Can a Reusable Engine Air Filter Help a Vehicle Deliver Better Mileage and Performance?

When it comes to engine intake air filters, many car owners pour great trust in the engine intake air filters sold in the aftermarket. Aftermarket manufacturers claim that their engine intake air filters enhance a car’s horsepower and acceleration, and there is no scarcity of people who support these claims made by aftermarket manufacturers.

Manufacturers who make these high-performance air filters use cotton or nanofibers to make these engine intake air filters and claim that these air filters can be washed and reused. While some manufacturers claim that all one has to do before using a reusable air filter is lubricate them with special oils that one can easily find in the aftermarket, other manufacturers claim that their engine intake air filters can be cleaned even with an air hose and reused. Similarly, many manufacturers claim that their engine air filters enhance the quality and quantity of the fresh air delivered to the engine.

So, should one invest in a reusable engine intake filter? Well, when you listen to the claims made by aftermarket manufacturers and people who swear by their products, you feel buying these filters is the right decision. After all, if your engine gets more fresh air, its life will increase automatically, right? Further, these high-performance filters and intake systems also reduce induction sounds, which in turn, makes them look more effective.

But, does a reusable engine air filter really help a vehicle deliver better mileage and performance? We try to find the answer to this question in this article. So, read on.

Unfortunately, market studies prove that these claims made by aftermarket manufacturers are nothing but humbug. Independent surveys and studies have proved that reusable engine intake filters do not affect the performance of engines in any way. In fact, some studies found that reusable engine intake filters allow more dirt than is usual to enter into the engine. This dirt eventually finds its way into the engine oil and damages the internal parts of the engine. Further, some studies also disclosed that manufacturers spray these filters with oil sprays that enter the engine’s air intake system and damage it.

Further, when one compares the claims made by these aftermarket manufacturers with the studies and findings of the Environmental Protection Agency, one finds that there is a huge contrast between the claims made and reality. The Environmental Protection Agency conducted a study to understand how clogged filters affect fuel economy and found that clogged filters do not affect a vehicle’s fuel economy in any way, except in a single scenario. In the case of gasoline-powered vehicles, fuel efficiency increases when the vehicle is using a clean filter.

Thus, according to EPA, one can use the study conducted to gauge the effect of clean air filters on gasoline-powered vehicles to conclude that reusable and clean air filters can affect the performance of a vehicle. However, to what extent these filters affect the performance is still unknown.

Further, these high-performance reusable filters are far more expensive than traditional filters. Though they do not require periodic replacement like conventional filters, they demand periodic maintenance, cleaning, and your time.

So, the final decision lies with you — if you think you wish to try these filters on your own and then decide, you must go ahead and buy them. However, if you wish to take clues from the studies conducted by the EPA, it’s best to let the temptation pass.

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Car Guys Auto Center
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