Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance a new filter that puts k&n to shame

Most assertions here are wrong or exagerated, it's sad to say!!!

AFE 14" Round 3" tall Filter tested at 1.5" H20 830 cfm compared to the same sized Foam Filter which will remain anonymous flowed only 423 cfm. Another problem with Foam is they lack the ability to Straighten the airflow decreasing the amount of Turbulence entering the air stream. One noticeable problem with Foam Filters is the oil doesn't hold well with the Foam and therein having a tendency to settle with gravity or get released into the airstream.

The thing that amazes me is the claim that Foam Filters filter better, I don't think so!!! I've been through Foam Filters, including both Amsoil and Roar Foam Filters and I can tell you from experience alone they don't filter better, but I'll leave the proof to those that test'em. Comparing my Roar Foam Filter to my current AFE Filter, which by the way I sell, I was shocked at the results. Not only did the AFE boost airflow as shown by the SAFC, my intact tract and MAF never show signs of dirt whatsoever. Unfortunately I can't say that for the Foam Filter which some of you claim superior.

Oh by the way Amsoil Filters are not new, those things been around for ahwile. I bought my First Amsoil Filter in 98'......

Bunk. This would be a problem with any oil-impregnated filter--gauze or foam--using too much oil, or the wrong type of oil. Never been a problem for me.

I don't see why this would be the case. Seems to me that any filter would perform the same in this regard.

Neither do mine, so I guess the anecdotal evidence available to us cannot be generalized.

Of course, your personal experience trumps mine. I've had the ITG on my car for about 2 years, and I'm thoroughly satisfied with it. I have a K&N OEM replacement in my Windstar, of all things, and I love it, too, but have not had it long enough to have to clean it. So, I can't really compare.

Is that 14" circumference and 3" tall? As I said, I don't doubt that the gauze-type filters flow better per unit area, which is why a foam filter would have to be larger to obtain the same flow rate. How much larger remains a question in my mind, but it's also why I recommended gauze-type filters for the OEM airbox. I would guess that my ITG is more like 24" around and 8" high, offering something like 4 times the surface. Even allowing that the AFE and others like it are "corrugated" to provide more filter area, I'd say the airflow is going to be close in a situation comparing these two actual applications. Wish we had some real data.

And finally, here's some marketing literature...which of course, should be read with that in mind.

ITG Web Page trying to sell you on the idea of why foam is better! Caution!

Bro ever thought of why the factory put a screen before the MAF on the SVT's. Simple to straighten the airflow. In essesnce the Gauzed Filters work the same way whether it be AFE, K&N, Power Stack, ect. The Metal screan supporting the Cotton Gauze is there to protect the element from damage but at the same time it helps straighten the flow of the air. AFE has put more emphasis also on the design of the pleats being very important for decreased turbulence & this is where AFE has used Technological Advancements to find the most optimized pleat degree as well as depth to obtain minimum change of inside and outside pressure as well as drastically decrease turbulence. Trust me the evidence is all there. I personally know a race shop that, for one is a provider and part builder for the Doug Mangrum Race Team in Pro 5.0, this Mustang is running in the 6's at over 200mph, and I can tell you these guy's will atest to the AFE Filter, in fact there the one that turned me on to it.

Anyway, Why would anyone want to run a Foam Filter twice the size of a AFE, K&N Filter to achieve similar Flow Gains, I know I sure wouldn't :rolleyes:

My lawn mower(snapper POS B&S motor) has a foam filter.. Would I get better flow by custom making a gauze filter? I am modding my snapper out to cut grass quicker than any1 in my hood.

2 answers: (1) Why not? and (2) Because I can. :p

Also, because at the time I purchased it, I felt that foam had better "dirt load" and filtration properties, and because my choices were basically K&N, KKM, or the ITG from BAT. Believe it or not, the final decision really came down to price, BAT's service, and better shipping terms.

Anyway, please don't think I'm bashing K&N or AFE or anyone else. In fact, I recommend them to people all the time, even though I like my ITG just fine.

If I were buying today, I'm still not sure which way I'd go.

Search the web and ye shall receive:

Independent Filter Test, Paper vs Gauze vs foam.

Key points:

So, what I get from this is that the foam was superior to the K&N in filtering capability and dirt-holding capacity. IOW, it captured more dirt, and was able to hold more dirt before choking. This supports my contention that foam is a superior filtering media.

Flow is more complicated. When all the filters were clean, the foam had the worst flow numbers. Again, though, in the interest of science, this test was run with all filters of panel type, and of the same size in a stock airbox. I still think that this flow compromise can be overcome with a larger-than-stock filter, and that the gain in dirt-capture is worth it.

Just my humble opinion.

Here's the interesting part, AFE is 4layer cotton gauze, not 3 like K&N! That means even better filtration and still able to gain increased cfm flow...

No PUN intended to Foam! I've got one on my 85 Mustang GT (Amsoil) and I previously had a Roar Filter on my SVT, though I currently use the AFE, so it's not that there all bad but from what I know Cotton Gauze has got a definate edge. IMO

Well first of all they don't clean as good, they don't last as long, not as durable and as far as drying out the engine heat would dry it out.

Ummm. No it wouldn't. We're not talking about the sponge you use to wash your car.