Even if your car or truck is great as it is, you can make various upgrades after the initial purchase. Whether you personalize the vehicle’s appearance or make it run better, upgrades can optimize your ride for specific purposes, such as off-roading. One of the best aftermarket options for improving engines is a cold air intake system.
The benefits of cold air intake systems won’t appeal to all drivers, but they’ll certainly aid those looking to improve their vehicle’s fuel consumption and overall performance. Keep reading to learn about these systems and how they make cars and trucks run better.
The Basics
Before diving into the benefits of cold air intake systems, let’s break down what these devices do. As the name suggests, cold air intakes supply a vehicle’s internal combustion engine with cool airflow from the outside. Cold air intake filters sit farther away from the engine bay than other intake systems, to ensure optimal cool air consumption. Why? Cool air contains more oxygen than warm air, and, as you’ll learn below, that can prove quite beneficial.
The Benefits
Now, we can address the topic at hand—how exactly cooler and more oxygen-rich airflow improves your vehicle’s engine. Let’s start with one of the most enticing advantages: improved fuel consumption.
Fuel Consumption
Due to their unconventional positioning on vehicles, cold air intake systems receive cooler, dense air for the engine. The filters sit near bumpers and grilles because, in these positions, the intake system won’t ingest the warm engine bay air. In doing so, your cold air intake takes in denser air than it would otherwise. The denser the air going into your engine, the more efficiently that engine will consume fuel.
Acceleration and Horsepower
Though cold air intakes help engines use up less fuel, this effect won’t negatively impact horsepower and acceleration. In fact, optimizing the engine’s oxygen consumption over fuel consumption will boost your vehicle’s overall horsepower. Plus, denser air can increase vehicle acceleration. With more oxygen to work with, engines receiving cool air can accelerate your vehicle at a quicker, more impressive rate.
Cold air intakes are only one of several types of air intake systems drivers can use to boost their vehicle’s performance. But cold air systems continue to be a reliable choice for drivers looking for an upgrade. If you’re looking for better fuel efficiency, acceleration, and horsepower, consider a cold air intake system for your vehicle.
