Many arguments have erupted over which is better, cold air or warm air (also known as short ram) intakes. There isn't an easy answer, and it really comes down to what fits in with your price range and preference.
The bottom line is... colder air is denser, containing more oxygen molecules, and therefore has the ability to burn more fuel. Exactly how much colder is the key, it's not as big a difference as you may have been led to believe.
Cold air intakes have longer tubing, which goes outside of the engine bay to get "cold air" compared to the warm air in the engine bay. Stock intake systems are in fact cold-air intakes, but suffer from poor flow due to many restrictions. Aftermarket cold-air intakes smooth out the airflow and provide excellent performance and sound. The cost of cold-air intakes is usually higher because of the amount of piping required.
Warm air, or short ram, intakes are much smaller, with a shorter length for the air to flow. However, they use air from inside the engine bay which is almost always warmer than a cold-air intake. However, this is at most a couple of degrees once the car is moving, so this argument is next to pointless.
Other issues you may have to consider... cold air intakes are more susceptible to sucking water into the engine. Hydrolock is bad, no matter how it happens. If you live in an area that floods often, or experiences heavy rain, you may want to evaluate exactly where your air filter is placed.
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| Created: |
03-19-2006 |
| Modified: |
03-19-2006 |
| Rating: |
(not rated) |
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