The main task of the air filter is – as its name suggests – to filter the air drawn into the engine. With regard to engine wear, the filter prevents dirt particles from entering and damaging the combustion chamber. Air filters typically have a filter fineness of 3 – 5 µm with a separation efficiency above 99.9%. In other words, they ensure that no more than one particle in every 1,000 with a diameter of between 3 and 5 µm makes it as far as the combustion chamber. For comparison, the thickness of a human hair is about 40 µm.
What are air filters made of?
The air filter consists of the main filter, a safety element (if installed), and the filter housing that surrounds it. The filter medium in the main filter is usually a cellulose-based medium (similar to paper), which is infused with a resin to protect it from moisture and fire.
Why do you need a safety element?
The safety element sits downstream of the main element in the direction of flow. With a filter fineness of about 50 µm, it is redundant during normal operation since it is much coarser than the main filter.
The purpose of the safety element is to prevent dirt from entering the clean side of the engine if the main filter is changed in a dusty environment. Therefore, safety elements are mainly installed on construction machinery or other machines that may require maintenance in dusty environments (such as combine harvesters).
When should I change the air filter element?
Air filter elements should be changed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions (usually as part of an inspection) or as shown by an indicator on the filter.
Does it make sense to change the air filter earlier?
No, because the air filter’s performance improves in the course of its use and the manufacturer has determined the optimal replacement period for the specific engine through testing. Therefore, the optimum time to replace the filter is either determined by the specified replacement interval or the differential pressure indicator.
A premature filter change will merely increase the system’s operating costs.
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