Air Filter for Gas Mileage?

[dgpretzel]

2005 Astro

There's an awful lot of back-and-forth on air filters.

At the end of the day, if I'm not interested in performance, but just max fuel efficiency, does it make a difference in what air filter I use?

Which one/kind/brand?

Thank you.

DG

 

[fitzz47]

Use paper,and change reg.

 

[TimVipond]

As long as it is clean you should get the best gas mileage. When they start getting dirty, gas mileage can decrease as much as 10% when restricted.

You might consider one of these Air Filter........ EAA04 AMSOIL Ea Air Filter . They filter finer particles, yet stay less restricted longer, plus good for 100,000 miles. Every 25,000 miles (or more frequent if in dirty conditions) just remove, vacuum off, put back in. No washing, drying, oiling which can cause additional problems. I've got one in my Chevy Venture. Should keep your oil cleaner. More info at http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/eaa.aspx. Alot of people rave about these filters at BITOG.

 

[Pablo]

Yes - you want an EaA - EaA Air Filter

 

[The Critic]

Quote:

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I installed an EAA filter on my 2000 Excursion powerstroke about 7 months ago and can comment on a couple of things.

1. The filter clogs up more readily with the microfine dust that we have here. I have used the amsoil foam and the factory filter and neither of those two would clog up and restrict the flow like the EAA. Both of them would never get to the point where the indicator showed >25% restriction. The EAA showed >75% after about 15k miles. Even after blowing the dust off it still registered >25% restriction.

2. It is nearly impossible to blow out all the very find dust particles without risking damage to the filter.

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http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB15&Number=492986

The EaA filter, while apparently excellent at filtration, will not be "completely clean" after a routine clean-up. There will still be dirt left inside thus reducing air flow, compared to new. Perhaps this is also why Amsoil recommends replacing them after four years, as the filter itself will accumulate dirt overtime (despite cleaning), and reach its capacity? Pablo?

IOW, I don't believe the EaA is the best choice for maximum air flow, provided that efficiency/filtration is not a concern. I would pick-up a K&N from Amazon. Even if filtration was an issue, the poorer filtration from the K&N is unlikely to drastically reduce engine life to the point that one would care/notice.

 

[Pablo]

Perhaps Critic - but I'd like to know a bit more about how that fellow cleaned his. (Was that quote from the link?)

 

[harry j]

Try the Eaa filter, its low initial restriction should increase engine efficiency by lowering pumping losses.

 

[cmhj]

FWIW, the next time I need a filter I'll try an Eaa simply due to experiences with their oil filters.

 

[harry j]

If you're lucky enough that they make one that fits your Vibe.

 

[mazduh30]

Well I tried a K&N air filter on a road trip last year. This year I have an Amsoil EaA filter. Be interesting to see the difference.

 

[harry j]

I would like to hear about that also mazduh30, please keep us posted.

 

[JustinH]

Personally, I just use a wix paper filter.

I've never had a problem.

The f150 uses a cone type filter, they are 9 dollars.

Change them every year or two, and its never a problem.

 

[JustinH]

Furthermore, spending extra money on a filter in a regular vehicle is not going to save you enough money at the pump to make it worthwhile to buy the fancy filter.

Also those KN filters with the oil soaked medium like to spew oil all over the MAF sensor, possibly causing driveability problems.

 

[Steve S]

Quote:

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Try the Eaa filter, its low initial restriction should increase engine efficiency by lowering pumping losses.

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Doubt it .

 

[harry j]

Steve S,
You may be right, right now I couldn't tell you with conviction that that is correct. Amsoil has not seen fit to offer a filter for my car as of yet. Until they do, my statment, based on the manufacturers specs, is just theory. I hope to get the chance to eventually evaluate the Eaa filter when and if it ever becomes available.

 

[harry j]

JustinH,
I presently use the Wix air filter and it does a good job. You may have a valid point about not saving enough money at the pump on a regular vehicle. For some that is not the point. For me, I only want to tinker with varoius products to see if there is any difference in performance, cost whithin reason. I keep meticulous records on MPG and personally delight in finding something that increases engine efficiency. Just another car crazy BITOGER.

 

[JustinH]

Harry J,

I have yet to see any drop in air filter make any marked difference in economy or performance on any stock vehicle.

The ad's that KN and the others (airhog, etc) run are absolutely absurd.

They must base their MPG gains based on a vehicle with a plugged air filter that has never been changed.

This is not the case for any of the vehicles I own.

Even those "cold air intakes" aren't worth their money on 90 percent of the cars out there. The only ones I have seen that made a dyno proven power gain are factory supercharged cars or turbocharged cars with a factory hugely restricted air inlet.

I too keep insane mpg records on my f150, and I can't get it over what the factory window sticker says it should do for miles a gallon.

If you want to increase mileage, there are things that actually work (underdrive pulleys, electric fans, electric water pump, etc) However, an air cleaner isn't going to be worth it.

I would even go as far to say to use the cheapest air cleaner in a stock car that you can get away with. I might even use an orange box fram, and I never use anything from that company.

 

[harry j]

I pretty much agree about the Fram filter, I don't want to encourage them. It is interesting to see that you keep such good MPG records. It is probably as you say about the air filter, not much or any improvement in efficiency. All that said, I have always wanted to try the K&N air filter to test my theory, that is, whith pumping losses minimized, efficiency will increase, however so slightly. With the advent of the Eao, I am now willing to try it as it's similar to the K&N in air flow, without all the garbage it lets through. Amsoil, where is my Eao? Being that I have a 1993 Civic, I am not really too optimistic about the future availibility.

 

[dwendt44]

Any difference in one filter over another would make little difference in MPG. MPG ratings and testing is done at a small throttle opening.
Filter differences would only show up at/near wide open throttle.
My 2¢

 

[T-Keith]

Quote:

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Use paper,and change reg.

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I agree. For a fraction of the price of a "lifetime filter" you can buy a lot of paper filters. Plus you won't have to worry about the thing breaking because you can just toss it.