Everything is under threat
Today, not every seller can vouch for the quality of car filters from well-known brands. They are no longer officially imported into Russia, and it is unclear where they are manufactured—at a company factory or in a nearby basement. Such filters can be unsafe and overpriced, offering little value for the money.
Car owners know that saving on filters is a false economy. Filters protect fuel, oil, and air systems; without them, technology dies quickly. A counterfeit filter can damage an internal combustion engine in just a few tens of kilometers.
Mass forgery
The simplest counterfeit air filter relies on minimal equipment, and the so-called filter material can be made from the fibers of cheap wet wipes or thin packaging cardboard.
Even with a decent filter, an average car engine ingests about half a kilogram of fine dust along with the air over six months. A quality filter blocks the most dangerous quartz dust, which accelerates wear in the cylinder-piston group and other moving parts. A fake often misses this protection.
Electronics problems
Insufficient filtration makes the air mass meter dirty, leading to incorrect signals. The electronic engine control system then makes poor adjustments. The car loses momentum, consumes more fuel, and emissions rise from the tailpipe.
This cascade can cause expensive electronic components to fail. The catalytic converter may burn out, soot can appear in cylinders, and an engine overhaul may become necessary.
What must we do?
One could discuss separate issues associated with low-quality fuel and oil filters, but a universal approach is more effective in preventing problems.
The square air filter is used in all vehicles produced by AVTOVAZ with injection engines from Samara to four-wheel drive models and Lada Grants. To obtain products that balance price and quality, the Behind the Wheel filter line is recommended.
Every filter is a consumable, much like a napkin on a dining table. Once it becomes dirty, it should be replaced promptly. In the current market, focusing on well-known global brands is not always wise since many have exited the Russian market, leaving a flood of counterfeits. For non-professionals, distinguishing an original from a fake is nearly impossible.
The Behind the Wheel oil filter demonstrates strong sealing, effective contaminant removal, and an attractive price. It is compatible with all VAZ vehicles equipped with domestically developed engines.
Therefore, domestic products are worth considering: they are rarely counterfeit, affordable, and perform as well as branded parts that left the country. They can be installed confidently and replaced as wear dictates.
The Behind the Wheel fuel filter suits all VAZ vehicles with threaded fuel hose connections.