So what's wrong with the Airhog filters? was:Re: Airhog filters almost free after Fram's rebate

bending the gear..."

Improved airflow comes at a price, generally reduced filtering ability. The only way around that would be to increase the surface area of the filtering media.

Plus, their commercials just rub me the wrong way.

nate

bending the gear..."

Same reason as a K&N. They don't filter as well as the stock unit and since they are also an oiled gauze item the oil can cause problems with the MAF sensor.

They are made by FRAM. all I need to know to avoid them.

The don't do a particularly good job of filtering air. Like K&N and other high flow filters, the allegedly "higher" flow comes at the price of a whole lot more grit passing through the filter.

D> Other than a few derogatory comments abpout the price...

bending the gear..."

======================== I saved this old posting because I thought it answered this recurring question well:

----------- From: Matthew E. O'Toole ( snipped-for-privacy@ix.netcom.com) Subject: Re: K&N air filter? View this article >

I've used K&N filters over the years too, and while the results you cite are not contrary to my experience, I am concerned about recommending these for everyday use in a passenger vehicle. I have done oil analysis on every car on which I've used a K&N. On all 6 cars, this showed many times the amount of silica particles (airborne dust) in the oil than when a paper filter was used. This means that the K&N does not do as good of a job filtering the air, allowing more dirt into your engine. You may very well experience increased engine wear due to this, as your oil filter will not catch it all.

Notice that K&N does not advertise their product as offering "better filtration", only as offfering "better flow". The K&N is a good product for it's intended use, which was not originally long term use in a passenger vehicle.

Matt O.

Turning your question upside down is there a reason you should buy a filter from an unknown company that calls itself Airhog when you could buy a perfecty good filter designed for your car from the dealer or from a reputable parts house.

The difference in price is trivial, however the difference in quality is likely significant. Unless you have tests performed by a nationally recognized independent laboratory that show the Airhog filter performs at least as well as the one from the manufacturer I would stay away from an unknown.

bending the gear..."

Well, it's branded as a Fram filter, which is a well known brand, but they're well known for not-so-high-quality oil filters, so that's not necessarily a plus in my book.

nate

I was referring to quality filters including those from the car manufacturer.

here we go again.... still believe that car manufacturers also build air and oil filters, do you?

For filters, the best brand names to buy on are Wix or Purolator. Filters from a dealer and labelled with a car-maker's parts division are truly of unknown origin in many cases. You can assume that they meet the minimum specifications for the part, but that's all. QC/QA can be all over the map.

Oh, good there is a waxing moon tonight and the troll has come out of hiding. Once again he will tell us of his extensive inside knowlege anout the design, contracting and purchasing decisions made by the major auto makers.

It's a well known fact that OEM filters for various makes are obviously relabeled product of the major aftermarket mfgrs. Sometimes Dana (Wix) sometimes Champion Labs, sometimes Fram. There's little "tells" in the construction of the filter that make this evident. Perhaps *you* should look into the subject before firing off authoritative-sounding, condescending messages.

and just before you scream "cite!" as I know you will, here ya go...

nate

Thanks for the replies...

At least a few have reasonable arguements. Much better than "it's too expensive"..or "I wouldn't buy it" for no reason.

But get real...just because it's Fram doesn't mean it's bad, either...because they had some bad oil filters 10 years ago I'm not necessarily going to avoid their air filters...

FYI, a lot of what I use are Hastings from the local Federated store...and I tend to change 'em frequently Don Byrer Commercial Pilot / CFI Student Electronics Technician, RADAR/Data/Comm @ CLE Amateur Radio KJ5KB

"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without bending the gear..." "I know what it sounds like....when doves cry" (Bird Strike 8/29/05)

I cant believe someone yells troll without himself having a clue about the subject.

A lot of the complaint against Fram comes about from the shoddy appearance of some of the filter innards. Several years ago, someone published a report on the web of his findings on oil filters. He had cut them apart, taken a look, identified many of the filters from their original source.

Fram got a really bad rep, but there was no actual filtration data, failure data, etc. I think the reputation spilled over onto Frams entire line base on the groundswell.

When the K&N came out, many raced to it believing it gave more power, was a really great deal. Later, data was published showing that the K&N gave improved airflow at a price.

I suspect that the Airhog will show similar results..but I dont know this for sure.

Why should that be any surprise...good grief. Just as many other other automotive components come from specialist companies.

What in heavens sake is a tell. And please describe the little fellows.

I was responding to a snide comment from a troll.

That car manufacturers depend on filter manufacturers for their products comes as no great surprise to me and hopefully it is not to you either. However I think that it is completely incorrect to assume as steve-the-troll does that car manufacturers blindly accept the least-cost product with no mind given to standards of filtration, quality, etc.

The website presents an interesting home project, but in terms of this discussion it adds very little.

I am not comfortable using oiled gauze filters on my vehicles no matter who sells them. Unless you are spending a lot of time at wide open throttle, there isn't an advantage and they will let in more dirt. I have a long rant about K&N fitlers at

. I believe most of my opinions apply directly to the Fram Air Hog Fitlers as well.

Thanks Nate. But don't expect to shake this guy's belief that its super-secret insider information.

It shouldn't be a surprise at all.

You know, things that make the filter unique from others on the market, like the number/size/shape of the holes in the baseplate, the form of the crimp, the construction of the bypass or anti-drainback valves (if present,) the construction of the filter media (and in the case of one mfgr. the presence of a string around the media) - things like that.

I didn't see it as snide at all, nor did I see it as a troll.

When they choose Fram, that is the only logical conclusion, although certainly they have to meet the manufacturer's minimum standards for quality and filtration. I think Steve's point was that the average consumer may not wish to merely meet the manufacturer's standards when there are likely aftermarket products available that will exceed them (for a similar price.) Which brings us full circle to the original poster's question regarding using a particular aftermarket air filter. Now that particular filter in my opinion may not be the best choice for regular on-road use, but there may very well be aftermarket filters available that ARE better choices than an OEM-branded part, with little or no cost penalty.

You certainly can't say with a straight face that you'd rather have the oil that comes out of the 55-gallon drum at a dealership than some Mobil One or Redline, can you? But the oil in the 55-gallon drum meets the manufacturer's specifications... (well, usually. There have been exceptions...)

It certainly lends credence to Steve's assertion.

nate

Oh please, you're changing your song in mid dance here. I have *ALWAYS* said that the car companies do require that their vendor-of-the-year meet minimum standards, but as automotive enthusiasts we generally want something that far exceeds minimum standards. Do you use the very cheapest no-name oil that has an API rating in your car? I don't. The whole tenor of the air and oil filter discussions is about how to consistently obtain better-than-minimum a) filtration, b) quality of manufacture, and c) consitency or "quality control" of manufacture. For many years Wix and Purolator have consistently been better than minimum, whereas going to the dealer will only assure you of MINIMUM performance.