Like an athlete tasked with performing an amazing feat, engine performance is just as dependent on air-quality to deliver top performance and power. Today’s engines utilize high-tech filters to cleanse fuel, oil and intake air from dust, water and other impurities that can severely decrease engine performance over time.
One of the easiest ways to extend the life of an engine is to invest in the right filter technology to reduce engine wear, which, in turn, will lead to increased uptime and reduced maintenance costs.
Air filters remove airborne contaminants and provide strong dirt-holding capacity in even the most extreme operating environments. In many cases, an aftermarket filter can serve adequately, but particularly when high-mileage or severe working conditions are involved, going with an OEM-specified filter is a better bet. Aftermarket specs may be similar but not exactly the same, which could alter engine performance and fuel economy.
“The biggest consideration when choosing a replacement air filter for your truck is finding the correct balance between air-flow and trapping airborne particles,” said Paul du Plessis, product marketing manager, aftermarket, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). “The better the engine can breath, the better the performance; but more free flowing air means more contaminants getting in. Intake air filters have obvious differences in fit, but the design and specific filter material used are what separate the good from the not-so-good, and worse.”
The proper air filter will have a complementary maintenance interval to the fuel and lube filters, reducing maintenance service costs and protecting your investment as well. DTNA offers three different types of OEM filters for different trucking applications.
For maximizing power in vocational and severe duty environments, the straight-through airflow design reduces pressure loss and restriction across the filter to maximize engine power. For extreme temperature and humidity conditions, specialized versions offer industry-leading protection across a wide range of environmental conditions. The media used in this filter has the capacity to hold more contaminant, offering longer filter life.
Finally, there’s the next generation of filter, which utilizes the newest synthetic materials making air-flow design even more efficient. These filters offer optimized fuel efficiency with the lowest level of air restriction and enhanced serviceability.
“We have years of testing with these types of filters on the Cascadia, and the improvements in fuel efficiency and filter life continue to advance with this newer version,” said du Plessis.
Many trucks today also make use of pre-cleaners, adding a filtering level and further extending the life of the intake air filter.
“Another thing to remember is that value isn’t necessarily the same thing as price,” added du Plessis. “When you start thinking about the total cost of operating the truck, making sure you’re using the appropriate filter for your truck’s design becomes more important. Running the right air filter is a lot easier than looking at premature replacement due to engine wear.”
