Engines hate dust by all parts of their body. So that they do not have an allergy (from which, by the way, it is possible to stop), the designers equip them with filters: oil, air and fuel. Their need has always been obvious - unlike salon filterswhich appeared much later.
What do the driver and passengers breathe? And what will have. Especially if the window opens: in this case, the filter works except that the nose. But even with closed windows through the grilles of the supply ventilation, it strives to crawl into the salon, a poplar fluff and just dust of all the masters. Allows everything in our lungs. When it came to all, it was stopped arguing about the need for salon filters. Now almost any car is sold with a dozen different items, ready to swallow dust as they are capabilities. It is clear that they have different opportunities.
Compare the talents of various cabin filters we decided on the example of popular Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio.. Acquired products are shown in the photos. Spots of price almost tenfold: from 175 to 1100 rubles. The more interesting to know whether the relationship will be discovered with quality.
The tests were held in us, on the Culley Certified Stand. As an artificial pollutant, quartz dust was used with a specific surface area of \u200b\u200b5,600 cm² / g. Air flow - 20 m³ / h, the test duration of each sample is 20 minutes. The average dust pass factor was measured: the lower the measured value, the better the filter delays pollution. The aerodynamic resistance of filters in pure and contaminated states was determined: the lower resistance, the easier it is the filter through itself the air into the salon. In addition, they appreciated the filter surface area for each product. All results obtained belong only to a specific sample of products and cannot be applied to assess the quality of products as a whole.
As a conditional threshold for each parameter, experts recommend the following values. The maximum allowable dust pass factor should not exceed 10%. The aerodynamic resistance of the pure filter should not be higher than 50 mm of water. Art. For a contaminated filter, the maximum permissible indicator is 150 mm of water. Art. Test results are reduced to the table. Our opinion about each product is given in the signatures under the photo, which we have been placed in alphabetical order.
And the conclusion: the price does not always talk about the quality of the product: from the products you like just one quite expensive. Happy way and clean air!
Foreign brands
First of all, congratulations to the MANN + Hummel concern, which took a convincing first place. We pleased with us and good results of the top 5 Russian brands - especially given the fact that in 4 cases out of 5, they produce products in their homeland. In total testing, this five occupied 5 (Big Filter), 6 ("Livnes"), 8 ("Nevsky Filter"), 12 (TSN "Qitron") and 15 (Goodwill) places.
Now about other impressions. By summing up, we studied the distribution of glasses between trademarks and found that there is a clear leading group: 10 foreign brands and 5-6 Russian. All other brands lose sharply by this group.
By and large, the distribution of points shows that there is a place for 15-16 trade brands, designed for a wide audience. Each of them can take its niche price-quality or attract buyers with other advantages that competitors are not.
The figure is easy to explain the laws of consumer psychology: even a professional purchaser is not able to learn more than a dozen marks and maintain tight contact with them.
The remaining stamps should die? Not necessary. After all, we talked about a wide audience, and there are also narrow niches that need special products and another sales system: Motorsport, MIC and others. Place is enough for everyone. Provided that the manufacturers will leave the price war, will search for their unique buyer and will find a unique way to satisfy it.
Top 10 overseas brands
1st place | 2nd place | 50 million units. .
|
3rd place | 4 beds | 5th place |
$ 300 million
| 6th place
| 7 place
|
8th place
| 9th place
| 10th place
|
Top 5 Russian brands
1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
4th place | 5th place |
Thanks to cabin filters, both the driver and passengers during the movement in the car, soot and dust, emanating from other vehicles. The filter limits carbon monoxide and other harmful substances In the interior of the car, thereby maintaining health to everyone in the car.
Select the best cabin filter.
Where the cabin filter is located
In most cases, these components are located in the inner wall of the glove box. Consequently, they can be replaced independently, without referring to professionals. To do this, just unscrew all the connections and remove the glove box. The second option is under dashboard or hood - getting close to them and without professional assistance in this case It is quite difficult to do. Note that when replacing after long operation You can find on the "old" filter branches, leaves, soot, insects, dirt and everything else, from what he defended you.
Important! Do not buy too expensive filters. Not always the price affects quality. Buying non-original products can do it much cheaper and do not differ in quality level from original spare parts.
Types of salon filters and their advantages
It is worth highlighting two types of filters:
- coal;
- ordinary (antique).
