Engine air filters are designed to actually increase their efficiency

by using this initial layer of dust as an added filter layer.

Initial filter efficiency is usually approximately 98% but increases to
more than 99% by the end of the service life of the filter.
Therefore, changing an air filter before the useful service life is
achieved can result in premature engine wear
Final pressure drop = initial clean pressure drop + 2.5 kPa (Thumb
Rule)
Diesel Engine Vs SI Engine Fuel Economy based on Intake
Air Restricition:
While the level of restriction on a closed-loop, feedback, throttled,
spark-ignition (SI) engine would not be expected to affect fuel
economy (as described above), the additional pumping loss might
be expected to affect the fuel economy of the un-throttled diesel
engine.
ISO 5011 dust test for Air Cleaners

Oil-bath air cleaners, while sometimes required to meet customer

specifications, are not recommended by Caterpillar. At best their
efficiency is 95% as compared to 99.5% for dry-type filters. Their
relative ease of service and insensitivity to water are advantages
easily outweighed by disadvantages, such as:
Lower efficiency
Low ambient temperature limits, low oil level, high restriction at low
air flow (such as at low idle), and installed tilt angle may lessen
efficiency further.
Oil carry-over, which is the oil becoming airborne in the air intake
system whether resulting from overfilling or increased air flow, can
seriously affect turbocharger and engine life, and may actually become
Queries:
an
engine fuel.
1) Dual Element Air Cleaners Vs Double element or Dry Type with
Safety element
2) ISO 5011 to be downloaded. Not available on Web?

Air filters replacement periodicity:

The average efficiency of air filters is
99.8 % for passenger vehicles and 99.95 for commercial vehicles [3].
Efficiency remains constant
throughout the engine speed range [1]. As the air filter builds a dust
film, the holes in the media
become smaller, and the filter becomes more efficient at trapping dirt.
As the filter traps dirt, it is more
difficult for the air to pass through the filter, and restriction increases
in the air induction system. Most
diesel engines operate at a maximum 4.98 to 6.22 kPa vacuum under
full load
Too frequent servicing of the air filter, especially within the
first 30 % of
its service life can significantly increase engine wear

Conclusions on air filter clogging influence on power.

1. The main criterion of engine air cleaner filter replacement is the
value of air flow restriction.
2. Variations of air flow restriction within the recommended range
do not have significant influence
on the engine power and fuel consumption
3. Premature replacement of the engine air cleaner filter may
increase engine wear and reduce its
service life.
4. Periodicity of replacement of engine air cleaner filter cartridges
on the tested vehicles types does
not ensure complete utilization of the filter capacity and resource.