[tw0scoops123]

I'm confused about how it's actually "Cold Air" Instake. The instake is sucking air from inside a hot engine compartment. So how does that improve performance?

[woodj]

The term "cold air" in this case is relative. The air filter is isolated from the engine compartment by a shroud located near the fender wall. That means that the air is cooler than the ambient temperature inside the engine compartment. Air that is cooler is denser and less turbulent. You've seen those big risers on drag cars with their intakes exposed above the hood. That is to get less dense air with less turbulence into the engine. The engine operates better and more efficiently this way. Do a search on cold air intakes and you can read up on it and it explains it better than I can.

[tw0scoops123]

But on most cars when someone shows a pic of the CAI it doesn't looks isolated. Just kinda hangs open in the compartment.

[woodj]

Originally Posted by tw0scoops123

But on most cars when someone shows a pic of the CAI it doesn't looks isolated. Just kinda hangs open in the compartment.

You always get what you pay for and nothing else. CAIs can be found almost anywhere. Intakes off the radiators, out through the fender well, out the top of the hood and a few more I'm sure.

[Striker]

CAI's also typically allow greater airflow due to their less restrictive filters. The more air flow the more fuel you can add and the bigger the bang! And we know bang=horsepower. Like woodj said the more dense cold air means more air per unit volume in the cylinder than the warm and less dense air.


It all about air quantity!! That's the whole concept behind a supercharger. You compress the air so you have more air mass per unit volume in the cylinder + more fuel (A/F ratio stays constant) = even bigger bang so even more HP!!! Muhahahahaha!!