RDX and the K&N Air Filter
Thread Starter
haole kama'a-ina
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 593
Likes: 125
From: south of here
RDX and the K&N Air Filter
Every air filter is a compromise between flow and filtration.
Here is K&N's philosophy on this from their web-site:
Here are the results of an ISO 5011 test conducted on a GM Duramax Diesel:
Chart 1, the filter's overall ability to capture dirt.
Chart 2, dirt loading before reaching maximum flow restriction.
Chart 3, dirt passed through the filter.
Chart 4, dust loading under a constant dust flow. (The comments beneath are from the test.)
It is apparent that K&N achieves power and fuel economy gains by reducing filtration. ISO 5011 Test on Nissan Forum
I'm not trying to pee in anyone's Cheerios. If you choose to use a K&N, this may help to make an informed decision.
Here is K&N's philosophy on this from their web-site:
knfilters.com
Doesn’t higher filtration mean a better air filter?
No. The quality of an air filter can only be judged by reviewing all four important characteristics. 1) Restriction while loading with dust; 2) Filtration efficiency as a percentage; 3) Dust holding capacity before the filter needs cleaning or replacement ; and 4) filter life. Any company designing an air filter must make choices about these four characteristics and how their filter will perform in each area.......
Generally speaking, each characteristic of an air filter has an inverse relationship to at least one of the others, meaning, as filtration efficiency goes up, restriction increases...
We judge the quality of an air filter based upon the proper balance of these four essential criteria....
So the basic answer to the original question is that higher filtration is not necessarily a good thing when it comes at the expense of restriction,
As an industry standard, air filters are tested in accordance with the ISO 5011 test protocol to measure capacity and efficiency...
Doesn’t higher filtration mean a better air filter?
No. The quality of an air filter can only be judged by reviewing all four important characteristics. 1) Restriction while loading with dust; 2) Filtration efficiency as a percentage; 3) Dust holding capacity before the filter needs cleaning or replacement ; and 4) filter life. Any company designing an air filter must make choices about these four characteristics and how their filter will perform in each area.......
Generally speaking, each characteristic of an air filter has an inverse relationship to at least one of the others, meaning, as filtration efficiency goes up, restriction increases...
We judge the quality of an air filter based upon the proper balance of these four essential criteria....
So the basic answer to the original question is that higher filtration is not necessarily a good thing when it comes at the expense of restriction,
As an industry standard, air filters are tested in accordance with the ISO 5011 test protocol to measure capacity and efficiency...
Chart 1, the filter's overall ability to capture dirt.
Chart 2, dirt loading before reaching maximum flow restriction.
Chart 3, dirt passed through the filter.
Chart 4, dust loading under a constant dust flow. (The comments beneath are from the test.)
The dust loading curves show graphically how each filter responded to a constant 9.8 gms/min dust flow before reaching the maximum restriction limit. It’s interesting to note the shape of these Dust Loading Curves. The AC and Baldwin filters each had near linear responses until reaching maximum restriction. Restriction for these filters increased at a constant rate versus the 9.8 gms/min dust feed rate.
The other filters, most notably the oiled reusable types, had an exponential loading response before reaching maximum restriction. These filters had a lower initial restriction, but they became exponentially more restrictive under a constant flow of dirt.
This runs counter to the "myth" that oiled media filters actually "work better" as they get dirtier.
The other filters, most notably the oiled reusable types, had an exponential loading response before reaching maximum restriction. These filters had a lower initial restriction, but they became exponentially more restrictive under a constant flow of dirt.
This runs counter to the "myth" that oiled media filters actually "work better" as they get dirtier.
I'm not trying to pee in anyone's Cheerios. If you choose to use a K&N, this may help to make an informed decision.
Thread Starter
haole kama'a-ina
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 593
Likes: 125
From: south of here
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