Filtration Glossary of Terms

Filtration Glossary of Terms


Anti-Drain Gasket/Valve (Engine Oil Filters) – Prevents oil from flowing back out of the oil filter, through the inlet holes, when the engine is shut off.

Axial seal (Air) – Utilizes a gasket to maintain a seal on the outlet end of the air cleaner housing.

Bottom Assembly - Assembles tapping plate and bottom ring.

Bottom Ring – Provides a groove for the sealing gasket and a flange for lockseaming to the filter body.

Capacity – The amount of contaminant that will be collected on a filter before specified restriction level is reached.

Centertube - Provides structural support to the center of the media to prevent media collapse.

CFM – Measurement of air flow in cubic feet per minute.

Dust Concentration – Expresses the mass of dust in a specified volume of air.

End Cap / End Disks - Encloses the filtration media on its ends.

External Gasket - Creates seal with engine mounting base when installed.

Filter Body / Can – Outer shell of the filter.

Filter Cartridge – Assembly consisting of the filter media, end disks/cap, adhesive and centertube.

Inner Liner – See “Centertube.”

Life – The amount of time or number of miles the filter was in use before it was removed from service.

Media – Material that removes contaminants.

One-Stage Air Cleaner – dust removal system for intake air with a filter element only.

Overall Efficiency (Air) – The percentage of contaminant removed from intake air.

Pressure drop – Pressure on the clean side minus pressure on the dirty side.

Primary Air Filter / Outer Element – element that removes around 99.9% of the air’s dust. The air flows through the primary filter first.

Radial Seal (Air) – Utilizes urethane end caps to maintain a seal on the inner diameter of the filter and the outside area of the outlet tube.

Relief Valve / Bypass Valve – Relieves excess differential pressure.

Restriction – Resistance to flow.

Retainer / Spring – Exerts pressure on the filter cartridge to the bottom assembly, maintaining an internal seal.

Safety (Secondary) Air Filter / Inner Element – Optional filter that protects the engine during service of the primary filter and in case of a leak in the primary filter.

Tapping Plate – Portion of the filter that contains the threads.

Two-Stage Air Cleaner – dust removal system for intake air with a built-in pre-cleaner and an element

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