Aftermarket Air Filter Benefits

Changing your standard air filter to an aftermarket air filter  is probably the easiest and arguably the most popular way to add power to your engine. It is a simple and relatively cheap procedure which by itself can add roughly 1 to 4 hp increase in horsepower (according to manufacturer claims). It also has a number of other benefits which i will try to explain.

Why should i go aftermarket? Whats wrong with the original filter?

Well most car manufacturers make their air filter elements using pleated paper. Its cheap and easy to service but does not offer the best air flow. Aftermarket air filters are usually made from oiled cotton or oiled foam, which has been proven to provide better air flow than the standard paper filters.

So how does this add more power to my engine?

Well the logic is, the better your engine can breathe (which means more oxygen for combustion), the more power it can make. Just like humans, cars need to breathe freely to perform best.

What other benefits can i get from going aftermarket?

Besides more power, aftermarket air filter manufacturers also equate better air flow to less fuel wastage, hence better fuel economy. Most aftermarket filters can last a long time (some even offering lifetime warranties) as they are washable and reuseable, so you will save money from not having to change your air filter every service interval.

How many types of aftermarket air filters are there?

Generally there are two routes you can go by changing your air filter, the first being a simple filter element swap or more commonly know as a “drop in” filter replacement, where only the filter element is replaced. Or, you can change the whole intake system on your car, which generally offers better increases in power due to more efficient intake pipes and an open pod filter (filter is exposed rather than enclosed in a box). Changing the intake also changes your engine sound to a more sportier note.

Drop-in replacement filter element

Open pod filter + intake kit (note the intake pipe).

Is there a downside to changing to aftermarket filters?

Well some have argued that the increase in horsepower is too little to notice and poorly installed intake kits with open pod filters have been known to lose power as they are sucking in hot air from the engine bay (hot air is less dense than cool air, thus having less oxygen).Besides that its pretty much all good.

I personally am of the opinion that aftermarket filters are a good upgrade to make and are the first step in modifying your car to perform better. Once you are done with the air filter you can proceed to other modifications such as changing your exhaust system for better flow throughout. Whatever you decide to do, i would recommend you do your research beforehand and asked around or read up on car forums to know what people have experienced from making the change.

Picture source: www.knfilters.com