What is the Difference Between Good and Bad Car Air Filters?
2 Answers
The difference between good and bad car air filters lies in the filter paper, structure, number of folds, and base of the air filter element. Below is a related introduction about car air filter elements: 1. Introduction to better car air filter elements: A good air filter element has uniform filter paper color, a flat paper surface, more fibers on the windward side, providing better filtration capability to filter out more impurities; it has hard plastic reinforcement ribs, which can effectively prevent filter paper deformation; it has more folds, increasing the filtration area and improving filtration efficiency; the filter element is made of good rubber material, with a smooth and flat surface and good sealing. 2. The function of the air filter element: During operation, the engine needs to suck in a large amount of air. If the air is not filtered, the suspended dust in the air will be sucked into the cylinder, accelerating the wear of the piston group and the cylinder. The air filter is installed in front of the carburetor or intake pipe to filter out dust and sand particles in the air, ensuring that sufficient and clean air enters the cylinder.
I've always been concerned about the air quality inside my car, and the difference after installing a good air filter is particularly noticeable. I used to buy cheap ones, which worked fine at first, but after two or three months, the airflow from the AC would weaken, and the air coming out always had a musty smell—especially annoying on rainy days when the windows fogged up. A high-quality air filter has sturdy material but allows smooth ventilation; you can feel the strong airflow even at high speeds without any unpleasant odors. Most importantly, the filtration efficiency is superior. The expensive ones can block PM2.5 and pollen, and my allergic rhinitis flare-ups have significantly decreased. Last time I replaced it, I noticed the edges of the cheap filter had deformed, letting dust leak directly into the air ducts. Now I always choose filters with an activated carbon layer. Although they cost a bit more, it's a worthwhile investment for health, and I only need to replace them about once a year.
