Gadgets & Gear
Driving Green – Reusable Air Filters
K&N Engineering Inc., a pioneer in reusable filters for more than 35 years, originally developed them for maximum horsepower, acceleration and protection in dusty desert motocross racing. Typical of most reusable air filters, K&N Filtercharger filters use oiled layers of high–flow, cotton gauze material designed to allow dirt particles to get stuck in the filter while maintaining airflow.
K&N air filters consist of four to six sheets of cotton gauze layered between two sheets of epoxy–coated aluminum wire mesh. This media is then pleated and oiled to enhance its filtering capabilities, resulting in long intervals between cleanings, up to 50,000 miles. The Filterchargers are designed to last the life of the engine on which they are installed. This company's filters are widely used in motorsports, including IndyCar races.
Fram Autolite's AirHog reusable air filters incorporate four layers of cotton fiber coated with a light layer of oil. The fiber is anchored with a fine wire mesh, all connected to a soft, rubbery seal, in a panel filter. According to the Autolite, this filters out about 97% of dust and dirt.
Emissions–legal in all 50 states, reusable air filters are direct replacements for factory–installed filters, dropping right into the stock housing. Their use will not void most manufacturer warranties. Most modern vehicles' engine management systems will automatically adjust, after a time, for increased airflow. If using a reusable filter on an off–road bike, ATV or older vehicle, you may have to adjust the carburetor.
Care and Maintenance
Reusable air filters have to be washed and dried periodically. Fram recommends checking its filters every three to six months for dirt and dust, more if you drive on dusty roads. Depending on driving conditions, K&N recommends cleaning and recharging air filters every 50,000 miles. Reusable–oil makers recommend their service kit when cleaning and reoiling their filters. Using other products may degrade performance.
Will you actually get greater MPG and horsepower by installing a reusable filter? The filter makers' claim of "yes" is backed by results from tests usually conducted under stringent Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) procedures. Employing reusable filters means sending less junk to landfills.
The BlueTop batteries for marine applications come in SLI and dual–mode versions. Incidentally, Optima deep–cycle batteries use a different chemistry for the active paste on the plates, and a slightly stronger acid. This allows for a much longer life in deep–cycling with only slightly reduced power.
This article courtesy of Camperways
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
K&N Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 1329
1455 Citrus St.
Riverside, California 92502
(800) 760–5319
www.knfilters.com
Fram Autolite
43 US Highway 46
Pine Brook, NJ
(800) 890–2075
www.framairhog.com
Advanced FLOW Engineering
191 Granite St
Corona, CA 92879
(866) 503–9911
afefilters.com
Environmental Fleet Services
4943 McConnell Ave, Ste. R–S
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(800) 471–1992
www.smartmaintenance.com
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