Paper Air Filter Question

[allroads]

Hi everyone. I have been reading the board for a few months but this is my first post. I had been considering changing the intake on my recently purchased '01 Yukon (5.3) but have decided to stay stock with paper filter. Here is my question...the owner's manual lists an AC Delco filter A1519C or A1518C which is supposed to be"high capacity" What is the difference? Does it mean it is supposed to flow more air or hold more dirt? Also, how are the Fram paper filters?

 

Thanks. I know there has been a lot of discussion about filters and intakes but I couldn't nail this one down.

 

Paul

[C & A s Dad]

The high capacity filter contains more pleats and more paper meaning it can hold more dirt. I can not say for sure, but my guess is that it will not flow quite as well as the std filter. I am not a Fram fan in anyway including their air filters.

 

I use the Foam filter element from TrueFlow. You can check out their website.

[thecraft]

Right, considering how horrible Fram's oil filters are, I wouldn't mess with a Fram air filter.

[Black02Silverado]

AMSOIL has a new line of EaA air filters with the nanofiber technology. You can read more on them here.

 

They have a 4yr 100k mile warranty and are cleanable. No oil needed.

[C & A s Dad]

Nick, are you using the Amsoil Air Filter? I have looked at it and considered it but am running a Trueflow foam filter right now. Are you also running the Amsoil oil filter?

[az'03Silverado]

I've run Ac Delco and Fram air filters for years and have never had an issue with them. My mom's '98 Buick Regal GS has over 200,000 miles on it using Fram air filters and Fram oil filters. My last truck, a '98 S-10 had 95,000 miles when I traded it. All those miles with Fram oil and air filters. My dad's '74 VW beetle has well over 250,000 miles using Fram air filters. There's NOTHING wrong with Fram filters! My Silverado used to have a K&N FIPK but I didn't like the loss of torque and the noise so I put the stock filter box back on and, guess what? I use Fram air filters. 50,000 miles on this one with not a single problem. I think all of this Fram bashing is a bunch of made-up "laboratory" crap. We're not running top-fuel funny cars here. We drive pickup trucks. Fram filters meet all factory specs and they work very well.

[ken1mod]

I have never had a problem with fram filters but from all the bad mouthing, I do use the wal mart oil filters. I hear they are very good. I use their oils too.

 

ken

[C & A s Dad]

I've run Ac Delco and Fram air filters for years and have never had an issue with them.  My mom's '98 Buick Regal GS has over 200,000 miles on it using Fram air filters and Fram oil filters.  My last truck, a '98 S-10 had 95,000 miles when I traded it.  All those miles with Fram oil and air filters.  My dad's '74 VW beetle has well over 250,000 miles using Fram air filters.  There's NOTHING wrong with Fram filters!  My Silverado used to have a K&N FIPK but I didn't like the loss of torque and the noise so I put the stock filter box back on and, guess what?  I use Fram air filters.  50,000 miles on this one with not a single problem.  I think all of this Fram bashing is a bunch of made-up "laboratory" crap.  We're not running top-fuel funny cars here.  We drive pickup trucks.  Fram filters meet all factory specs and they work very well.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

The Fram discussion is not made up Laboratory c**p. There are a lot of opinions on this subject and the bottom line is it is your truck and your money and you can use what you want. I would agree that the air filters are not bad but the oil filters are far from being top quality. They do meet the "minimum" specs and as far as having "problems' you will likely never have a problem with one. However, they are not a high quality piece and you an do much better for your truck. There are many filters available that are far superior in design and construction with many of them costing little or no more. I would encourage you to simply cut one open and compare it to an AC Delco or Wix. It is very easy to see the differences. Unsealed paper end cap, inferior filter media, leaf style sping that holds very little tension on the media, string wrapped media on many applications to keep the media from swelling out and falling apart etc. etc.

 

Please remember what I said earlier, you can buy and use whatever you like for your truck, I would simply ask why you would not use a better product if it were avail and cost only a little more?

[Black02Silverado]

Nick, are you using the Amsoil Air Filter? I have looked at it and considered it but am running a Trueflow foam filter right now. Are you also running the Amsoil oil filter?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I'm running both the air and oil filter. Terry Dyson who I get my oil analysis interpreted by recommends them. He is in no way connected with AMSOIL. I have Blackstone burn my oil and Terry interprets the results for me. He has been seeing good results with individual's running these filters.

 

I was running AMSOIL's foam filter but I was still getting high silicon levels so I switched it out for the EaA air filter. I have not had a sample burnt yet with the new filters on the vehicles. One thing about GM the air filter in my 02 is the same one that goes in a good bit of the 4.8's, 5.3's and 6.0's from 02 up to 06. At least from what I have checked they are. I just put one in my friends 03 Suburban with the 5.3 and it is the same EaA123 that is in my truck.

