Just because your car isn’t a hundred-thousand-dollar Italian import doesn’t mean it can’t behave like one.
One way to get more from your car in both the soundtrack and performance departments is to fit a cold air intake system.
All cars have some kind of factory-standard intake system, but these aren’t engineered to give you the quick response you want.
Performance modification is about tweaking your engine in ways that allow more cool air to enter the engine.
More air results in a bigger explosion in the combustion process, and the faster and harder you car drives.
So how does it all work? Basically, cold air intake systems help with combustion, the process of the fuel burning and creating the energy to propel the car forward.
The colder the air, the denser it is. Denser air expands a lot more during the combustion process, resulting in a bigger bang and bigger power when you depress the gas pedal.
Look closely next time you see a heavily modified street or race car: those kits are specially customized with vents along the sides and gaps in the bumpers to aid with air intake, which further enhances general performance.
A simple form of air intake is the short ram air intake that introduces air from around the engine bay into the motor works. All you need to do is replace your car’s original air box with a tube attached to a cone filter.
It’s the quickest mod you can make, and because there’s less coverage in that area of the engine, you’ll get a really mean, guttural roar below your hood.
You could also replace your car’s original respiratory system with a complete cold air intake system. Usually fitted to performance or modified cars, the cold air intake sucks in cool air from around the front bumper, the wheels wells and from inside the scoops of the body kit.
It doesn’t have to stop there. Your car’s breathing abilities could be enhanced even further with the addition of a turbocharger, also designed to introduce more air into the engine and then spool the hot air away.
Once you get used to the effect of your new intake system, a turbocharger should be next on your list of hot mods.
Maintenance is everything when adding aftermarket parts to your car, even more so when it comes to keep the air tracts in the intake system clean and clear. Any tiny bits of dust and dirt getting into your engine not only compromise performance, it can also lead to serious problems with your motor mechanics.
Don’t be afraid to spend money on top quality parts that won’t snap off when you take corners a little too aggressively. Invest in a lifelong air filter that you can remove, wash and oil regularly so that dirt particles don’t pass through into the engine.
Something else to watch out for on rainy days is hydrolock, a complication that results from water getting into the cylinders.
The water will resist compression and the engine will seize, and until you physically drain that liquid from the cylinder with a syringe, you’ll have a hard time getting your car to start.
You can find cold air intake systems right here at www.CarJunky.com
