Understanding Your Vehicle: What Does a Cold Air Intake Do?

cold air intake

The sensation you get when driving your car is awesome! Of course, you want to take care of your machine the best way you can.

One way to improve the performance of your car is to add a cold air intake. For the most part, adding a cold air intake to your car will only set you back a few hundred dollars after installation.



But, do you know all the benefits your car gets with a cold air intake? If you’re asking yourself “what does a cold air intake do?”, keep reading to find out!

Increase in Horsepower and Speed

One of the biggest benefits, and why most people have a cold air intake installed, is an instant jump in your car’s horsepower! Some cars can see a significant increase in the speed and power they can push out.

The increased oxygen flow and cooler air temperatures make the ideal conditions for the combustion that drives the engine. The more combustion there is in the engine, the more horsepower your engine can produce and the faster your car will go!

Custom Engine Look

Have you ever looked under the hood of a show car and saw a chromed-out engine and parts with custom coloring? An easy way to get this kind of look in your car is to add a sick looking cold air intake.

Many retailers carry a variety of cold air intake styles and colors. With so many options out on the market, you’re sure to find one that suits the aesthetic of your car!

What Does a Cold Air Intake Do for Your Wallet?

Standard air intakes have paper filters to keep out larger debris. These filters are not durable, so you will need to replace them at least every 15,000 miles.

With a cold air intake filter, you won’t need to replace the filter as often because cold air intake filters are more durable! All you need to do is wash off the filter and lubricate it, then you can slap that baby back in and keep going!

Yes, the paper filters aren’t super expensive. But, the cost of replacing them adds up over time! Since you won’t need to fork out your hard-earned cash for replacement filters anymore, you can watch the savings stack up in your bank account!

Improved Air Compression

Cold air intakes also make the air density more favorable than in a warm air system. Cooler air is much denser and compressed than warmer air and you want as much oxygen in the engine as possible for combustion to occur.

The more oxygen in the system allows more fuel to burn, which gives your car more power! Your engine will appreciate the denser oxygen content and reward you with better engine performance.

Better Gas Mileage

Most fast cars eat through a tank of gasoline like a ravenous beast. One way to increase your distance between fill-ups is to add a cold air intake for your engine.

When you have cold air intake, the cold air draws up from beneath the car and flows through the engine with little resistance. This optimizes the ratio of gasoline and oxygen, which allows your car to run using less gasoline than it would without the cold air intake installed.

Depending on the condition and make of your car, a cold air intake can get you a few extra miles per gallon. With gas prices as high as they are, those savings will add up over time!

Longer Engine Life

There are many factors affect the lifespan of your car’s engine. Taking proper care of your engine increases the potential lifespan of your car.

Excessive heat causes a ton of damage inside a car engine. When the internal metal is hot, it expands, warps and even becomes brittle!  Since car engines are only made with metal components, too much heat is very bad for your engine.

A cold air intake is an excellent way to increase the cold air flowing through the engine and allow it to run at a lower temperature than normal. Your radiator will also appreciate the cooler engine temperatures.

Quicker Throttle Response

A quick throttle is often the difference between winning and losing a race, for those who choose to race their cars. You never want to be the last car left in the dust at the starting line!

The cooler air supplied by a cold air intake allows for a much quicker response out of the engine when you press the gas pedal. A standard air intake pulls in warmer air which is much slower to combust inside the engine.

Do You Feel The Need For Speed?

So, yes, installing a cold air intake is a big cost upfront. But, with all the cold air intake benefits like these, the best choice is clear. The initial cost of installing a cold air intake to your car’s engine is well worth it for your car to perform better, look better, and sound better!

Stop procrastinating and asking your self questions like “what does a cold air intake do?” If you are looking to get better performance out of your car engine, adding the cold air intake is a good place to start!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned a thing or two about what a cold air intake can do for your car. If you need more information on auto maintenance and/or repairs, check out the rest of our blog today!