there was little information submitted to attest to the real world effect on an engine's longevity using a high flow air filter, other than one person stating that after running for one year with no air filter of any kind, their dyno numbers didn't change. Judging from the pictures of the "dirt" collected on the secondary paper filter which was mounted downstream of the high performance filter, I would suspect that these are very fine particles, and am wondering if they are abrasive enough to present significant wear issues.
So here's the question: does the amount of "dirt" which gets past a high performance air filter really have any effect on ring wear or valve stem/seat wear, or any other significant detrimental effect on an engine?
(http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=911828) . While this thread raised the question of just how much of a measurable performance improvement high flow filters really make (a subject still open to some debate, apparently), it also touched on the subject of the actual filtering capacity of high flow filters. While some interesting data was shown as to the amount of "dirt" which got past different filters (http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm) there was little information submitted to attest to the real world effect on an engine's longevity using a high flow air filter, other than one person stating that after running for one year with no air filter of any kind, their dyno numbers didn't change. Judging from the pictures of the "dirt" collected on the secondary paper filter which was mounted downstream of the high performance filter, I would suspect that these are very fine particles, and am wondering if they are abrasive enough to present significant wear issues.
So here's the question: does the amount of "dirt" which gets past a high performance air filter really have any effect on ring wear or valve stem/seat wear, or any other significant detrimental effect on an engine?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Originally Posted by Gene Wolf
This thread is a follow up to a recent thread titled "High flow filters? Do they really filter anything?"
(http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=911828) . While this thread raised the question of just how much of a measurable performance improvement high flow filters really make (a subject still open to some debate, apparently), it also touched on the subject of the actual filtering capacity of high flow filters. While some interesting data was shown as to the amount of "dirt" which got past different filters (http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm) there was little information submitted to attest to the real world effect on an engine's longevity using a high flow air filter, other than one person stating that after running for one year with no air filter of any kind, their dyno numbers didn't change. Judging from the pictures of the "dirt" collected on the secondary paper filter which was mounted downstream of the high performance filter, I would suspect that these are very fine particles, and am wondering if they are abrasive enough to present significant wear issues.
So here's the question: does the amount of "dirt" which gets past a high performance air filter really have any effect on ring wear or valve stem/seat wear, or any other significant detrimental effect on an engine?
(http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=911828) . While this thread raised the question of just how much of a measurable performance improvement high flow filters really make (a subject still open to some debate, apparently), it also touched on the subject of the actual filtering capacity of high flow filters. While some interesting data was shown as to the amount of "dirt" which got past different filters (http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm) there was little information submitted to attest to the real world effect on an engine's longevity using a high flow air filter, other than one person stating that after running for one year with no air filter of any kind, their dyno numbers didn't change. Judging from the pictures of the "dirt" collected on the secondary paper filter which was mounted downstream of the high performance filter, I would suspect that these are very fine particles, and am wondering if they are abrasive enough to present significant wear issues.
So here's the question: does the amount of "dirt" which gets past a high performance air filter really have any effect on ring wear or valve stem/seat wear, or any other significant detrimental effect on an engine?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
But is the "dirt" or whatever it is getting past the low restriction filters really silica? Or is it just dust, carbon or something else which might not present any real wear concerns?
I guess the more important question might be this: has anyone had a Stinger, Blackwing, K&N or whatever for several years experienced any premature upper or lower engine wear?
I guess the more important question might be this: has anyone had a Stinger, Blackwing, K&N or whatever for several years experienced any premature upper or lower engine wear?
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
When you look at a lot of the oil analysis results where people are using a high flow type of air filter like the K&N, you will often see not only higher levels of silicon (dirt) but it will also show a corresponding higher level of engine wear overall, such as higher lead, chromium, iron and aluminum for instance. So even if you think it's just minor dust, that dust is wreaking havoc inside your motor. But this doesn't happen in all cases, I have seen a lot of oil analysis results where someone uses a K&N air filter and their engine wear and silicon levels are very low. So in a lot of the cases, it could be that the fit of their air filter is not perfect, allowing some dirt to get by, it's also possible that when the person cleaned their filter, they didn't reoil it properly as well.
My advice to anyone running any type of aftermarket air filter and/or intake system, is to get an oil analysis done to make sure you're not hurting your engine. This way you can correct the problem before it becomes a much costlier one. Better to spend $20 on an oil analysis now as opposed to $3000 for an engine rebuild a couple of years later.
My advice to anyone running any type of aftermarket air filter and/or intake system, is to get an oil analysis done to make sure you're not hurting your engine. This way you can correct the problem before it becomes a much costlier one. Better to spend $20 on an oil analysis now as opposed to $3000 for an engine rebuild a couple of years later.
