Benefits of a Cold Air Intake

Published by Sierra Monica P. on March 26, 2014 under Cars

Cold air intake kits are growing more common through custom shops, particularly on the web. This leaves many curious as to what actual benefits they provide to a diesel vehicle. This is a point of contention among some, but the basics of the benefits can be easily summarized as follows.

The first reason to pursue a cold air intake is efficiency. Fuel efficiency can be increased when cold air is being used to mix with diesel for combustion. The ignition temperatures and mechanics are different for hot air as it tends to be less dense. Colder air is denser and thus mixes more thoroughly with diesel fuel for a hotter, more efficient burn. The long-term ramifications of cold air intakes haven’t been tested in this regard. Some attest that using a cold air intake for a long period of time will gradually degrade the integrity of your engine’s cylinders. Others cite the potential for failure in ignition. However, these are primarily problems associated with older cold air intake kits that were not always designed with optimal vehicle compatibility in mind. Modern cold air intake kits tend to work much more cleanly with modern diesel engines, making them overall a better option.

The next reason to pursue a cold air intake is performance. This ties in cleanly with fuel efficiency. The hotter the combustion of the fuel, the more force it puts on the pistons driving your drivetrain. The thinking here is that the more powerful the combustion, the more powerful the engine, and this is sound in theory. Performance concerns in this regard would be augmented by the additional power for the purpose of additional torque, which could be quite important for someone who frequently pursues uphill travel or similar goals in their use of engines. This is, by and large, a matter of practical consideration, and the benefits are diminished unless you have a reason to be using a diesel truck in the manners that are best served by additional torque and engine power directly.

If you’re interested in a cold air intake kit through Sinister Diesel or a similar company, it’s worth knowing what kind of benefits they can ultimately provide you. Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask staff for help along the way. They’ll be more than happy to assist you in any way that they can to make sure you get what your diesel engine needs.

Tags: air