Whilst at the same time bears the most hazardous driving environments the approaching fall also provide great opportunity for excellent ambient temperature for intake air charge environment to our engine breathing. It works much like a turbocharger application in its simplest and purest form; the naturally aspirated engine could pack in its optimum cold air charge intake for a thorough combustion process requirement.
Cold Air Induction allows better thermodynamic process without the side effect of heat being produced at the time air being compressed by turbocharger impeller; we all know that then such heated compressed air is subsequently being cooled by intercooler. However both compressing and subsequent cooling works is two phase processes a Cold Air Induction application does not need as it directly sucks in ambient temperature air charge to the combustion chambers.
What if my car already has OEM turbocharger system on board? Though today technology has managed turbo lag to a negligible level, there would be an imperceptibly power surge vacuum at certain driving condition; a condition where only direct cold air charge could mask prior to even the turbine impeller would be able to spool sufficient compressing pressure from the exhaust side. That is why for the outright horsepower gain many prefer supercharger or NOS applications instead!
Then there is always that classic query on engine heat leaking into any air intake plumbing. Have you ever watched under the hood of those racing or rally cars? Look at Sebastian Loeb’s C4 or Mikko Hirvonen’s Focus or even the five time winners 24 Hours Le Mans of Audi R8 race cars. Most of its intake plumbing is fully insulated including the turbine housing itself.
No doubt that such plumbing has received meticulous redesigned to the shortest possible length, yet with its opening inlet mouth position as close to outside air, notice the electric fan cooled intercooler at close proximity to both engine and hood.
DIY installation starts with an easy drop in filter element replacement for most models. The ideal configuration requires some modification to the original OEM air filter housing and its fitments; some brands offer cold air intakes (CA), short ram intakes (SR), or complete cold air (CCA) intakes depending on your car model suitability. I have tried few brands but the best application to my preference is K & N, the oldest and well reputed US brand.
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