What Brand Of Air Filter Element?

[FalcoColumbarius]

What brand of air filter element do you prefer in your Wagon and why?

I usually use Sakura elements. This last time I used a Fram element and it felt like she was starving from lack of air. Is it me or is the paper too thick in the Fram filter elements?

Falco.

[nxski]

K&N all the way!

[del400]

I second that!!!

[sub-arctic]

Whatever takes the shortest amount of time to get to yellowknife I should seriously look at a cleanable filter up here...

[Manitoba deli]

K&N in all my personal vehicles.
Jason

[Nukes25]

K&N, been using them for 10+ years in all my vehicles I've had long enough to do the air filter on :P ( gone through a few winter beaters when I was without a 4x4)

[FalcoColumbarius]

When the K&N discussion started up I was toying with the idea. Then I looked it up on line and discovered that they were originally designed for race car motors that get rebuilt after each race and were only meant to keep the big pieces out and are not good for anything off the tarmac. There are many contentious views in various forums regarding K&N elements, many people like them because they allow more air to the chamber, giving more power to the motor and there are evidently some happy campers with K&N elements in Delica Canada. Then again, one could just leave the element out altogether and get more air, still ~ K&N is walking a fine line in my opinion.

The Sakura elements are made in Indonesia for a Japanese company. I have been happy with the performance using them as they allow air through yet protect my engine from BC's dirt roads and fine forest fire ash that periodically floats in the atmosphere. Especially the pine beetle ash.

Fram elements are made in Mexico for and American company. I've used them once and experienced mixed emotions.

Has anyone heard of other brands?

Falco.

[Manitoba deli]

I have found, that with the majority of my driving being dusty gravel roads, I can easily get a year out of a paper filter. With the K&N I get about 2 months. This tells me my K&N is trapping more dust. If I don't clean it, the engine will suck air past it and that is not good. It needs to be cleaned often and re-oiled properly. If it is not oiled properly, it won't do its job either. I have watched the comparison video's where the guy finds more debris is let through the K&N, since I didn't see how he oiled it before use, I can't put much faith in the results. I simply know my K&N plugs way faster than the paper element, and I have the larger one that has close to the same surface area as the paper one. For me, faster plugging means more debris caught.
Jason

[Dalaran_Delica]

What is the filter number for sakura I would like to try it!

[CREGAN]

I run a K&N in my van and I really like it. I have found it does get quite dirty, so I check it often and clean it every couple months. After cleaning it I have a new paper filter I use while running around and then I re-oil when dry and put it back in. I think it gives a little more pep and turbo whistle which is nice. Don't know if it is actual or just in my head though.

Craig

[Spearo]

Independent test:
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html

I'll stick with a decent paper element. I don't have 200 extra Hp of mods on my 85Hp engine so can't see any need for extra airflow, and not fond of extra dirt getting into my engine.

[bionic]

The constant clogging of my air filter was the main reason I went with a snorkel. The air intake for the L300 sits behind the right wheel well...constantly gets a funnel of dust/dirt directly to the air canister....rediculous. Only draw back to the snorkle is an increase in water into the filter canister. (which has a drain for this) The water does not impact performance, but the clogged filter sure does!

[Yokohama]

Paper elements have vary little restriction when in good shape. The power gain from a K&N is not worth the filtering loss.

I wonder if when it was commented that paper is clogging faster in a dusty enviroment versus a K&N is because the K&N does not have as much surface area for filtering and hence fills up sooner. In that case, the paper would be better all around because of more filter surface area.

This is a real study done by the Oakridge National Labs:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/pdfs/Air ... 6_2009.pdf

[FalcoColumbarius]

I've not experienced a lot of water clogging with the air filter. From time to time I will remove the element and blow it out with a compressor. I also empty out the fine dust from the tray.

Spearo, that's an excellent Nico article. Even if one disagrees with it ~ at least they have a reasonable argument to disagree with. It was arguments like this that originally persuaded me to keep with Sakura.

Dalaran, I'm not sure what the Sakura number is, I usually just ask for an air filter element, push it in and drive off. However, the OEM number for the Starwagon 4D56T engine air filter element is: MD603446. Most of the usual suspects carry Sakura or can get them and will ship it off to you in Calgary. Just give them a call.

The thing I like about these machines is the concept of balance. Paper too thick? Not enough air. Too much air can be a potential problem as well, depending on how much fuel is being introduced to the chamber. Too much air to fuel and the engine can run hotter. Balance is cool.

Falco.

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

Sakura air filter numbers.
L300 ; A-1014
L400 ; A-1070
Pajero ; A-1032

Steven