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AIR FILTERS
General Information
Our broad range of Air Filters helps our customers to meet their specific application requirements, providing a superior level of protection from dust and dirt, preventing damage to valves, cylinders, rings, rockers and bearings. It is recommended that air filters should be checked with every oil change.
 
What does it do?
The engine air filter could be compared to the vehicle's lungs. It is designed to eliminate the dust contained in the ambient air taken in by the engine. In a nutshell, an Internal Combustion Engine functions by drawing in air to be mixed with fuel in the right proportions. At the right moment this mixture is ignited, providing the power to drive the engine, vehicle or equipment attached.
The air is drawn in from the atmosphere that contains abrasive dirt and sooty exhaust particles. If not filtered, these particles will cause rapid wear on internal engine components and, ultimately, considerably shorten engine life. It takes a very small amount of road dust to ruin an engine, only a cupful, approx. 220 grams is capable of doing so. As a rough measure, for every gallon of fuel burned in the combustion process 10 to 12,000 litres of air are consumed. This gives an idea of the magnitude of the job to be done by the Air Filter.
Although the principal reason for the Air Filter is to reduce intake of harmful and contaminant particles (abrasive dust, airborne exhaust soot, etc.), it often has other roles. In nearly all cases a properly designed Air Filter housing not only carries the filtration cartridge but, by careful design of the intake system, can reduce intake noise. Air Filter housings also play a large part in reducing water ingress, which can cause considerable engine damage, by allowing the designer to place the air intake at the most advantageous position. |
With Heavy Duty Commercial Vehicles in particular, Air Filter Housings are designed to cause precipitation of excess water prior to the air stream arriving at the filtering element. The Air Filter also provides a carrier for the Air Intake Temperature Control sensors and diverted valves, particularly important in controlling emissions as well as assisting in optimizing combustion efficiency. As part of the air intake system on a car, for example, the Air Filter and in particular the intake tube can often be tuned to minimize power loss.
If the air filter is dirty, negative effects can arise in the form of reduced engine power (a key to peak engine performance is the flow of clean air to the ignition point), decreased throttle response and increased engine wear.
How does it work?
The main purpose of the air filter is to remove harmful dirt particles from the intake air by introducing a filter media between the Air Intake and the entry into the cylinder(s). The air is directed through a filter cartridge that normally features a pleated paper element. However, other media can be used depending on factors such as the filtration efficiency required, the space available and the cost. The amount of airborne contaminant reaching the filtration element can also be reduced by introducing different stages into the air filter housing, and directing the airflow.
Positioning the air inlet tube to avoid the worst effects of water ingress is also part of the overall design brief. In commercial vehicle air filters the housing may contain a water dump valve as part of the air filter housing design. The air filter housing and Inlet tubing is also often designed to carry air intake temperature control sensors and valves. Regulation of intake air temperature is an important part of controlling efficient combustion and therefore exhausts emission quality, and is now commonplace on petrol engines. |
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