Cone Air Filter Vs. Flat Air Filter

We assume that you already know that the engine consumes oxygen for combustion. And it gets that oxygen from the atmosphere. That’s why air filters are essential for cars because they eliminate the rubble, dirt, and other contaminants from the air that get sucked in by the engine.

Now, we don’t want that because it could harm the engine, and that’s why your car comes with a stock air filter. The paper material used in manufacturing such air filters does an excellent job of catching unwanted substances. But, due to their restrictive nature, they reduce the airflow a little. Car enthusiasts often consider using non-OEM air filters sometimes to improve the car’s overall performance.

Brands like K&N manufacture aftermarket air filters using coats of oil. The oil in their air filters catches impurities while allowing more air to flow in the engine. So, in this article, we’ll discuss which non-OEM air filter is better. Is it a flat air filter or cone air filter? Let’s find out.

Flat Air Filter

Flat air filters are pretty standard. They are encased in an airbox. The vehicle’s intake system sucks the air, which moves to the airbox to get filtered. The air then goes to the combustion chamber to produce power. The airbox in the cars is responsible for quieting the noise that can bother many people, and that’s why manufacturers create it in the first place. However, car enthusiasts who focus on horsepower and speed enjoy loud noise, which they can’t get with a flat air filter.

Pros:

• A flat air filter is easy to install as it doesn’t require any tools in the process. You only need to unfasten your airbox clamp and put the filter inside.
• It also keeps the hot air out of the car. So, the cool air enters the vehicle’s intake system.
• Installing a new flat air filter won’t affect your warranty because your stock air filter is also a flat one. That’s why it doesn’t require any severe modifications to take place.
• Because the flat air filter remains inside an airbox, it won’t likely get any wet by the rain or snow.

Con:

• You will not hear any air sucking inside the engine due to the airbox. So, those who prefer a unique loud engine noise won’t get it from a flat air filter.

Cone Air Filters

A cone air filter, like its name, comes with a shape of a cone. You would need to remove your current air filter plus the airbox to install it. Also, the cone air filter remains exposed because you take out the airbox. So, it will suck in more air than the flat air filter. Moreover, if you love the engine sound, you’d probably prefer getting a cone air filter.

Pros:

• A cone air filter has a pretty strong aesthetic appeal. It comes in many colors and looks attractive every time you open the hood.
• Its large surface area will enhance the airflow that pulls more air from the environment into the engine.
• You’ll get the incredible and unique engine sound benefit.

Cons:

• You would require a heat shield to stop the hot air from entering the engine. The hot air doesn’t contain enough oxygen particles to support the combustion. That’s why you must get a heat shield to prevent the hot air from going in.
• It’s more time-consuming to install compared to a flat air filter.
• It might get wet because of being exposed to raindrops, but the massive engine heat vaporizes any moisture quickly. So, it won’t be an issue.

Conclusion

You can get both air filters for 60$ each. So, you won’t have to consider your budget before choosing between the two. Both air filters can improve your horsepower minorly, like barely 1-5 pretty unnoticeable points.

Also, many people usually select air filters because they are reusable. Though, getting better airflow is another benefit. You’ll get more air and incredible sound with a cone air filter. But, they are more challenging to install than a flat air filter.