air intake vs. cold air intake?

[kturner]

what is the difference in "air intake" and "cold air intake"?

and what is the results of improving each of these?

 

[89Bronco58]

a cold air intake is basically a metal intake tube thats totally smooth on the inside and usually mounts the air filter in the fender to achieve colder air as it is brought to the engine, a reg intake tube or whatever is what trucks come with stock, its said that a cold air intake adds a little horsepower, i have one, go for it

 

[SleeperStyle]

"air intakes" can mean a lot of things. from stock air box set-ups all the way through ram-air and cold air systems. your stock air intake is nothing more then an air box with a vent usually routed through a fender wall to get some air. This is a rather restrictive option; however, it does provide a cooler air from outside the engine bay.

a cold air intake generally consists of a lot more piping. this can be bent aluminum (or other metals) and different couplers (prefer silincone based as rubber tends to dry rot quickly) or can be made of plastic ( like that found in K&N FIPK systems "fuel injected performence kit"). the purpose behind a cold air intake is two fold. 1st it opens up from the stock air box. usually this kits will frovide a cone shaped filter so it pulls air from all around. 2nd it routes the air flow to somewhere lower and out of the way from the heat of the engine. this can be done with several feet of tubing or it can be done with heat shields or even a combination of both.

 

[Yardape]

a cold air intake is basically a metal intake tube thats totally smooth on the inside and usually mounts the air filter in the fender to achieve colder air as it is brought to the engine, a reg intake tube or whatever is what trucks come with stock, its said that a cold air intake adds a little horsepower, i have one, go for it

89Bronco58,

I have always wondered about the effect of a cold air intake on a truck that gets muddy alot. You obviously wheel yours quite a bit, Do you do deep mud? Doesn't your air filter get caked in mud? Or is it at least the same as stock in that case. I recently filled my air box with mud, so I figured if I had a cold air intake I would have been done.

 

[Seabronc]

what is the difference in "air intake" and "cold air intake"?

and what is the results of improving each of these?

The terms are interchangable and it depends on the context of how they are used in a write up. In a stock system for example, "air intake" would probably refer to the entire air intake system. Where "cold air intake" would only refer to the portion of the system that only allows air from outside the engine compartment into the system.

A stock system has the ability to mix warmed air with cold air in the system under control of either the vacuum system or the EEC. This is especially desirable in cold climates as the air needs to be prewarmed for proper cold engine running characteristics. As the engine and the compartment come up to normal operating temperatures the need to preheat is reduced and the air warming part of the system is is generally closed (if mechanical) or shut off (if electrical). The system then gets most or all of its air from the air scoop in the front of the truck, not the engine compartment.

When a manufacturer like KN for example is writing up their system for how superior it is, they are usually comparing it to other aftermarket systems which only take air in from the engine compartment. In that case their system is definately superior since taking the hot air from inside the compartment reduces the power the engine is capable of. Putting the intake for a KN inside the compartment could allow more air volume into the system but would be taking it in at the temperature of the compartment. If however, it is set up so that it only gets air from outside the engine compartment, "cold air intake", then there is an improvement in the the engines ability to produce full power. However, "cold air intake" here is relative to what the outside air temperature is :blush: .

That is just a basic writeup and there is a lot more to be said on the subject, like the effects on air temp when the air pressure is increased or decreased. The subject of engine design isn't a simple one and terms can become confusing unless the context is understood. See the comment at the bottom of my signature /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> .

Hope that helps and doesn't confuse you .

