Short RAM intakes suck in hot air from the engine bay, but if i were to strap down a block of Dry ice under the hood next to the air filter do you think it would boost Horsepower? crazy thought but scientifically logical right?!
If the car is old enough, I think you are correct. However, the sensors on the engine will recognize the colder air as a problem with the sensor. By sensing the air pressure via your MAP sensor and the engine coolant temperature via your ETC sensor, your ECU or PCM will adjust the air/fuel mixture to compensate, therefore cancelling out the whole concept. Just a theory; I could be wrong.
No because dry ice is made from frozen carbon dioxide. It displaces oxygen if anything your car would run worse. Besides that the sheer volume of air an internal combustion engine requires could not be chilled down without restricting airflow to the point any benefits would be canceled out. With a stock motor installing a short ram or complete cold air intake system wouldn't make that much difference. In fact many modern cars have cold air intake systems, they just don't look as cool or flow nearly as much air as the typical aftermarket ones. Back in the day they also made special coolers for the fuel based on the same principal. Moroso still makes them but you don't see them all that often any more. The idea behind those cold air intakes started back in the 1950's. The 1952 Hudson's Twin H motor used a cold air intake. If you have a car that isn't equipped with any sort of emissions equipment you'd notice an improvement because the colder air allows for a more dense air/fuel mixture. By the way back in the day they also made specialized fuel coolers for those into drag racing. The idea behind that was for pretty much the same reason. Moroso still makes them but they're not as common as they used to be.
Air intakes are a waste of money to start with. Leave it alone.
