Benefits of a Cold Air Intake

There are only so many ways to get more power out of your car… more fuel, more air, less weight, or lower gear ratios. Sure, if you have deep pockets you can install a forced induction system or nitrous. But if you’re looking for a quicker, more affordable option that’s easy to install, you may want to consider installing a cold air intake system in your car or truck. But first, let’s take a closer look at how your car’s air intake system works.

Standard Air Intake System

Modern cars come equipped from the factory with an intake system made up of four main parts – the air filter, mass air flow sensor, throttle body, and the intake manifold. Air is drawn in, mixed with fuel and sent to the engine cylinders. A stock air filter made out of paper is formed into tight pleats and sits inside a factory air filter box. The restrictive nature of the air filter box can limit airflow to your engine. This becomes worse as the paper filter gets dirty, reducing airflow even more. Standard intake systems also deliver warmer air to your engine causing it to work harder. When airflow is reduced, or the air temperature is hotter – your engine’s performance suffers.

Cold Air Intake System

Instead of a paper filter and restrictive factory box, a cold air intake uses large diameter intake tube(s) that have less bends and are wider and often times shorter than stock ones. Cool air is denser than warm air and the cold air intake brings more free-flowing, cooler air into the engine for combustion. The denser the air, the more fuel you can mix with it. This means more power. Think of it as the equivalent of easily drawing a deep breath, versus having the flu and trying to breathe when you have a stuffy nose. So, replacing the stock intake in your vehicle is essentially giving your car the opportunity to breathe freely and improving its performance, MPG, and the sound at the same time.

Benefits to Installing a Cold Air Intake (CAI) System

1. Fuel efficiency – If you’re getting more oxygen into your engine that means the engine doesn’t need to work as hard to operate. Most customers average a modest bump in overall MPG.
2. Replacing the filter – Cold air filters are made of layers of cotton that are in between aluminum mesh. Unlike standard factory filters, CAI filters can be removed and cleaned rather than replaced. As an added benefit, you’ll be helping the environment by not using single-use products, like your OEM filter.
3. More horsepower – Because cool air is denser, it has more oxygen in it for combustion. It also gives your engine’s horsepower a boost and helps it accelerate and run more efficiently. Most customers average a 5-13HP boost.
4. Oooh Oooh that sound – Cold air intakes don’t just improve performance. They improve your driving experience. With a cold air intake, you hear more of your engine noises and sounds. Who doesn’t love that?
5. An added level of protection – If you’re like us and love to go off-roading, depending on where you are in the world, there’s a chance you’ll be encountering a lot of loose dirt and sand. When you upgrade to a cold air intake system with a cone filter, you can add a filter sock for extra protection from those fine particles. Simply wash the slip on cover after a dusty trip and you’re good to go again.

If you’re looking to maximize the performance of your ride, put installing a cold air intake on the top of your list. But don’t settle for just any intake kit. Quality matters. Call Fat Bob’s Garage at (833)921-0670 or visit us on the web at fatbobsgarage.com. Let’s talk about your needs and how we can help you achieve the goals that you have for your car or truck. We offer everything from performance parts, suspension, protection, and custom fabrication. Don’t forget to check out our July specials!