Good luck,

>-

 

[SleeperStyle]

this brings a very good argument on why not to use a tubed CAI. mud would have a very adverse effect on it, but the engine would end up stopping because there is no air mixture. now i am sure that the filter wouldn't let the mud in, but....you engine will still end up stalling. with my import/domestic background the challenge was usually water. AEM i believe came up with a mid section that was kind of like a foam gasket. when the filter got clogged it used this mid section to breath. rather a neat concept. it needed a certain psi vacuum to operate. for an off roading, mud slinging truck i would recommend a snorkel, FIPK, or just a short ram.

i don't know another about having to have the air mixture "warmed" as previously stated. I have ALWAYS tried to get the air cooler. it is better for performance gains. bottom line is this : "colder air is more dense. the more dense...the more oxygen molecules are packed into it. the more oxygen the better the combustion...." yea and so forth. so i don't know anything about the stock air box being better b/c it mixes. i would preach the opposite because it is very restrictive on its breathing. it has only two thing going for it. 1st is usually plastic and it conducts less heat then some of the other intakes systems. 2nd it has a port that usually leads in from the fender wall so it does try to get outside air. a simple filter from K&N will open up the breathing. imagine going to McDonald's and getting a coffer straw and a regular soda straw. try to breath through both. K&N would be your soda straw; your stock set up would be a coffee straw. it allows you to breath in more air. the only down side to it is that it draws in ambient engine air which is a lot warmer and less dense. the argument is though....is the more air better with the sacrifice of temperature? I would say defiantly yes. i don't think you are trying to drag race your bronco anytime soon. and if you were i think that breathing would come much much later in my worries.. :-B

just another comment from me. all opinionated. i just know this from working on those street racers/ricers that are more commonly found around here. and yes..i am guilty of owning a littler rice.

**back to the comment about the snorkel, FIPK or short ram. the reason i would suggest these is because they would keep the filter at its highest point in the engine. the short ram and the FIPK systems would keep it at about stock level. a good high point in the engine bay so that there is less of a chance of mud/ water getting that high. a snorkel i am sure you know what that is. this is ideal because it takes it up above the engine and outside the truck so you are getting the benefits from the colder denser air and you are decreasing any chance of water/mud damage. but if you plan on getting this deep and dirty you should also consider lifting your exhaust.

ok signing out now before a make any enemies lol b-(

 

[rebelyelltex]

ehh i dont believe there is a difference for the efi broncos. i have only seen the cold air intake for the efi broncos at least. i know that on some cars like the dodges that have the throttle body injection there is a cold air intake and then like a carb lookin intake that you can get (i have the carb lookin one on my truck.. doesnt get the coldest air ever, but it gets more air than stock).

 

[Justbust1n]

89Bronco58,

I have always wondered about the effect of a cold air intake on a truck that gets muddy alot. You obviously wheel yours quite a bit, Do you do deep mud? Doesn't your air filter get caked in mud? Or is it at least the same as stock in that case. I recently filled my air box with mud, so I figured if I had a cold air intake I would have been done.

thats what i always thought if you get a k&n intake i figured if you go mudd boggin wont that clog i got one and took it off because it startd to sputter wen i went in deep mudd holes and i knew that wasnt good so i put my stock intake back on because it seems to protect the air going into the engine a little better ... i am going with a snorkel kit if i ever do anything like that again

 

[tattoo_skullhead]

thats what i always thought if you get a k&n intake i figured if you go mudd boggin wont that clog i got one and took it off because it startd to sputter wen i went in deep mudd holes and i knew that wasnt good so i put my stock intake back on because it seems to protect the air going into the engine a little better ... i am going with a snorkel kit if i ever do anything like that again

i got one in my 96 bronco and i noticed a decent change

 

[Yardape]

Thats kinda the way i'm thinking too, I hate having to turn around because the waters too deep. I have many videos where the hood of my truck is under water, and hydro locked the engine. Then removing the sparkplugs to get rid of all the water, that sux.

 

[Seabronc]

i don't know another about having to have the air mixture "warmed" as previously stated. I have ALWAYS tried to get the air cooler. it is better for performance gains. bottom line is this : "colder air is more dense. the more dense...the more oxygen molecules are packed into it. the more oxygen the better the combustion...." yea and so forth. so i don't know anything about the stock air box being better b/c it mixes. i would preach the opposite because it is very restrictive on its breathing. it has only two thing going for it. 1st is usually plastic and it conducts less heat then some of the other intakes systems. 2nd it has a port that usually leads in from the fender wall so it does try to get outside air. a simple filter from K&N will open up the breathing. imagine going to McDonald's and getting a coffer straw and a regular soda straw. try to breath through both. K&N would be your soda straw; your stock set up would be a coffee straw. it allows you to breath in more air. the only down side to it is that it draws in ambient engine air which is a lot warmer and less dense. the argument is though....is the more air better with the sacrifice of temperature? I would say defiantly yes. i don't think you are trying to drag race your bronco anytime soon. and if you were i think that breathing would come much much later in my worries.. :-B

Apparently, you didn't read what I said or you didn't understand what I said or I know you think you know what I said, but what you need to know is, I didn't say what I ment :blink: .