Ordinary, that is, the antique filters, delay the largest particles, do not cope with small. Hold soot, fluff, dust, as well as pollen of plants. Coal, thanks to (from what the name happened), do not allow large particles to penetrate the machine, and also absorb all harmful substances (including unpleasant odorsthat significantly distinguishes them from "ordinary").
For example, being in a traffic jam in an hour of peak in front of an old bus that is somewhat smoke, nasty smell You will not be disturbed, as well as the filter will protect the lungs from harmful substances. So, consider each of them in more detail.
Unlike its coal "brother", ordinary filters do not let exclusively large particles. Perform only mechanical air purification. For those who often move along the highway, or whose cars are operated exclusively in a clean and unpolluted medium.
Coal contained in the filter is treated with special chemicals that confront penetration inside vehicle Unpleasant odors, smoke and bacteria. By adsorption, all gases remain on the surface of this component. The structure of filters is porous, which also helps not pass into. The cost is slightly higher than the usual. However, they are worth buying them to people who often move around the city or in a medium with strong unpleasant odors. For those who are often moving along the highway, it is quite suitable for an ordinary antique filter.
What filter is better
The most famous companies manufacturers are Bosch and Corteco. Now we will describe several brands for which you should pay your attention when choosing.
- Bosch. Undoubtedly, a modern company, keeping up with the times. It is constantly improving and trying to create better products, focusing on the modern market. The cost of its filters (both ordinary and coal) is rather low. Despite the budget, the filters do not differ particularly high levels of quality, however, with the task of air purification, they cope relatively well.
- Corteco. Next brand popularity. It enjoys such very popular due to a rather low price and high level of quality from pollution. Coal options cost special attentionBecause they cope with their work for a hundred percent. The cost of ordinary paper options is average - and they do not differ at all from the rest of the filters (large particles are delayed and they are passing inside the auto unpleasant odors).
- RAF Filter or Mann Filter. Raf Filter is produced in the Czech Republic, and Mann Filter - in China or Russia. Both options are equally good. Remarkably coped with pollution, not passing in the salon vehicle of harmful substances. The Czech company offers antifungal, as well as antibacterial options (their quality level is checked in practice, so they are deserved in the best list).
- Eiken. One of the oldest manufacturers of filters who worked well on the quality of their "BC". Most often, they are equipped with Japanese cars. In the manufacture, a special web is applied, which allows filters not to lose its characteristics throughout the entire life. Pretty budget option.
- Valeo. Expensive, but at the same time qualitatively and reliably. The company holds its brand and produces the best materials for filter vehicle systems. Buying salon filter This company, you can be confident in his quality, as well as forget about foreign odors, regularly entering the salon from the street.
- Vic. By 99%, they protect the salon from entering it not only large particles, but also of various bacteria, including not very pleasant smells. Manufactured out special materialswhich possess high levels of dirtiness. The coating is electret, catching the smallest particles, up to one hundred microns (smoke, dust, pollen, bacteria, etc.). One of better options in terms of quality. But from the point of view of the cost will not please.
- Goodwill, Fram, Mahle. All these three companies are located on one position, since their devices have the same cleansing characteristics. The price is excellent, while the filtering ability is at a fairly high level.
- DENSO. Located in the last place. DENSO is japanese manufacturer. The company filters are quite well coped with their task, remove odors and filtered air. However, before Vic he is still far away. Will not please the overestimated cost, which clearly does not correspond to the possibilities of this element.
Do not buy
AMD filter elements differ not only to low costs (whose definition does not stand), but also low level Quality. Speaking with simple words this filter It does not cope at all with its main task: it passes inside the vehicle unpleasant odors, dust and other small particles. The only advantage is the price.
With respect to filters - more than in relation to any other components - the consumer is not able to an eye or to the touch to give an assessment of their quality. Therefore, in many respects, the concept of quality is replaced. external species and recognizable brand. We decided to take on the laboratory resource test air filters of eight well-known manufacturers and find out who and how to cope with their responsibilities.
We have alone among the most famous and common air filters for a popular model. car Volkswagen., among which products Big Filter, Champion, Mann-Filter, Bosch, Fram, MAHLE, FILTRON and Sakura.
The spread in prices was tangible, so at the initial inspection we will place them in price in ascending order. But first we look at who and how came to the question of packaging and production.
There are no single packaging concept for manufacturers - everyone decides which it will be. The main aspects are two: imaging and functional. The first mainly affects the recognition. There are options for a limited color solution, there are full-color options for design, there are options of type OEM (factory delivery) - just a cardboard or white packaging, without a brand "coloring".
