The internal combustion engine is basically a big air pump. The air intake brings the fresh air in; the exhaust lets the spent air out. Of course, there are many technical aspects to all of this, but that’s the gist of it. So it only seems logical that if you let in more fresh air, you get more power. And that’s why the cold air intake kit is such an effective power producer.

The Purpose of Air Intake Systems

The purpose of an air intake is to make air available to an engine’s intake manifold,, where it can be sucked into the combustion chamber during the intake stroke of the piston. The purpose of a high-performance air intake system is the same, except it increases the volume of air that is available to the engine. Because an internal combustion engine runs on a mixture of air and fuel, the more air that is available to the engine, the better the combustion of that air fuel mixture is.

The Benefits of an Air Intake System

Components that improve the air intake of an internal combustion engine provide two significant benefits to the vehicle’s driver and the engine itself:

Improved Performance

When additional air or denser air is brought into the combustion chamber, a number of positive things happen.

• The denser air provides a better burn to the air and fuel mixture, and a better burn means better performance from the gasoline being consumed.
• As a more complete burn occurs, less gasoline is wasted and pumped out the exhaust.
• With less fuel waste, carbon deposits are minimized, which also adds to the performance improvement of the engine.

The bottom line is that a vehicle runs better with a performance air intake system.

Improved Efficiency

All of the benefits of improved engine performance also relate to improved efficiency of the engine as well.

• The more complete burn means it does not require as much fuel to produce the same amount of horsepower.
• Less wasted fuel means more of the fuel is burned for the purpose of creating combustion, again saving on fuel usage.
• Engine computer controls are sensitive and sophisticated enough to recognize the changes provided by a performance air intake system; the computer dials down injector spray and adjusts consumption demand.

The bottom line is that when the driver continues to drive the vehicle in the same manner as before the performance enhancement occurred, the driver is likely to see an increase in their fuel economy.

Choosing the Best Air Intake System

In a nut shell, air intakes deliver the air to the engine. Cold air intakes force huge amounts of power-producing air right down your power plant’s throat for a huge increase in power, torque and driving excitement.