“Air filters do not necessarily have to be changed at each vehicle inspection. It is enough to clean them or blow through them with compressed air to restore their function”

Permanent temperature loading of 80 Degree Celsius and temperature peaks of more than 100 DC can occur at the filter element during vehicle use. Therefore, even materials of the highest quality will age and suffer fatigue. Also, any attempt to clean an air filter can have very detrimental effects:

• Mechanical stress during the cleaning process can lead to rupture of the pleats – which means the end of the filtration effect.
• The high cleaning air pressure may destroy the structure of the filter paper so that the dust holding capacity is reduced.
• Dirt particles can enter the engine through broken pleats and damaged structures
• The reduced holding capacity, in turn, reduces the service life.

“If you take a cheaper filter and replace it twice as frequently, the effect is the same as using an expensive filter”

A cheap filter never gives the same result – not for an instant. And to cap it all off, a cheap filter conceals a whole series of risks.

• Possible leaks, e.g. at the filter medium or bypass valve.
• Lower separation efficiency
• Uncertainty regarding durability
• Use of incompatible materials in the vehicle, e.g. embrittlement of cellulose media through aggressive oil constituents.

“The same paper is often used in both cheap filters and expensive ones. There are only so many filter paper manufacturers worldwide.”

The number of filter material manufacturers is indeed small, but the origin of the paper tells you nothing of its quality and nothing at all about the effectiveness of the filter. There are loads of different elements that have an effect on the quality of the filter media.

• Impregnation of the filter media
• Improvement through the use of activated carbon or nano-fibres
• Type and quantity of the synthetic fibre added to the paper pulp
• The composition of the synthetic raw materials used in production Drying time and temperature
• Production processing (pleating, curing using heat)

“Unlike oil filters, the quality of air filters is not an issue, they are all similar and hardly important for keeping the car running. The cheapest filter is all you will need”

Oil filters are usually the ones to attract attention. However, the importance of the air filter has increased enormously in modern vehicles. Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t settle for lower quality filters:

• Modern engines are becoming increasingly efficient and therefore have higher demands on air filters
• With the increase in the air volume passing through the filter, both the load on the air filter and its importance have risen proportionality
• An efficient air filter is the basis of optimum fuel combustion
• If water enters the air housing, the correct function of simple air filters can no longer be guaranteed, which leads to a drop in engine power.
• A flame-retardant impregnation protects both the engine and the occupants

“Instead of buying a new cabin filter, all you need is to brush the old one until it is clean.”

If you take water and brush to a cabin filter, it will look cleaner, but the tiny particles such as pollen, fungus or mould spores simply cannot be removed with a light brushing. The cleaning process may, in fact, loosen them so that they enter the passenger compartment next time the ventilation system is turned on. Other problems that also often occur are:

• Misting of the windows, because residual moisture from washing the filter can enter the passenger compartment
• Recurring misting of the windows in damp weather, because particles retained in the filter material do not allow the fresh air to pass through freely
• The reduced cooling effect, because residual dirt particles can block the air flow from the air conditioning system into the passenger compartment
• Pollen, dust and dirt particles can no longer be retained because the electrostatic charge of the filter has been lost due to washing

“Provided that the size and thread match, oil filters are interchangeable. Therefore, you do not have to go to the effort of buying a filter with a corresponding part number”

Even if the dimensions of a filter are right, it does not mean it is a good choice. From the outside, the black can make a customer feel confident about what they are buying, but only a high-quality oil filter offers optimum protection. It’s what’s inside that counts:

• The filter material must be suitable for the engine and application
• Only the right filter that matches the application perfectly is able to retain separated dirt particles until the next change is due
• Depending on the type of engine, a filter needs a certain number of valves for optimum protection defending against engine wear. Not only is the number of valves important, but also the correct design values, such as the opening and closing of a valve.

“The faster the oil pressure light goes out again after changing the filter, the better it means that the filter is”

Usually, there is only one reason why the oil pressure light comes on briefly and then goes out again: when, after changing, the filter is empty for a moment. But, a customer should leave the stopwatch where it is, because the time taken says nothing at all about filter quality. The delay can be dangerous if the warning light no longer goes out – because then the oil pressure is too low. Apart from a low level or a defective oil pump, the problem may also be caused by the filter:

• The flow resistance is too high because an incorrect or low-quality filter has been used
• The filter is full because the change interval has been exceeded

You can check out the range of filters that we have in stock here!

Technical Information