There has been much debate to this subject to determine which filter actually performs better considering things such as filtration airflow longevity and overall performance.
Dry air filter vs oiled air filter.
They aren t always reusable since using water to clean them will damage the filter element.
Dry air filter when choosing an air filter for your vehicle a very common question is whether a dry media filter paper filter or an oiled filter is the best choice.
The cleaning process for oiled filters is a bit more extensive than dryflow.
Due to their materials and construction the air flow of even the high performance dry air filters will usually be less than an oiled filter of the same size.
By contrast a wet or oiled air filter is made up of a few layers of cotton gauze coated with a slight amount of you guessed it oil.
They aren t as restrictive as dry air filters resulting in more efficient airflow.
Both types of filters may be cleaned once they have become clogged.
The upside to dry filters is that they require less maintenance.
The benefits of an oiled filter oiled performance air filters are constructed from high flow cotton and are treated with oil.