Sidebar Sidebar Sidebar

Cold Air Intakes: What They Are & What Benefits They Give

2nd Jun 2020

Have you ever considered installing a cold air intake for your vehicle? If not, you should do so! It provides a massive boost to your engine's performance, effectively giving more power to your car and improving your driving experience. Nevertheless, know that there are many improvements you can make to your car, and installing a cold air intake is just one of them.

If you’re unfamiliar with what a cold air intake is, below is a quick guide on what they are and what benefits they have to offer.

What is a cold air intake? 

Put simply, a cold air intake (also known as CAI) is an assembly part that allows fresh air from the outside to enter directly to the engine. This provides the driver with more oxygen to light up fuel, pumping the car with even more power.

This type of air intake is labeled as "cold" because the air filter is moved out from the engine to another spot, such as the fender area. This allows cold air to enter the engine, as opposed to warmer air with the intake near the engine. For the uninitiated, colder air typically means more oxygen. As a result, the engine can enjoy plenty of oxygen to keep burning fuel because the entire installation allows for uninterrupted airflow.

What are the benefits of a cold air intake?

Know that there are many benefits to installing a CAI into your vehicle. Here are a few that you should know: 

1. It improves mileage

The biggest benefit of installing a cold air intake in your car is that it helps improve the mileage by a significant margin. This is because––thanks to the burst of oxygen––less fuel is required to turn the pistons. Without a CAI installed, however, your engine becomes deprived of oxygen. While it will still run, it will suck up more fuel to compensate for the lack of oxygen to successfully light up the chamber to turn the pistons. 

Once you have the CAI installed, your miles per gallon improve significantly. In addition to that, you save plenty of money that would have been spent on fuel, effectively allowing the CAI to pay itself off in the long run in terms of cost saved. 

2. It boosts acceleration

If you test two cars, one with CAI and the other without, you will feel the difference in terms of the acceleration. The car with the additional part will accelerate much quicker because it allows for a sudden burst of air to fill the engine when required.

3. It enhances engine roar

Do you love the sound of a roaring engine? If so, then you must consider installing a cold air intake. While a cold air intake is not designed to produce any sound, the rush of air entering the engine adds an enhanced roar that will satisfy any motorhead.

Conclusion

If you are a car enthusiast who wants to add more performance to your engine, create a satisfying roaring engine sound, or save money on gas, installing a cold air intake can do you wonders in all three aspects. While it is an aftermarket upgrade and costs some money initially, it is one of the most cost-efficient upgrades you can ever do. Plus, CAIs are easy to maintain. With just some soap and water, you can keep your air filters clean and your engines running smoothly.

With US Diesel Parts, we offer you a myriad of car upgrades, from turbochargers to nitrous systems. If you're looking to grab a cold air intake for your engine, check out our catalog today!