TABLE A: Filter Specifications
aFe Power
Banks Power
S&B Filters
20-91059
42138
KF-1052
10-Layer Progressive
6-Layer
8-Layer
# of Pleats (Primary)
70
70
65
Pleat Cut Height, in (Primary)
7.80
4.75
7.25
Pleat Depth, in (Primary)
0.757
0.82
.97
# of Pleats (Inverted Top)
35
n/a
45
Pleat Cut Height, in (Inverted Top)
3.50
n/a
3.75
Pleat Depth, in (Inverted Top)
0.59
n/a
0.44
Total Surface Area (sq. in.)
963.6
565.3
1077.5
Oiled or Dry
Oiled
Oiled
Oiled
Filter Shape
Cylinder
Rectangular Cone
Oval Cone
Inverted*
Solid
Inverted*
6" Diameter
7" Diameter
5-1/4" x 6-1/2"
Base
8-1/8" Diameter
8-1/2" x 10-1/4"
7-3/4" x 9"
Top
8-1/8" Diameter
6-1/2" x 8-1/2"
6-3/4" x 7-3/4"
Filter Height
9"
4-3/4"
8"
Reinforced Metal**
Y
N
N
Filter Brand Part Number # of Layers
Top Style Flange
* An Inverted Top Provides Additional Filter Surface Area vs. a Solid Top Filter. ** Reinforced Metal Provides Additional Filter Strength and Prevents Collapsing.
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JULY 2013 | Š 2013
test 1A: initial & cumulative efficiency Test #1 Air Filter Performance: Testing was performed per ISO5011: 2000 standards at an independent test facility. This test measures the performance of each filter by injecting (certified) dust at a set feed rate. Coarse dust was used for this series of tests. Table A presents the tale of the tape of each contender. The results of this test are presented in the following ways:
Test #1A Initial and Cumulative Efficiency: Filtration efficiency is defined as the percentage of dust stopped by the filter, thus a perfect filter would have an efficiency of 100%. Initial efficiency is defined as the percentage of dust stopped at the start of the test, while cumulative efficiency is defined as the percentage of dust stopped throughout the test.
A. Initial and Cumulative Efficiency B. Dust Holding Capacity C. Dust Penetration
Results: Chart 1A shows the results of the performance test measuring the initial efficiency of each filter, Chart 1B the cumulative efficiency of each filter. The aFe Power filter had the highest initial efficiency (99.22%) and cumulative efficiency (99.59%). The S&B filter had the lowest initial efficiency (98.29%) and cumulative efficiency improved to (99.24%). The Banks filter had the lowest cumulative efficiency (98.93%), which was not much better than its’ initial efficiency (98.80%).
Why This is Important: Initial efficiency measures how well the filter prevents debris from getting to the engine internals at the start of the test, when the filter is its’ cleanest and is most vulnerable to contaminants passing through. Cumulative efficiency measures how well the filter prevents debris from getting to the engine internals throughout the service life of the filter. The best performing filter will have a high initial and cumulative efficiency. If one statistic defines how well a filter performs, the efficiency numbers provide that information.
It is important to note that a filter that has an efficiency of 98% passes twice as much dust through it as compared to a filter that has an efficiency of 99%, which means that a 1% difference in efficiency numbers has a great impact upon the filters’ ability to prevent debris from passing through.
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test 1B: Dust Holding Capacity Test #1B Dust Holding Capacity: Dust holding capacity is defined as the amount of dust that the filter successfully prevented from getting to the engine internals. A high dust holding capacity number would indicate that the filter would require cleaning less frequently, but it does not mean that the filter does a better job in protecting the engine.
Results: Chart 2 shows the results of the performance test measuring how much dust each filter held. The S&B filter held the most dust at 470g, while the aFe Power filter held 264g and the Banks filter only 117g.
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JULY 2013 | Š 2013
Why This is Important: Dust holding capacity shows how much dust an air filter can carry. A higher number means the filter can go a longer time between cleanings than filters with a smaller dust holding capacity. Dust holding capacity by itself does not really provide the complete picture of how well the filter is performing. The results from the next section take into consideration the dust holding capacity from this test and the efficiency results.
test 1C: Dust Penetration Test #1C Dust Penetration: Total dust penetration is defined as the amount of dust that physically passed through the filter during the performance test, thus a perfect filter would not pass any dust.
Results: Chart 3 shows the results of the performance test measuring how much dust passed through each filter. The aFe Power filter had the lowest dust penetration at 1.08g, with the Banks filter passing 1.29g and the S&B filter passing a staggering 3.60g through the filter. Figures I, II and III show the actual amount of dust passed through each filter. A nickel is used as a size comparison.
Why This is Important: The bottom line in filtration is that you want the least amount of dust passing through the air filter and getting to the engine internals. The lower the dust penetration is, the cleaner the engine will be which will result in longer engine life. Once again, looking just at one number, in this case it is the dust penetration, one would conclude that the aFe Power filter and Banks filter are pretty comparable. However, if you take into consideration the dust holding capacity and efficiency numbers, the aFe Power filter clearly outperforms the Banks filter.
Actual Test Dust That Passed Through Each Test Filter
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table 2: AIR FLOW Test #2 Air Flow: This test measures the flow restriction as a function of flow rate. Air was flowed through each filter and the flow rate (in cfm) was compared to restriction (in inches of water). The test flow range varied from about 250 cfm to 750 cfm. Flow restriction is defined as the amount of blockage present in each filter due to its’ geometry and structure, thus a lower restriction would define a better flowing filter.
Results: Chart 4 shows the results of the flow restriction test. The performance test was conducted at 500 scfm, so in analyzing the results at that flow rate, the S&B and Banks filters tied for first at 0.90” restriction, with the aFe Power filter in third at 1.09” restriction.
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JULY 2013 | © 2013
Why This is Important: A lower restriction (higher flowing) air filter means that more air is passing through the filter. This would be a good thing as long as it was only air passing through the filter. If the filter has a lower efficiency rating, this also means that more debris will pass through the filter with all that air. What is important is that the filter is properly sized for its’ intended application. A properly sized filter will result in maximum power gains, which is really what all these intakes are designed to do.
SummARY & CONCLUSION Test Summary: The purpose of this test was to analyze how well three different intake manufacturer’s air filters performed per the ISO5011 industry standard for measuring air filter performance. It focuses on each air filter’s ability to prevent dust from penetrating through the filter into the engine internals. These tests were independently performed on air filters that are used in intakes for a GM Duramax. Test Conclusions: Based on the results of this independent test, we have concluded the following:
To review the original test report submitted from Southwest Research Institute, please visit http://afepower. com/NPA/Filter Reportpart1.pdf. aFe Power offers a complete line-up of air filters available to fit any aftermarket intake as well as OE performance replacement air filters to fit your stock intake. For more information on any aFe Power product, please contact the Power Professionals at 888-901-7693 or visit www.afepower.com.
The aFe Power Pro 10R air filter outperforms the competition. If protecting your engine is of high importance, the aFe Power Pro 10R filter was the best performing filter of the group. It had the highest initial and cumulative efficiency, which allowing the least amount of dust to penetrate through the filter. Neither the Banks nor the S&B filters come close to the filtration effectiveness of the aFe Power filter, as evidenced by the physical amount of dust that penetrated through their filters.
aFe Power Momentum HD Intake
Banks Ram-Air Intake
S&B Intake
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