Does an Air Filter with Cotton Affect Engine Power?
2 Answers
An air filter with cotton can indeed affect engine power. Here are the detailed explanations: 1. Explanation One: The function of an air filter is quite simple—it removes tiny impurities from the air. 2. Explanation Two: During operation, the engine needs to intake a large amount of air. If the air is not filtered, the dust suspended in the air will be drawn into the cylinders, accelerating the wear of the piston assembly and cylinders. 3. Explanation Three: Larger particles entering between the piston and cylinder can cause severe "cylinder scoring," which is particularly problematic in dry and sandy working environments.
After I last replaced my air filter with a cotton one, I really thought about how it affects performance. The cotton material in this type of filter is more breathable than paper, allowing air to flow in faster and smoother, which in theory should slightly improve throttle response—like making the engine feel a bit more lively during acceleration. But be careful: if the filter isn’t installed properly or gets clogged with too much dust, it can actually restrict airflow and hurt performance. After a few weeks of testing on my old car, I noticed a tiny boost in power under normal maintenance, especially when climbing hills at high speeds—but don’t expect turbo-level gains, since its main job is still filtering to protect the engine. I recommend checking it every few thousand kilometers to prevent clogging; otherwise, you might lose power and even increase fuel consumption, which isn’t worth it.
