Engine pre-(air)-filters

[Infinitiguy19]

I know some will hate for saying this but Q45tech mentioned the use of a pre filter for the engine air filter. And by using such a filter the engine life could be extended...

So would using a furnace filter as a pre engine air filter help extend life in any way?

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/pdfs/air ... 6_2009.pdf

[Q451990]

I can't imagine a furnace filter standing up to the suction that an engine would pull at WOT. With documented engine lives well into the 300k range with excellent maintence, I think I'd concentrate on other things...

That said, there's probably no harm (other than slightly reduced airflow) in it as long as the regular filter is there to catch the peices of the pre-filter if it falls apart.

Heath

[Infinitiguy19]

Well I was thinking about using something like this:http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Mater ... ogId=10053

It has a metal frame glued to the filter material for structural support.

[Q451990]

I don't know man... There's a good bit of debate in the HVAC industry about filtration. Manufacturers want you to use super thing "grocery store" filters for better airflow, because it helps system efficiency and reduces static pressure. Downside is that you should probably clean your coils from time to time to get rid of what gets past. On the other end, they make 4" thick filters that catch damn near every microscopic particle in your air - so your allergist is happy.

Air filter design is a whole science in and of itself....

Heath

[Infinitiguy19]

Yeah I was just tossing out the idea to kind of get the band back together...

[qship96]

change your factory air filter every 30,000 miles, and keep up with oil changes and your engine will still be running well by the time your car has rusted to the point it is no longer safe to drive, especially up north.

[Infinitiguy19]

True I was just bored and threw out some idea...

[BCC93QT]

I think you should work on a "stone" or road pickup type filter/blocker for the front lower bumper lip/"spoiler" because I often see small stones, pebbles and other smaller items lodged in the lower portion of the radiator. Something quarter or half dollar sized could certainly take a chunk out at the right speed.

[qship96]

YES! condenser fins get filled with small gravel,bugs,etc not only reducing efficiency,and the larger stones certainly can puncture the condenser!!! Some screening or hardware cloth maybe?

[BCC93QT]

Thinking like a smoked out aluminum chain mail mesh type setup which wouldn't reduce airflow would be nice? Not one that says BLING BLING but kind of low key

[maxnix]

Annual filter changes are on my schedule. Your environment may dictate differently.

The stones do get embedded in your radiator and do not come out without immeasurable patience, skilled neurosurgeon type hands, and very sharp instruments. Much cheaper just to buy a new one.

[BCC93QT]

Annual filter changes are on my schedule. Your environment may dictate differently.

The stones do get embedded in your radiator and do not come out without immeasurable patience, skilled neurosurgeon type hands, and very sharp instruments. Much cheaper just to buy a new one.

Preventing the stones from getting in there would be the cheaper route possibley preventing premature replacement against road kickup

[qship96]

keep in mind that air filters become more efficient after some time developing a thin cake layer of dirt on them.....changing too often is almost as bad as not changing often enough.Time on an air filter means little, it is the hours/miles of actual engine running with the air being drawn thru filtering element that one should keep track of, and I have found {at least in my operating environment} that 30,000 miles is about right on the money, if not a tad bit conservative for filter changes.

[Infinitiguy19]

Some of the stuff they use for screen doors would work. I will look into this but I am not sure it can with stand anything coming at it at 65 MPH.

[Skibane]

There are air "pre-filters" sold for some aftermarket air cleaners - They're made of open-cell foam rubber. No reason why you couldn't cut one to fit the top of your Q's rectangular filter. It would definitely keep some of the bigger bits from reaching the paper media - but how much it would restrict airflow is an unknown.

[Infinitiguy19]

Thanks!

But the point of a pre filter to me is to filter out as much of the air as possible. Hence the idea of using a furnace filter that could filter down to 0.3 microns. on the 1990-1993 Q its very easy to replace as well and many could be made for slightly more than the cost of a OEM filter.

[OwnerCS]

Ahh the good old days..

[Lokim]

I love shaker hoods!

Oooooooohhhhhhhh... Shaker hood for the Q?........

[Skibane]

the point of a pre filter to me is to filter out as much of the air as possible. Hence the idea of using a furnace filter that could filter down to 0.3 microns.

The point of using a pre-filter is to remove the large particles, so that the "post-filter" only has to deal with the small stuff. This increases the lifespan of the post-filter, since it only sees particles that make it past the pre-filter.

Also, most pre-filters are washable, which allows them to be re-used. So, instead of replacing the stock filter every 5K miles, you simply wash the pre-filter every 5K and replace the post-filter every 10-15K or so.

Using a fine-particle pre-filter in front of a fine-particle post-filter would be kind of pointless, since the pre-filter would catch everything - leaving the post-filter with nothing to do.

[maxnix]

Next we will be practicing fitting double condoms!