Sports Air Filters
2024-01-17
The car's air filter purifies the air mixed with the fuel before combustion. This means that all the air is sucked through a filter where particles and dirt are trapped so as not to damage the engine. The air filter is housed in an air box that keeps the filter protected from dirt and heat. This type of filter is called an intake filter. It is fitted to 99% of all cars from the factory. The exceptions are sports cars.
There is also something called an 'open filter'. This type of filter has no protection from the air box, and takes in the maximum amount of air from the engine compartment.
We will distinguish between sports air filters that are insert filters and open sports air filters. The major differences between these two are the amount of air that comes in, and how much work it is to install. An intake filter will not provide a power increase, while some open sports air filters can provide a few more horsepowers. That said, it's generally a small increase and the real benefits of sports air filters are in longevity, quality and throttle response.
Lifespan
An original filter is discarded at service and replaced with a new one. A sports air filter from the Green Filter brand, for example, is washable. It is quickly and easily cleaned before being replaced. This means you don't have to buy new filters every year. If you clean the filter regularly, it will last a long time!
Quality
Since a regular air filter is made to be thrown away, the quality is not as high as in a sports air filter. The air that comes through is filtered well year after year, as long as it is cleaned.
Gas response
As the air flows through the filter faster, the car reacts more quickly when you press the accelerator. This makes the car feel more responsive and gives you a greater sense of control.
Sound
It sounds incredibly sporty when you switch to an open sports filter. (It's important to note that an insert filter doesn't have the same effect.) An open filter also provides better throttle response than an insert model.
Once you're ready to upgrade to a sports filter, there are a few things to consider.
Do I want an open filter or an insert filter?
To fit an open filter, you need to remove the air box from the car and fit the open filter directly to the hose. Take into account whether the filter is exposed to heat from the engine, because otherwise the filter risks drying out and losing its function. In cases where the air filter is located in a place where it is likely to dry out, a shield can be installed. This is a small sheet metal wall that protects from direct heat radiation.
An insert filter is easily installed in the existing air box and replaces the old filter. The procedure is done in about 3 minutes.
Which brand should I choose? Does it matter?
The major sports air filter brands are Green Filter, K&N Filters and JR. They have a large share of the market because they deliver quality products that perform. Green Filter is a company that is big in motorsport and supplies filters to many high performance teams.
Which filter should I choose?
Switching to an insert filter is easy. If you want to change to a sports air filter, you need to remove the air box to see the diameter of the pipe that the air box is attached to (and that the filter will eventually be attached to). The size of the open air filter can be adjusted to fit in the space where it is installed.
Find sports air filters under each car model here: