If you've ever had a car overheat, you know full well the heat that rises off the engine when you pop the hood. First came a lack of power, then steam. One way to avoid this is to install an optional cold air intake system.

Purpose

Turning the key to start your engine creates combustion; combustion creates heat, which must be eliminated to avoid overheating. In high-performance cars, or in cars modified to have one, cold air intakes function to lower the air temperature entering the motor. This, in turn, benefits your motor in two ways.

Benefits

Cooled air will not only keep the engine from overheating to the point of stalling, but it serves another purpose as well: it directly affects the fuel economy of your car. Cooler air will get you better gas mileage.

Considerations

Combustion engines rely on small explosions inside the motor to create power. These explosions are fed by oxygen, which creates the power for the engine. Cold air is more densely filled with oxygen, so allowing outside air in and cooling it in the process ensures your engine continues to have plenty of power, while using a minimum of gas.

History

The first cold air intake system was created in 1987 by K&N Engineering. It consisted of plastic air intake tubes with cone-shaped cotton gauze air filters. The design has changed little since then, and cars can be fitted with after-market cold air intake systems fairly simply.

Drawbacks

The cold air intake has one problem. If the car hits a puddle or is in heavy rain, the water can kill the engine. This is known as "hydro lock." Precautions to prevent this can include installing a water shield, a "sock" to cover the intake, or avoiding wet conditions.

Source:

Parts Geek

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Cold Air Intake