Cold Air
Intakes

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Cold Air Intake: An Awesome Performance Enhancer!

by Matthew C. Keegan

If you are desiring to increase the power of your car without adding expensive after market parts, a cold air intake system is something you may want to consider. This system is designed to lower the temperature of the air entering your vehicle to maximize the power of your engine; the result is that your car performs better and produces a cool intake noise. In addition, a cold air intake system will enhance the appearance of your vehicle's engine bay. Installing a cold air intake system is not a difficult procedure -- you can do it yourself. Let's examine the steps you need to take to properly outfit your car with a cold air intake.

There are many companies offering cold air intake systems for your car...

...However you will need to find the right match for your particular make/model -- a reputable auto parts supplier can help you in this area. Brands like AEM Cold Air Intake, Volant Air Intake, and K&N Intake are some of the most popular systems for the do-it-yourself crowd and are worth your consideration when you are shopping for a system.

How difficult is it to install a cold air intake system on your vehicle?

Not very. For the experienced car enthusiast it is a fairly simple procedure involving eight steps as outlined by Valvoline on an Acura that was refitted:

1. We begin by removing the factory air intake tube from the throttle body on the engine and the air box on the fender well. Two clamps are the only items that secure the rubber hose.

2. The stock air box lifts out easily once you've removed the screws that attach it to the fender well.

3. We raised the car on a lift to access the lower air intake and muffler (yes, muffler) Acura installed to keep air intake sound to a minimum. The tube attaches to the muffler and the muffler is held in place with a few screws.

4. Here is the first piece of the new Cold Air Intake system. This tube will have the air filter attached to it in the fender and this is where the cold air will come from. You'll need to feed the tube up into the engine compartment where it is held in place with a large nut.

5. With the lower pipe in place we installed the new high-flow air filter next. It'll reside up in the fender where it will be somewhat protected from the elements. However, if you live in a particularly wet environment prone to significant rain, you should consider relocating it directly in the engine compartment as a large amount of ingested water can damage the engine.

6. The second pipe is installed next. A urethane connector allows you to attach the pipe to the throttle body where it's held in place with two clamps, one for the throttle body and one for the pipe.

7. Here is the urethane sleeve connector for the upper and lower pipes. Before securing the lower pipe with the flange and nut we made sure our connection to the upper pipe was secure.

8. Here is the flashy finished product. You'll immediately notice the air intake sound since it's a noticeable growl over stock. Most power will be achieved at higher rpm where additional air is needed most.

Of course, if you are not comfortable with installing the system by yourself, bring over a buddy who can talk you through the job. In the end you'll have a car that performs and looks simply awesome!

About the Author

Matt is a freelance writer and web designer based in North Carolina. Please visit Car Part Stuff for additional product information.

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