[allroads]

Thanks for responding. I agree with C & A s Dad about running what you want. I'm just trying to find the best solution for me. My goals are a clean engine and a long engine life. I would love a bit more grunt but not at the expense of engine health. I have read enough posts to feel that I want to err on the side of clean.

 

I have a Trueflow now but two things concern me. One of the tests results I read said that foam is only marginally better than oiled gauze in terms of filtering and, two, I swear my mileage has dropped since installing it in September. Maybe also a bit of the winter fuel thing. How easy is it to clean these things anyway? They seem very sticky to me.

 

The Amsoil seems promising also. Would love to hear some actual results on that one.

[Black02Silverado]

Thanks for responding. I agree with C & A s Dad about running what you want. I'm just trying to find the best solution for me. My goals are a clean engine and a long engine life. I would love a bit more grunt but not at the expense of engine health. I have read enough posts to feel that I want to err on the side of clean.

 

I have a Trueflow now but two things concern me. One of the tests results I read said that foam is only marginally better than oiled gauze in terms of foiltering and, two, I swear my mileage has dropped since installing it in September. Maybe also a bit of the winter fuel thing. How easy is it to clean these things anyway? TRheyt seem very sticky to me.

 

The Amsoil seems promising also. Would love to hear some actual results on that one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I use to clean my AMSOIL foam with Dawn. It worked well. Just make sure you let it dry really well before you oil it and put it back in.

 

As for real tests with the EaA filter, it will be a while since I put all my miles on my 91 Jetta and not the truck. They don't make one for the Jetta, so I can't say on that. It is still new out and there isn't much on it on bitog.com

[thecraft]

I've run Ac Delco and Fram air filters for years and have never had an issue with them.  My mom's '98 Buick Regal GS has over 200,000 miles on it using Fram air filters and Fram oil filters.  My last truck, a '98 S-10 had 95,000 miles when I traded it.  All those miles with Fram oil and air filters.  My dad's '74 VW beetle has well over 250,000 miles using Fram air filters.  There's NOTHING wrong with Fram filters!  My Silverado used to have a K&N FIPK but I didn't like the loss of torque and the noise so I put the stock filter box back on and, guess what?  I use Fram air filters.  50,000 miles on this one with not a single problem.  I think all of this Fram bashing is a bunch of made-up "laboratory" crap.  We're not running top-fuel funny cars here.  We drive pickup trucks.  Fram filters meet all factory specs and they work very well.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Well, I agree with what C&A's Dad said. I wasn't trying to start anything, it was just a "better safe than sorry" sort of deal.

[C & A s Dad]

Thanks for responding. I agree with C & A s Dad about running what you want. I'm just trying to find the best solution for me. My goals are a clean engine and a long engine life. I would love a bit more grunt but not at the expense of engine health. I have read enough posts to feel that I want to err on the side of clean.

 

I have a Trueflow now but two things concern me. One of the tests results I read said that foam is only marginally better than oiled gauze in terms of filtering and, two, I swear my mileage has dropped since installing it in September. Maybe also a bit of the winter fuel thing. How easy is it to clean these things anyway? They seem very sticky to me.

 

The Amsoil seems promising also. Would love to hear some actual results on that one.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Paul, I also have the TrueFlow set up (CAI and Filter) but have not cleaned it yet. I bought the cleaning a oiling kit when I bought the set up and will be using it when the time comes. I am curious as to the reports you read showing the foam is only marginally better than the cotton gauze. I had read some not so good reports on Amsoil's foam filter that concerned me. I had also been told it was the same filter as TrueFlow's but I verified that this is not true. TF told me their filter was not the same as Amsoil and if you watch TF's video on their website, they claim their product filters better than cotton gauze but also better than paper. I also realize they are in business to sell their product. I will be doing some oil analysis using the TF foam filter and then a Wix Paper filter. If my silicone levels are up with the foam filter I will be looking for an alternative. The new Amsoil EA filters may be what I am looking for.

[allroads]

I did a Google search on automotive air filter testing and ran across this site. It doesn't specify True Flow but does compare paper, gauze and foam filters. It just got me thinking. I tried to find something independent that wasn't sponsered by one of the major companies. I would definitely be interested in seeing other comparisons but they seem to be few and far between.

 

 

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

 

Let us know how the maintenance with the TF goes when you get around to doing it.

[az'03Silverado]

I wasn't trying to start a war or anything. All I'm saying is, that for a regular daily-driver pickup truck, regular store-bought filters and 'replaceables' work just fine as long as they're changed at regular intervals. Like I mentioned, my family and I have put hundreds of thousands of miles on Fram products without a single worry. Sure, other products might filter down to a few microns less or whatever. But, so what?

By the way, what is Amsoil? Is it mail/internet order only? Cuz, if I can't buy it at Checker, AutoZone, Carquest or Chevy I don't bother.