Exposed Air Cleaners

[Ricer]

In this video this guy says that exposed air cleaners have a positive impact on performance and fuel consumption. Just as he says I found that the stock air cleaner is covered and there's only a small hole from the side for it to breath. I could remove the front part of the casing and if I do so will it have an adverse effect? If not, why is the stock air cleaner covered all around with just a small inlet?

I was also told that aftermarket air cleaners aren't suitable because it doesn't filter properly

How true are the above facts??

[Rumesh88]

It is all about the vehicles which are designed for the mass market with the features to meet mass market expectations. You can leave your air filter exposed or fixed with a short ram for enhanced performance but that has its own drawbacks. An exposed air filter tend to gather external elements such as dust and water much quicker than a filter which is kept covered. You cannot expect a typical car user to check or change the air filter frequently and avoid exposing the filter to elements in circumstances like servicing or driving through water logged roads etc. Those of you who have a personal interest in automobiles can do the sort of things discribed in this video. As for the after market filters some of them are oil impregnated and said to contaminate the MAF sensor. Others may provide a better air flow but at the same time allow fine particles in. You cannot design a filter to meet both requirements and hence would have to find a compromised solution.

[Ricer]

Thanks for the info

[kmeeg]

It is all about the vehicles which are designed for the mass market with the features to meet mass market expectations. You can leave your air filter exposed or fixed with a short ram for enhanced performance but that has its own drawbacks. An exposed air filter tend to gather external elements such as dust and water much quicker than a filter which is kept covered. You cannot expect a typical car user to check or change the air filter frequently and avoid exposing the filter to elements in circumstances like servicing or driving through water logged roads etc. Those of you who have a personal interest in automobiles can do the sort of things discribed in this video. As for the after market filters some of them are oil impregnated and said to contaminate the MAF sensor. Others may provide a better air flow but at the same time allow fine particles in. You cannot design a filter to meet both requirements and hence would have to find a compromised solution.

Ramesh,

What are your thoughts about replacing existing air filter with something like K&N air filters which fits to existing air filter housing? (Not the exposed air filters).

Due to high flow of air do you think those ones will also cause issues to MAF sensor with dust, moist or even oil from the air filter itself can build up? Let's think about the worst case scenario if your daily commute will have lot of dust / rain.

Thank you.

[Rumesh88]

Ramesh,

What are your thoughts about replacing existing air filter with something like K&N air filters which fits to existing air filter housing? (Not the exposed air filters).

Due to high flow of air do you think those ones will also cause issues to MAF sensor with dust, moist or even oil from the air filter itself can build up? Let's think about the worst case scenario if your daily commute will have lot of dust / rain.

Thank you.

The OEM filters provide enough air flow through them to give you the stock horsepower even at high air flow situations. Of course, high-flow filters will give you marginally higher air flow than the OEMs but you reap this benefit only during the most demanding situations. For your daily commute a high-flow air filter would not make a difference unless you use the highway at the top speed and/or with full load regularly (or if you drive like mad even on normal roads ). If you ask me, my advice always is to use OEM filters and keep them clean regularly and change them when necessary.

[kmeeg]

Thanks Ramesh.. So oem air filter is the best suit for me. I do use highway for a short distance but don't drive fast at all... Don't want to give away hardly earned money to the government.. ??