Air intakes are vital to your car. Their main function is to make the air that is going into the car and make it cooler. That's why it's also known as a cool air intake. The air needs to become cooler to make more power of the internal-combustion engine. The intakes also make the car sound a lot better and look more stylish. Therefore, you can have them customized to your wants and needs.



K and N Engineering was the first company to make air intakes in the 1980's and by doing so, they are nicknamed as the creators of the aftermarket solution. It was first made using plastic where a tube was made with a filter with holes.

Air intakes improved dramatically in the 1990's when companies used mass marketing all over the world including Japan to make it more accessible to their consumers.

The details of how air intakes work are quite simple. Cold air is heavier in volume. Combustion needs oxygen so the more oxygen a car has, the more power it will have as well. The creators of air intakes thought that the more cooler air around the car, the better it will be for combustion since there would be more oxygen.

The temperature is higher where combustion takes place. Therefore, cooler air is needed to make the engine more powerful. More airflow is achieved through a bigger diameter in the tube to make less friction. The inside must be smooth as well to reduce the friction and air resistance.

Heat filters are created to separate the air filter from the rest of the area that has combustion. Most of this air is taken from the front side of the vehicle. Some companies are making these air intakes out of carbon fiber which creates a stylish product. It aids in insulation and reduces the weight since carbon fiber weighs less. Yet, it can be extremely expensive to produce.

Complete Cold Air or CCA was created to take air from the sides of the hood scoop and wheel wells. High velocity hair is found in these areas and with all the pressure, the temperature goes down easily. It is also known as ram-air intake since it is mostly used in race cars and motorcycles.

Air intakes are great but you must watch out on rainy days when you may experience hydrolock. This is when water goes into the air intake tube giving your car less horsepower. The water will not compress. This is when a hydro-shield should be used.

Overall, air intakes are a wonderful thing to have in your car that can be customized to increase the performance. For new intakes, check out your online auto parts dealer or ask your local mechanic for tips.