I really want a cold air intake for my 97 Cavalier mainly because I‘ve heard it improved gas mileage - and with paying $50.00 a fill up Im willing to try anything to make it last longer. Is it a worthwhile investment? I found them on ebay for like $16.00 plus S/H - should I get it? what benefits will I get? any cons???
It already has a cold air intake. The stock intake is better than the aftermarket intakes. Air filters make absolutely zero difference in fuel economy on modern fuel injected engines - that notion went out with carburetors, which ran rich if the air filter got very diirty.
You'll get about 6 more horsepower at the wheels with a KN Typhoon type intake, or at least that what they claim. You'll also get better throttle responce and perhaps a slight inprovment in fuel economy if you don't put your foot in it. The only cons I can see is if you live in California they're not CARB approved, hence they're not street legal. You'll have to remove it and reinstall the stock system everytime you get a state required smog check. You might try installing the KN reusable air filter that designed to fit in the factory setup. They flow quite a bit better than the stock air filter too.
It allows a denser air flow into your intake, this will increase both horsepower fuel efficiemcy. How it does this is by pulling cooler air from outside the engine compartment, there by increasing the air desity ( cooler air is denser than warmer air). This allows for a cleaner and more effiecient burn of the fuel. This in effect allows the car to run a bit further on the a gallon of gas. It won't make a monumental difference in fuel mileage but, it will make some.