The last option, without paint, is becoming increasingly popular thanks to the ecological trend. Plus, of course, saving: any color box is a typographic product that requires additional costs. Therefore, modestly decorated packaging is not a disadvantage of products, it is only a conscious choice, which is increasingly making both the grant market including.
The functional parameter is the main thing that consumers and distributors, and retail sellers are focused on. Applicability, filter number, analogues, barcode for work in stock - all this should be mandatory. Moreover, information can be both printed both on the box itself and in the form of a sticker - the last option is more common.
Two important requirements: cardboard density and fitting under size. Very often modest externally package made from much better cardboard, which better saves content, in particular, to external influences air filter.
Fitting packaging in the filter size ensures the entire design of additional rigidity. If there is a gap, especially with a loose cardboard, problems may occur during transportation. True, at a large scale of production, a certain averaged packaging size is made, which is used immediately for several types of filters. This cost savings have the right to exist, however, it is desirable to use high-quality dense cardboard.
Since the air filters in warehouses are most often standing as books, the standard place of information is located on the end. Any other choice of its location causes complexity in identification
Test method
The air filter test stand is built according to the ISO 5011 standard used to test the data of the components - and uses all verification techniques.
The filter being checked is installed in the native body (perfect test option). Next, using the fan, the injection of sparse air is imitated, as with normal motion. Air flow must be as an engine using at rated power.
First parameter - Initial resistance. (Auxiliary, directly participates in the definition of dilapidation) it demonstrates what resistance is the airflow filter, how easy it is to breathe the engine equipped with such a filter. Its value directly determines the resource of the filter element. The higher this value, the lower the resource. The initial resistance depends solely on the design, which makes up the air path, the size of the window, blocked by the filtering element, the material used for the manufacture of the curtains and its parameters (size of the corrugation and their quantity). Since with comparative tests, the same case, adapters and feeding device were used, then the factors that determine the initial resistance, the material of the curtains, the size of the corrugation and the quality of manufacture became the factors.
The second parameter - dust. This is actually a resource as such. There is no lower boundary. The top, in principle, is also not, but than this indicator is more - the better. The manufacturer of the car regulates its requirement "no less ...". The key factor determining this parameter is the area of \u200b\u200bthe filtering surface of the curtains. As an integral indicator, it estimates its shape, geometry and sizes. The second most important factor is the properties of the curtain material (breathability, medium and maximum size pores). The separation on the "first" and "second" factors for significance is very conditional, since they significantly affect one on another. Geometry is determined when designing before pure chronologically, therefore this factor is declared first in this description.
Third parameter - Filtration efficiency. It shows how much dust filed on the entrance, delayed the filter. The higher this parameter, the better. By significance, it is more important than two previous ones, when comparing the filter elements is estimated first, and only with equal values \u200b\u200bof efficiency, these elements can be compared by other parameters.
Big Filter. - 297 rubles
The most affordable filter of the St. Petersburg manufacturer. The casing seal is made of foamed polyurethane, it is true that it is irregular. The last parameter is allowed officially because it does not affect the operation of the filter. There are no complaints with no complaints, there are rigidity ribs on the plates. Paper dense, with phenolic impregnation. With the exception of not the most accurate trimming, no economy is visible.
Filtron. - 354 rubles
The filter is not performed in the most careful way, with the influx of the rubber, although the frame side is most close to the original design. Present stiffness ribs. Clelling quality, complete. Paper is darker than other filters, which can talk about heat treatment.
Fram. - 477 rubles
Typical design, corrugated paper is not prone to sticking, the quality of the sizing is perfect, the polyurethane seal and plate are made as on the original. A small oblast at the edges of the working surface on the functionality of the filter does not affect. Plastic frame is slightly simpler than origin.
Champion - 510 rubles
Qualitatively and neatly manufactured filter. Complete copy of the original and seal, and on the plate. The first thing that rushes into the eye is white paper (this is the source color of raw materials with acrylic impregnation, any color shade speaks of the use of phenolic impregnation or thermophilication).
Paper impregnation is acrylic ( white color) and phenolic (yellow). Dark color means that the filter has undergone thermophilication to hold the shape. True, the last parameter is more relevant for fuel and oil filterswhere the work surface directly interacts with dense fluid.
