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Home Blog Are OEM Air Filters Better Than Aftermarket?

Are OEM Air Filters Better Than Aftermarket?

Have you found out that your engine air filter has become too clogged to function well? The next step is to replace it. It’s easy to drive over to the nearest auto parts shop and pick up a generic aftermarket air filter. Yet, it can hurt your engine in the long run. You always want an OEM air filter in your engine. Here’s why:

1. Fitment

Filter fitment

Image Credit: Christian Lopez

When you consider fitment for both types of air filters, OEM ones always come out on top. Automakers offer their OEM air filters in many different variations. Each variation is made for a specific engine (or set of engines). The reason automakers don't offer universal OEM air filters is because each engine needs a certain amount of air. Also, not all cold air intake boxes are built with the same shapes and dimensions.

Many aftermarket manufacturers build their air filters with a will-fit approach. That means they are happy if the filter just will fit, instead of fitting perfectly. It's not a good approach because:

  • An ill-fitting air filter can leave some gaps for dirty air to get through to the engine.
  • If you have an air filter that's a bit too big, you would need to squeeze it in to get it to fit. This can:
    • Compromise the filter's structural integrity
    • Create some gaps for dirty air to get into the engine

Either situation can lead to engine damage. Dirty air contains dirt, debris, bugs, etc. All these impurities can:

  • Infiltrate the motor oil and affect its ability to lubricate the engine
  • Act as an abrasive on the engine components

If you get an OEM air filter made for your make and model, you don't have to worry about any fitment issues. It's because the OEM air filter will have exactly the right dimensions for your cold air intake box.

2. Material Quality

Material quality is another huge factor in the success of an air filter. You can always expect high quality materials and exceptional workmanship in genuine OEM air filters. Automakers warranty their own engines, so it's in their own best interest to ensure that their engines last as long as possible. One way to do this is to provide high quality OEM air filters.

OEM air filters are as high quality as they come. It's because:

  • The filter media is thick. This means it won't break when a piece of debris - such as a small pebble - hits the filter.
  • OEM air filters have a high pleat count. The pleat count plays a big role in the longevity of an air filter. The higher the pleat count, the more surface area the filter media has. In other words, if you imaging unfolding the filter media, you'd see how much surface area it has. You want an air filter that's packed tight with deep pleats. Those air filters last longer than filters with shallow, widely spaced pleats.
  • OEM air filters contain the right amount of pores. This is important. An air filter with too few pores (or pores that are too small) can't provide enough clean air to the engine. An air filter with too many pores is likely not very durable. Also, an air filter with pores that are too big may not trap tiny particles very well. That means the engine isn't getting air that's clean enough.

You can count on automakers to build high quality air filters with:

  • Thick, high quality filter media
  • Tightly packed deep pleats
  • The right amount of pores

Aftermarket air filters are notorious for being low quality. It's common for aftermarket air filters to have thin, cheap filter media that tears easily. Aftermarket air filters can also have shallow, widely spaced pleats.

How To Find OEM Air Filters At Rock Bottom Prices

OEM filters

You have two ways to get OEM replacement air filters:

  1. Visit your nearest dealership and pick up an OEM air filter
  2. Order online from an authorized seller of OEM parts (like us)

The first option is much more expensive than the second option. Dealerships like to mark up their prices by about 30%. If you order from us, you’ll get the exact same part at wholesale pricing. For example, this Jaguar air filter costs about $75 at dealerships. You can get the same part from us for just over 50 bucks!

A big reason why car owners decide to settle for aftermarket air filters is because these parts are quite cheap. Not many people know that they can order genuine OEM air filters online for the same price (give or take a few bucks). You’d get so much more value out of an OEM air filter.

We always tell our customers to stock up on air filters. It’s so they’ll always have an air filter ready when their old one needs replacing. It’s a good idea to buy only two or three air filters at a time. It’s because air filters start degrading over three years or so. The materials will become brittle. So if you stock up on 5 air filters, chances are one of them will go bad before you can use it.

Want to order an OEM air filter (or two, or three) at wholesale pricing? Look up your make and model in our catalog of air filters to see if we carry one for your car!