If you are reading this, chances are that you are an automotive enthusiast looking to squeeze some more power out of your vehicle. If that’s the case then you’re in luck because this article will give you all the information you need to know about cold air intakes.
There are two reasons why the stock air intake restricts power. The first of which is due to acoustics. Many drivers, those that aren’t concerned with performance, don’t want to hear their engine and prefer peace and quiet while they are driving. For this reason air intakes are engineered with a sound resonator, limiting the decibels under the hood. This causes a loss in power due to the restriction in the air intake; any restriction in the intake inhibits power. The second reason why stock air intakes inhibit performance is because they draw air from under the hood, where the air is very hot and not as dense as we would like it to be. How do we remedy these two problems? Continue reading….
Cold air intakes are designed with as few restrictions as possible while still maintaining a good fit in the engine bay. This allows for maximum flow of air through the motor. Cold air intakes also draw air from outside the vehicle as opposed to under the hood. The ambient air is denser and thus allows for more air to enter the motor, which is what we are after. Installing a cold air intake isn’t that difficult and can usually be installed in under an hour. Follow the steps below to install a cold air intake on your vehicle:
1. Open the hood and locate the stock air intake assembly
2. Disconnect any sensors attached to the intake, this will include the air intake temperature sensor, mass air flow sensor, and manifold absolute pressure sensor
3. Remove any vacuum hoses attached to the assembly with needle nose pliers
4. Loosen the intake at the throttle body and air box with a Philips head screwdriver and remove the intake.
5. The air box that houses the air filter will have to be removed next. Either use a Philips head screwdriver or a 10mm socket to remove the bolts that secure the air box and remove
6. Open the cold air intake box and lay out all the pieces and make sure all the parts are there.
7. Connect a silicon coupling to the throttle body and then attach the first piece of the intake to it.
8. Connect another silicon coupling to the end of that intake piece and again attach the second intake tube to that.
9. Now the intake tubing should be located in the fender well, where the engine will be getting its air from.
10. To gain access to the fender we will begin by loosening the lug nuts on the wheel and then raise the vehicle and secure with a jack stand.
11. Remove the wheel
12. Unscrew the plastic fender well covering and remove. You now have access to the intake tubing
13. Attach the air filter element to the intake tubing
14. Secure the plastic fender well covering and install the wheel
15. Lower the vehicle and torque the lug nuts
16. Re-attach any sensors and vacuum lines that were disconnected
17. Start the vehicle and enjoy
You have successfully installed a cold air intake on your vehicle. Depending on what kind of vehicle you have you can expect power gains of anywhere from 5-20hp and similar gains in torque. Don’t be alarmed by the increased noise emanating from underneath the hood as this is the air intake working normally. A cold air intake is a good start to upgrading your vehicle but unless you also replace your exhaust system, you won’t obtain the full benefit of an upgraded air intake.
Caution: Installing a cold air intake on your vehicle shouldn’t void your warranty but be sure to check with your dealership. Many automotive manufacturers sell aftermarket parts so if you are concerned about your warranty I would recommend going that route. For example, Ford sells Roush products, Subaru sells SPC (Subaru Performance Parts), and Mazda, Mazdaspeed parts. If all else fails make sure to save your stock air intake and reinstall it when you need to go to the dealership to ensure that your warranty will remain intact.
Max Rossi writes for AutoBlock http://www.autoblock.com/ – Free online high-definition automotive videos, high-quality car photography, user community, forums and galleries.
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