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Whether to buy a turbo screen or an air filter is a decision that comes up during many custom automotive projects, and it is an important one. The answer can depend on several things such as environment, the way the vehicle will be used, space around the turbo or supercharger, overall performance goals, and even personal preference. After reading this article, you should know what the key differences are, which route you would like to pursue, and where you can get what you need!

What's The Difference?

A performance automotive air filter is usually cone shaped and has an element made of a textile medium – usually cotton – that catches fine particles from the air that passes through it. A turbo screen – also known as a turbo guard – is more compact and open in nature, essentially attaching a piece of mesh to a turbo or supercharger inlet to prevent larger debris from entering and causing damage to your powertrain. Their main purpose is similar, to allow air through but not debris. However, they accomplish that in different capacities and in ways that fit different scenarios.

Turbo Screen Pros & Cons

Turbo screens are far more compact, and can thus fit in places an air filter can not. For something with such a small footprint, a turbo screen is going to get you the best air flow and least turbo lag, especially when paired with a velocity stack. They tend to be less expensive, lighter, and have a sturdier, more open mesh than air filters. So, while they are excellent at keeping out large debris and letting your turbo breathe better than any air filter that would even come close to fitting in the places a screen can, they do have a chance to miss any debris small enough to pass through the gaps in the mesh.

Air Filter Pros & Cons

Air filters are flat-out superior at catching small debris and dust, things that would pass right through a turbo screen. They also still have the potential for excellent flow, especially ones with more open-air surface area. However, depending on your project, space can run tight and require a smaller air filter. This decreases the maximum surface area and airflow you could potentially achieve with one. Some builds may not end up having room for even the most compact conical-style air filters, leaving a screen as the only option.

Which Should I Use?

There are a few primary factors that one should think about when deciding which route they want to go to clean their intake air. Environment, type of use, and space.

First, the volume and type of debris that the intake will see is vital to planning the entire layout. If the intake will see significant dirt, dust or other small material in the air it consumes, planning for an air filter is strongly recommended.

Second is your use case. If the project is a drag strip monster that needs every last bit of air flow it can get and never sees the street, a turbo screen with coarse (large gaps) yet sturdy mesh such as the Turbo-Guard MAXX paired with a velocity stack will be the way to get the most airflow while still having some form of protection. Most frequently-driven forced induction street vehicles that have the room for an air filter will use one due to the protection they provide for the powertrain against smaller particles.

Last is available space. If there is no way for you to fit a decent filter into your induction setup, a screen is going to be the way to go. One with medium mesh such as the Turbo-Guard Ultra is worth considering for vehicles less often driven, while frequent street use warrants using a finer mesh such as that on the S&B Velocity Stack or Turbo-Guard SF. If both filter and screen systems are viable solutions for your project after considering all of your research, all that matters from this point is up to personal taste of the end user.

Where Can I Get What I Need?

We have an array of both air filters and turbo screens available right here at Verocious Motorsports!