Product Review: aFe Pro Dry S - Oil Free High Flow Drop-in Engine Air Filter

[BlueCrush]

I received my aFe Pro Dry S Filter today. It can be purchased here for $40 shipped: http://stores.ebay.com/Rhino-B...QtZkm Just do a search for "corolla"More info here: http://afefilters.com/prodrys/v1.htmlHere are a couple pics of it prior to install:I am going from an OEM air filter to this so I should be able to tell a difference.First Impressions: After going thru 5 start/stop driving cycles today, I can say that it feels like it is breathing easier than the oem filter. With this filter, the intake is louder than OEM but quieter than a K&N drop-in. There is no sucking noise like with the K&N drop-in. Acceleration is smoother (and a hair quicker) than with the oem filter. Review: After running this for a week. not much has changed from my first impression, I still love it!. I would recommend this over a K&N drop-in. It's cheaper and it uses synthetic dry media for filtering.

[Sublimewind]

So, no oil and it is a cotten gause type filter... hmmmm

[bull77]

Besides the price - how is different from the K&N filter?

[BlueCrush]

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »So, no oil and it is a cotten gause type filter... hmmmm Quote, originally posted by bull77 »Besides the price - how is different from the K&N filter?It is a oil-free synthetic media.K&N is an oiled cotton gauze.http://afefilters.com/prodrys/v1.html

[northvibe]

let me know how you like it. I got a k&n oem replacement for my dads escape, but I think he pulled it out It gave him 1mpg more for a little while then dropped back down to the norm.

[BlueCrush]

My first impressions have been added to the first post.

[BlueCrush]

Posted my review the first post.

[binary]

Well bullocks... I just dropped $11 for a K&N filter charger kit today and cleaned my drop in.But I'm at 56k miles so I guess it was about due... The wife isn't as keen on using an oiled filter so maybe this one will do the trick. Thanks for the great write up!

[prathman]

The main thing I want from an air filter is that it actually do a good job of filtering out any particulates in the air. The only mention on the AFE website on how well it filters is a statement that it has an efficiency of 99.4%. That sounds pretty good and is fairly consistent with the AFE filter tested here:http://www.duramax-diesel.com/spicer/index.htm which had a 99.2% efficiency.But note that the AC Delco OEM filter had an efficiency of over 99.9% and let less than one fourth as much dirt get through as the AFE. So it seems that switching to the AFE is likely to result in four times as much abrasive crap getting into your engine through the air intake and grinding away at cylinder walls and bearing surfaces. So I won't be switching away from the OEM air filter to the AFE one. But I do note that it looks far superior to the performance of the K&N oiled filter (96.8% efficient and passes 17 times as much dirt as AC Delco).

[northvibe]

Well with paper not really anything can get through...but air, but then you are blocking air as well, hence the non performance. With foam or oiled filter it still works great. The oil filters grab lots, because of the oil collecting particles, but it will miss the other tiny ones the paper gets. I dont see how it can damage your engine as these particles that can get through are going to be microscopic and will burn up in the combustion. That and cai's, sri's and other filters have been used on other cars for years with no issues. To everyone their own, but I like performance

[prathman]

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »Well with paper not really anything can get through...but air, but then you are blocking air as well, hence the non performance. With foam or oiled filter it still works great. The oil filters grab lots, because of the oil collecting particles, but it will miss the other tiny ones the paper gets. I dont see how it can damage your engine as these particles that can get through are going to be microscopic and will burn up in the combustion. Much of the fine particulate matter in air consists of sand, primarily silicon dioxide or quartz. This is already fully oxidized and therefore can't burn. It has a melting point of about 2900F while engine manufacturers try to keep combustion temperatures around 2300F to minimize NOx emissions.So I don't see any reason why these small particles won't slowly grind away at internal engine components. Hopefully they'll eventually be trapped by the oil filter and taken out of circulation, but I'd rather that they didn't get into the engine in the first place. I wouldn't expect the damage to be quickly noticeable, but an engine that otherwise would have run to 300 kmiles may start burning oil at 200 kmiles while one that should have gone to 150 kmiles may only make it to 100 kmiles. It would take a longterm study with a large number of vehicles to determine the effect on durability and, AFAIK, that hasn't been done. But I see no good reason to take the chance that letting in more particulates won't cause a problem. Improved performance is a major selling point for cars. If the manufacturers (and their engineers) thought they could get any significant performance gain without a downside just by switching to a different filter costing a few dollars more then they'd love to try it.BTW, if you do want to take the chance, then I'd suggest periodically doing a used engine oil analysis. One thing tested for is silicon, so if fine sand is getting in through the air filter it should show up in the test.

[Whelan]

$30 for a filter. I may just stick with my paper drop ins.

[Kamikaze]

BC & prathman: good read! thanks for the input. When I first got my vibe I bought a K&N, and after a month a saw no real improvement in anything, and starting feeling that I've really wasted my money. I've switched back to the standard factory filter, and am in the mist of doing a test to find out if I get any better or worse gas milage, so far I have seen very little difference (only 300 miles in) I'm giving it 3 more weeks of testing before I'll fully know. My thinking is that with the standard filter I'm getting better filter power, and the ease of not having to oil the filter. I've never played with a Oil Free High Flow Drop-in Engine Air Filter, or researched it so I don't know much about it, but I'm thinking after my experience K&N for the vibe I will just stick with the factory filters.

[Petrucci914]

You get what you paid for. I will never use an oiled filter. My aFe filter is on order. Hopefully it comes today. Eventually having a Supercharger and such, I just wouldn't feel right putting in a $4 Bosh or Fram filter. It makes me shudder.

[zionzr2]

so how does on go about cleaning this dry filter??

[BlueCrush]

Quote, originally posted by zionzr2 »so how does on go about cleaning this dry filter??Cleaning instructions are on the website listed in the first post.

[Petrucci914]

Krikies. It took them a whole week to even SHIP my filter. Apparently it takes that long to find out if they have any in stock. I guess they haven't heard of computers before. Not impressed.

[BlueCrush]

Yeah, shipping took a week for mine as well.

[Petrucci914]

I think we're close to 3 weeks now.....still no filter. This is pathetic.

[Petrucci914]

Finally shipped today.......nice.

[zionzr2]

any update on how this filter is performing?I may be getting this nextime i need a filter?

[BlueCrush]

Worked great for me. Still looks like new. Mine is on it's way to Kamikaze. He should have it tomorrow.

[cmpltvertigo]

Great write up. I think I will go with this filter when it is time to replace mine. I just cant see myself putting an oiled filter that sits before the MAF.