No one would argue the fact that colder air is denser and that it increases the high end of performance. However, what you are saying only covers the viewpoint of high performance. If you want to have decent cold start and run characteristics in frigid weather you definately need warmed intake air until the engine is warmed up. That is why I said, " A stock system has the ability to mix warmed air with cold air in the system under control of either the vacuum system or the EEC. This is especially desirable in cold climates as the air needs to be prewarmed for proper cold engine running characteristics. As the engine and the compartment come up to normal operating temperatures the need to preheat is reduced and the air warming part of the system is closed (if mechanical) or shut off (if electrical). The system then gets most or all of its air from the air scoop in the front of the truck, not the engine compartment."

No where in that statement did I say a stock system is superior to a aftermarket system when it comes to performance, that is why I said, "That is just a basic writeup and there is a lot more to be said on the subject, like the effects on air temp when the air pressure is increased or decreased."

KN type systems only allow more air to the engine because the filter design is less restrictive than the paper filter design. That is the only advantage that a direct replacement KN style filter adds to my stock intake which supplies as much air as my stock 351 4BBL can possibly ****. Adding a larger intake duct will not improve the amount of air the engine can take in since it already allows the maximum volume the engine is capable of. However, if I were to increase the ability of my engine to take in more air, for example by increasing the cubic inch displacement, then I would have to re-evaluate the ducting to make sure it could supply the increased maximum demand. Again that is why I said, "That is just a basic writeup and there is a lot more to be said on the subject, like the effects on air temp when the air pressure is increased or decreased. The subject of engine design isn't a simple one and terms can become confusing unless the context is understood." /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

>-

 

[SleeperStyle]

Apparently, you didn't read what I said or you didn't understand what I said or I know you think you know what I said, but what you need to know is, I didn't say what I ment :blink: .

No where in that statement did I say a stock system is superior to a aftermarket system when it comes to performance, that is why I said, "That is just a basic writeup and there is a lot more to be said on the subject, like the effects on air temp when the air pressure is increased or decreased."

let me start off with an apology because i wasn't trying to create and arguement or a bashing or what not. perhaps i did misread what you wrote because, ****, we both wrote a lot. it also took me about three times to understand that first line you wrote there @-) anyway....let me just offer an apology. Yes my view points are strictly on performence. thought that was what he wanted. to upgrade from the stock. i wouldn't doubt your knowledge there sir >-

 

[Seabronc]

No problem, I wasn't offended at all. I debated on responding to your post and finally decided that if you didn't understand what I said, perhaps someone else wouldn't understand as well. Let's face it, forums are not a very good communication tool. I don't mind different ideas than my own. After all that is how we learn from each other. Nor do I pretend to know it all or have all the answers .

The reason I wrote a lot of that stuff was to give him something to think about before modifying his intake system. You can design for a great performance engine that will kick but and it will **** as a daily driver because of it's crankiness.

So again, no offense taken /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> . I realize what someone is thinking and what they write or say doesn't always make sense to someone else. .

Feel free to share your openion and experience, that is what a forum is for.

>-

Fred

 

[Justshootme84]

I think Seabronc is basically correct, in that "air intake" can mean any type of system for engine induction. The purpose of a "Cold air intake" is to reduce the incoming air into the carb/throttle body, since the hotter the air the less efficient the combustion inside the engine. I have the K&N FIPK kit on my 98 Z-71, and of course the "Shaker" intake on my 84 Bronco. Both are designed to pull fresh, coller air from outside the engine bay as opposed to under-the-hood air. JSM84