Internal combustion engines work by igniting a mixture of air and fuel in the chambers to provide energy. The more oxygen dense the air a car consumes, the more vigorous the explosion during the combustion cycle will be. This will translate to more power (torque and horsepower) per engine stroke.
Since cold fresh air is denser, it has a higher percentage of oxygen than the hot air in the engine compartment. Investing in a channel to guide the cold air from outside the car and channel it through a filter into the vehicle will have profound performance benefits.
What is the Advantage of a Cold Air Intake
So, the main advantage a cold air intake will give you is denser air with more oxygen. This will provide you with more power per engine stroke and improve fuel efficiency as long as the engine is tuned to handle them better and more potent airflow.
Most Fuel Injected Vehicles Already Have One
Since a cold air intake has so many benefits, manufacturers have already implemented them in-stock vehicles. See the long black tube sticking just under the hood’s front then snaking to the air filter boxes or the intercooler?
Well, that is the stock cold air intake. It is already tuned to push the ideal air composition into the engine for the existing tune.
However, older engines running on carburetors or some fuel-injected models don’t have a cold air intake.
They have a filter setting on the carburetor or slightly extended but not out of the hood. In this case, the air intake is not a proper cold intake. An aftermarket modification will have a profound impact on your engine’s performance if done right.
A Good Cold Air Intake Is Insulated and Has a High Flow Filter
To get the modification right, you have to ensure that the cold air intake can suck in fresh air from the outside of the bonnet before it gets heated up under the hood.
Some upgrade kits come with a filter and a protective shroud to keep the air intake as cold and dense as possible.
How Much Extra Horsepower Will a Cold Air Intake Give Me?
While the air intake on stock engines might be restrictive, it already does a great job of delivering the current tune’s proper air density. If you slap on a cold air intake, you could end up gaining between three and six horsepower, depending on the vehicle.
However, you might get better performance if you couple your cold air intake with other modifications like tuning the car to handle the improved airflow. You will also have to modify your exhaust system to attain even better performance.
If anything, aftermarket cold air intakes with higher airflow and less insulation have a louder and different sound under load. Some people love the sound. It will be worth the effort if you do, and the five or so horsepower gains will be a bonus.
So, Do Cold Air Intakes Make a Difference?
Yes. They do. The amount of horsepower you gain (or lose) depends on how better the new intake is than the stock one. If you can improve airflow and lower the air temperature better, then you will get denser air with more oxygen for a better bang.
If your modification is worse than stock, your engine gets warmer air, and you will either realize no gains or lose some pennies. Either way, it will sound better.
Why Does Cold Air Make More Horsepower?
Cold air is denser. It has more oxygen molecules than an equal volume of hot air at the same pressure. The more oxygen in the cylinders in the ignition cycle, the more intense the explosion hence the horsepower per combustion cycle.
Since naturally aspirated engines limit how much air they can suck in per cycle, their best way of making more horsepower is getting cold, clean air.
Turbocharged or supercharged vehicles can compress the air to get more oxygen into the same size engine since compressed air is denser. They also have to run it through an intercooler to ensure the air is cold to maintain the benefits of ingesting cold air.
Is a Cold Air Intake Illegal?
Some states in the US and other countries prohibit any modification that alters a car’s intake or exhaust system. This is common in jurisdictions with common emissions control. Adding a high flow of cold air intake could affect your emissions. Sometimes the mod is shrugged upon.
Some states that closely monitor cold air intakes include California, New York, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.
Be sure to check with your local rules and regulations before investing in a cold air intake – unless it is a race car and you don’t care if it isn’t street legal.
Can Cold Air Intakes Damage Your Engine?
Some cold air intakes could damage your vehicle. An intake mounted to the outside or very close to the edge of the hood didn’t have the protection from flying debris, rainwater, and moisture stock units have.
This means it can easily suck in moisture and water. We all know water is never good for an internal combustion engine. Debris and dust will clog your filter faster if this doesn’t happen.
Check this Too: Signs That Your Car Has An Exhaust Leak
The main reason OEM cold air intakes stay in the car is to protect them from the elements. The air might be warmer, but it has less moisture and debris. Manufacturers strike this compromise since they have to design their vehicles for longevity and reliability.
If you go offroad a lot, consider installing a snorkel as your cold air intake instead of a low-lying option. Otherwise, go for a high-quality cold air intake tailormade for your vehicle. Aftermarket manufacturers do research and often come up with the safest compromise for your cold air intake.