9 Pros and Cons of Cold Air Intake

There are some benefits regarding the intake of cool air as well as negative results that go with it. This will be depending on the function and performance expected in an engine. Thus, it will be a lot easier to determine if such results are considered. So here are some of the factors considered when thinking about the pros and cons of cool air.

List of Pros of Cool Air

1. Longer Engine Life
Engines running on colder temperatures could have longer life span. This will also benefit the engine components such as the radiator.

2. Quicker Throttle Response
Upon pressing the gas pedal coming from a complete stop, the intake of stock air would send warm air for combustion. As a result, it will produce slower engine response. On the other hand, cold air intake will allow the entry of cool air into the chamber. Thus, it will enable the faster response of the engine compared with stock intake.

3. Increase in Horsepower
The conduciveness of cold air to fuel burning, the horsepower of the engine will be increased the moment cold air intake will be installed.

4. Better Mileage
Air to fuel ratio going into the gas lines can be a lot better when it comes to systems using cold air intake. For that matter, it will produce a better mileage as mixture will be burned a lot more efficiently.

5. Savings on Filters
The air filter using cold air intake is easier to wash and reuse once it has been lubricated properly. This will be able to save you a lot of money as you won’t be required to replace it every 15,000 miles as you would when using paper filter.

List of Cons of Cold Air Intake

1. Type of Filters
Cold air intake will allow the use of any type of filter. Foam filters, for instance, will be able to give more horsepower, but such are more susceptible to the gathering of debris and dirt into the engine.

2. Hydro-locking Concerns
The moment your engine absorbs moisture rather than air, it will compromise the components inside it. This is referred to as hydro-locking, which is the process that allows water to get trapped inside the cylinders. As a result, you will ruin your pistons while allowing the bending of the connecting rods.

3. Shape
The intake of cold air allowing a bend of 90 degrees could offset the idle of your car. This is even more possible when you combine it with other aftermarket components. The problem here is that it will suck in air into the engine as it causes air to roll.

4. Impact
The rolling effect of air can affect the meter, which provides inaccurate reading back to your engine. As a result, it will throw off the accurate air to fuel mixture, allowing your engine to stop.

This option might increase the gas mileage of your car, but this can also be a bit expensive to consider according to experts. The pros and cons of cold air intake should be able to help in the decision-making on whether or not you should consider cold air intake systems.

About the Author
Brandon Miller has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a seasoned writer who has written over one hundred articles, which have been read by over 500,000 people. If you have any comments or concerns about this blog post, then please contact the Green Garage team here.