What Does Cold Air Intake Do To A Car? Does It Add Somethin?
Most of the answers I just read are good but it depends on the engine and fuel supply method. In the olden days of carburetors a cold air intake meant air outside the engine compartment was routed to the carburetor as the outside air was cooler than air inside the engine compartment, denser and cooler air combusted better and made a bit more power. In fuel injected engines there are numerous sensors to detect incoming air temperature, incoming air flow, exhaust oxygen content, throttle position, etc., etc., all these determine the amount of fuel injected into the combustion chamber for combustion. All the fuel injected engines I've seen draw outside air into the engine for the simple reason it makes a bit more power. The electronic engine management systems are very efficient for the most part, that's why today two liter engines can produce 200 HP or more at the drive wheels. In the '70's engines were about five liters or 300+ cubic inches to produce the same horsepower. I don't know what is available in the aftermarket for small engines as far as cold air intakes, you'd have to search and read their claims. I know KN makes quality air filters for V-6's and V-8's.
There are two types of cold air intake. Forced air intake- this is basically where an inlet is added to the air intake in a location where you will get more air flow into your intake than normal. Pod Filter- these are filters which are either boxed or have a resin coating inside it to cool the air as it passes through your intake. That is the very basics!! A cold air intake simply allows your car to suck in more/cooler air, therefore making for a cleaner combustion in the cylinders, resulting in slight power gains or a quicker response in the throttle. It Basically allows your car to breathe better.
Cold air is denser than warm air so you have more oxygen in cold air than warm air so your car can have more gasoline and more power. Most fuel injected cars have cold air intake and don't care what temp the air is since the computer auto corrects the mixture and the fuel is sprayed in a fine mist into the intake. Carburetted cars may get more power with cold air but may not run as efficiently. This is because gasoline does not burn in a carburetted car unless it is vaporized, and heat helps it vaporize. This is why older carburetted cars had a system that took cool air from away from the engine or outside (cold air intake) and hot air from off the exhaust manifold(s) and mixed them by means of a thermostatically regulated valve in order to keep the intake air at a constant temperature of about 100F. This improved gas mileage. When the car was started cold, however, a choke had to be set in order to let enough liquid nonburnable gasoline pass by, and with it some vaporized burnable gasoline, in order to let the car start. People who replace the air filter cover with one without the temperature control system (like a cold air intake only system) may get poorer fuel economy if their car has a carburettor.
