Dry Air Filters

The most recent filters to enter the market are dry synthetic air filters.  They are sold by aftermarket air filter companies as an oil free alternative to gauze or foam air filters that come oiled.  Dry air filters have all the same attributes as a paper filter except that they can be cleaned.  They are not good at either air flow or filtration.  They are a surface air filter so once they get dirty they become even more restrictive.

Dry air filter companies are selling their filters to customers concerned about oil getting on their Mass Air Flow sensor. (Read our section on MAF sensors and you will see why this is not a valid reason to choose an air filter.)  However, the reason you buy an aftermarket filter is to get better air flow and better filtration.  Our testing has shown that a dry filter does not improve on either of these areas over a paper filter.