Aside from periodic oil changes and rotating your tires, another thing to keep in mind when doing routine maintenance is checking for a clogged or dirty air filter. This filter plays a vital role in protecting the engine from harmful contaminants, as well as regulating airflow for optimal engine performance. A clogged or dirty air filter can decrease horsepower and affect fuel combustion, which is why it’s important to replace it immediately.
The air filter plays a vital role in protecting the engine from harmful contaminants, as well as regulating airflow for optimal engine performance.
Aftermarket replacement engine air filters are as durable as their OE counterparts but they are more affordable, which means you can get the same quality while saving money at the same time. Check out high-quality replacement air filters at CarParts.com today.
6 Best Car Air Filter Brands
To help you choose the best air filter replacement for your vehicle, we’ve listed down the top six brands in the market today:
The Replacement brand carries over 2 million OE-grade parts and accessories for hundreds of makes and models. It has a great selection of auto body, lighting, electrical, brake, suspension, intake and exhaust, and cooling and heating products made from top-notch components. These parts and accessories are offered at wholesale prices, helping drivers and mechanics find inexpensive solutions for their repair, rebuild, and maintenance needs.
Installing Replacement air filters don’t require any tools or equipment, guaranteeing an easy installation and a snug fit.
FRAM offers a wide variety of air filters that have passed state-of-the-art process control and automated inspection standards. FRAM air filters feature a heavy-duty design that makes it possible to trap small dirt particles not captured by traditional air filters. They also come with a pleat-lock glue bead feature to improve airflow and overall engine performance.
FRAM offers a wide variety of air filters that have passed state-of-the-art process control and automated inspection standards.
Key Features:
Stabilized pleats provide consistent airflow
Compatible with flex-panel models
Equipped with a heavyweight screen for long-term durability
K&N has been producing top-notch air filters for vehicles since 1969. K&N air filters are equipped with layered and oiled cotton media to improve airflow and horsepower while effectively capturing engine contaminants. They’re also washable and reusable, eliminating the need for periodic replacements.
K&N has been producing top-notch air filters for vehicles since 1969.
Key Features:
Easy installation
Provides 50% more airflow than traditional paper air filters
Motorcraft provides high-quality air filters for all Ford vehicles. The brand carries a wide selection of air filters that have passed strict Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. Motorcraft air filters are made of multi-fiber high-density media to capture contaminants while allowing maximum airflow and are designed to withstand extreme heat and humidity.
Motorcraft carries a wide selection of air filters that have passed strict Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards.
Key Features:
30,000-mile warranty
Competitively priced
Coated with surfactant for maximum efficiency and capacity
Hastings has been in the filtration industry since 1995. It follows a vertically integrated manufacturing process to produce air filters with increased speed, accuracy, and efficiency while ensuring top-notch product quality. The brand carries over 1,400 premium air filters that have undergone PermaPleat and Beading processes to improve dust holding capacity and airflow.
Hastings has been in the filtration industry since 1995.
Key Features:
Stabilized pleat tips
Designed according to OE specifications
Manufactured to strict ISO 9001 production standards
Bosch carries a wide selection of air filters designed for the professional installer market. Bosch air filters have a 98-99.7% efficiency rate, passing strict high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and ISO 29463-3 standards. Bosch filters are also designed to have structural ribs to provide additional stability and durability.
Bosch carries a wide selection of air filters designed for the professional installer market.
Key Features:
Competitively priced
Compatible with various domestic, Asian, and European vehicles
Filters come with a melt-blown electrostatic layer to provide dense media
Our Score: 9/10
Our Recommendation
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to keep your vehicle performing at its best, we highly recommend getting Replacement air filters. These engine air filters match other major brands in terms of quality, but with the added benefit of costing less. Replacement air filters also follow OE specifications for a guaranteed fit and come with a 1-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
How Often Do You Need to Change the Air Filter in Your Car?
Visually inspecting your vehicle’s air filter is also one way to know if it’s time for a replacement.
Air filters are usually replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, depending on your vehicle’s specifications and driving conditions. For instance, if you frequently drive over dusty or sandy roads, you may need to replace your vehicle’s air filter more often than the recommended time frame.
Visually inspecting your vehicle’s air filter is also one way to know if it’s time for a replacement. A gray filter filled with particles and debris is usually an indicator that you need to get a new one.
What to Consider When Looking for Engine Air Filters
Application, quality, and cost are some of the factors you should consider when in the market for an air filter replacement.
Application
Always consider your vehicle’s year, make, and model when in the market for a new air filter to guarantee a perfect fit and easy installation. Installing the wrong air filter may cause debris to damage the cylinders and decrease horsepower, and may even cause the engine to overheat or seize.
Always consider your vehicle’s year, make, and model when in the market for a new air filter to guarantee a perfect fit and easy installation.
Quality
Choose an air filter that’s made from durable materials to prevent dust, sand, and other particles from entering the engine. Not only will this prevent engine damage, but it will also improve your vehicle’s airflow and horsepower.
Air filters can cost anywhere between $20 and $50 depending on several factors, such as quantity, style, type, dimensions, material, and recommended use.
Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.
The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
