Today the global motorcycle market offers many models of oil and air filters for various bikes. In this article, we will talk about different filter types and their purposes.
Today, motorcycles offer many variants of oil and air filters for various motorcycles. In this article let's try to understand what kinds of filters exist and why they are needed.
Air Filters
Everyone knows that bike's engine, in the process of its operation, burns not only gasoline but a mixture of gasoline and air prepared by carburetor in the right proportion. Without oxygen, gasoline will not be able to light up. If fuel passes through a fine fuel filter before entering the engine, the air filter purifies the air. Without an air filter, the air purifying is incomplete and dust entering the engine will cause early wear.
An air filter of zero resistance for a motorcycle is put by tuning enthusiasts on their vehicle. According to BestArny Blog, these types of filters increase the engine's power because its "breath" gets easier and it does not need to overcome air inlet resistance. However, these filters are not that good at air filtration, so the engine wears out faster. Thus, it is advisable to use "zero" filters only on sports vehicles when it is necessary to win a competition, and the engine's life takes a back seat.
Another function of the filter is reducing the volume of the motor. Experts who often disassemble bikes' air filters know that the device is not that simple. There are cameras and partitions in its body. In fact, it's specifically designed to take part in extinguishing the engine's sound, along with the muffler.
What can an air filter be like on a bike? There are several types of such filters:
- Foam filters are oil-impregnated. Similar bike filters are used for vehicles in dirty conditions. Oil is used for filtration. The foam is only used for support and as a base material for oil. For proper operation of the filter, the foam rubber must be oil-filled. To clean the filter, it must be washed with solvent several times and squeezed out before drying.
- Tissue filters. Such air filters are made of a special fabric, namely, gauze which is located inside the metal body. These filters are well-proven in the process of operation, they guarantee good air flow. This filter is also filled with oil. Soap and water should be used to clean it. Remember to dry it well before oiling it. With proper treatment, the filter will last a long time
- Paper filters. These are mainly used for street bikes. However, their work stops after getting wet. Any moisture getting on the filter contributes to the loss of performance that recovers after drying. They are cleaned by blowing out air through the vent ports or folded valves.
Oil Filters
After changing your oil and buying a new motorcycle oil filter before opening the season, you will achieve a high level of performance of your iron demon. However, many bike owners forget to replace the filter element and only buy new oil.
A motorcycle oil filter is a product for purifying various types of oils and hydraulic fluids that are used in bikes. Very often a bike is exposed to high and prolonged loads, so the motor must be kept clean. Timely replacement of filtration products means competent use of any type of vehicles.
A minute of history. The first oil filter was created in 1923 by Ernest Sweetland and George H. Greenhalgh. They created an incomplete inline device. Just a small fraction of oil passed through the filter, and most of the fluid was pumped directly into the engine. Only 20 years later, the first version of a full-flow filtration element was created in which the entire liquid volume was qualitatively filtered before penetrating the engine. To date, some systems work with both types of filters exploiting the advantages of each option.
An oil filter consists of the following parts:
openings for oil
outlet opening
oil filter body
filter
spring
bypass valve
return valve
o-ring
All filters are divided into the following categories:
- Coarse oil filters. These filters are suitable for beginner bikes with a small engine. Filtering helps to retain the largest fractions by passing fluid through a plastic or metal filler strainer. These filters are often installed with a constant oil change or in engines where the cleaning system consists of several filters.
- Open oil filters. These have a similar design to air filtration products and are distinguished by a special cleaning fiber which traps unwanted particles from entering the motor.
- Rigid body filters. Such products are created in the form of a closed metal glass which is screwed into the standard motor area. These filters are distinguished by the filtration components' and threads' dimensions. The convenient design which allows to carry out replacement shortly should be added to the positive qualities as well.
When choosing a filter, pay attention to its body. It should be solid and not lose its shape when pressed because the filter is affected by oil pressure and by changes in atmospheric pressure due to weather changes.
Regardless of a filter's shape, pay attention to an O-ring which should be made of elastic rubber to achieve a tighter fit.
A high-quality oil filter has a sponge structure. A large number of different types of oil and air filters are available at the modern bike market. Special attention should be paid to quality, reliability, and manufacturer. Proven brands guarantee proper performance characteristics of their products.