Bosch. - 591 ruble
Production as a whole quality. As in the case of FRAM, there is a small oblast. Slim paper applied, thanks to which the number of corrugations is increased. Again, this is the choice of technology of a particular company that does not affect quality. However, according to experience, it can be said that the use of fine paper reduces dust. Singing Single, but the corrugation is an uneven, uneven step - with a stream of air, the working surface can be shaved.
Mahle. - 648 rubles
The filter is made inactively, with the largest inclination. There are no ribbies on the frame - this affects acoustic comfort, in real conditions such a filter can "buzz." At the same time, the plate itself is polyamide, and not polypropylene, that is, made of more expensive plastic. There is no complaints about the curtains, everything is perfectly skled.
Mann-Filter. - 653 rubles
According to the geometry of the filter layer, it differs markedly from the original: more section with semicircular edges - branded trait MANN-FILTER. This speaks about the method of manufacturing technology used in a particular company and does not affect the quality or functionality of the filter. Longitudinal stripes on paper are talking about the inner / outdoor side in the manufacture. The curtain is perfect, the sizing is complete, without any gaps.
Sakura. - 710 rubles
The most expensive from the tested filters and the only one, which was additionally wrapped in Celofan. Plastic frame without rigidity, as well as Mahle. As in the case of Bosch, thin paper was applied, but everything is done neatly, with minimal rolling and full sizing.
Test results
According to the results of efficiency top scores Showed the LX 2010 filter element (Mahle). This can be explained by high filtering properties of the material used in the manufacture. And in the aggregate with other parameters, this filter can be recognized as the best in the entire group of tested samples.
In second place, but only the magnitude of the filtering efficiency, it is FRAM. Despite the difference in just 0.01%, this instance is very far from the first. Dustproof, he showed the lowest (107.6 grams). You can explain this using too dense material for the curtains of this size. With such a high initial resistance, like this sample, the result could not be different.
Good efficiency - at the level of 99.2% - showed the Sakura filter. But, as can be seen from the validity of dust (111 grams), this parameter will be achieved due to a significant reduction in the efficiency of the resource. In this case, this result was obtained not by the parameters of the material of the curtains, but due to the low filtration area. This sample is minimal.
Following the efficiency there is a Big Filter with a value of 99.18%. From the third place, he has been 0.02% behind 0.02%, but with a mass of dust gained 181.5 grams. In general, a decent result for the set of parameters.
In fifth place - BOSCH with an effectiveness of 99.12% and digestitude 135 grams. Such mediocre results can be explained by the unsuccessful design of the filtering curtains. This sample has a maximum filtration area from all represented. It is achieved at the expense of a large number of corrugations that during installation leads to a significant seal of "pockets" and, as a result, high initial resistance and reduction of the resource.
Filtron Result - 99.11%. But he has much more durability - 144.3 grams. Low dust in comparison with previous samples can be explained by the small area of \u200b\u200bfiltering curtains and material with average parameters.
At the seventh place - Champion with an effectiveness value of 98.61. This value is on the verge of the permissible value of the final efficiency of the automotive filter (99%). This result, when taking into account dust in 191.1 grams, can be explained by the use of mediocre material for the manufacture of curtains - too large pores in paper for this size and design.
The lowest efficiency, to a huge surprise, showed Mann-Filter - 96.73%. What caused such unimportant results to such a well-known brand, it is difficult to say. For all other parameters, the sample looks quite worthy. His dustiness is simply deafening - 234.6 grams! Perhaps the sample had a defect that was not detected during an external inspection, therefore, a detailed study is necessary to establish all reasons. But it is preferable to test the new sample, and even better - three samples, and then make a conclusion about this model.
What is the result?
How repeatedly showed our tests, the cost of the component and the brand promotion is not the defining indicators of its quality and performance, but they can guarantee the desired reliability indicator.
If we take in general, then we recognize the MAHLE air filter in this test. In two the most important parameters (dust and efficiency) He took the first and fourth place that at a price slightly above average makes it optimal in all characteristics.
Second place divides a whole group of filters whose parameters are worthy good responseAlthough each of them is not a leader in individual tests. These are Big Filter, Mann-Filter and Champion products. Note that Big Filter when good results has itself low price. And if it were not for the annoying loss of Mann-Filter in efficiency, perhaps the leader of this test would be different.
In Outsiders - Bosch, Filtron, Sakura and Fram filters. However, the lag of these brands can be called relatively conditional - by 1-2 points from the second group. Only the Sakura filter is highlighted, which, with low parameters, it turns out to be the most expensive in the test.
