Pros and cons of installing a cold air intake on your truck
Increasing your truck’s performance and power doesn’t require installing a new engine or transmission, although those definitely can be options. An easy to install option that is gaining popularity among trucks is the cold air intake. Cold air intakes have long been a staple of street racing and race cars, but they can just as easily be applied to your truck. Why would you install a cold air intake on your truck? Let’s see how they work, first.
A cold air intake system replaces the OEM air filter and intake system. Usually you will need to remove the original breather box as well as the pipe leading to the motor. By installing a cold air intake, you can add horsepower to your truck. This happens because a cold air intake brings cooler air into your engine. Cold air is much denser than warm air. This means that your engine can burn fuel much more efficiently, increasing its available power. While the gain won’t be incredible, it will be noticeable.
The cold air intake system is usually routed similar to your OEM system, on the engine. However, as you travel from there, you’ll end up at a different location. This is usually low on the engine, behind the headlights, or even lower. The goal is to get as much heat intake away from your engine as possible. This is the only way to get cool enough air to do the job properly.
What else does a cold air intake do for your vehicle? They can increase fuel economy under certain conditions, although that’s not why most people install them in their vehicles. The main reason, of course, is to add power in the form of speed and torque. Some of the more popular brands are K&N and Volant. Understand, too, that adding a cold air intake to your truck will change the way your truck sounds. While it won’t sound like a street racer, it will definitely sound different.
Now, let’s look at some of the drawbacks of adding a cold air intake.
First, there is the expense. While relatively inexpensive compared to other truck accessories and performance enhancers, they are at least a modest investment. You must also modify your vehicle; many times by yourself. Some dealerships will not install these devices on trucks, while others will charge substantial labor fees.
However, the biggest drawback comes in the form of water. This threat is much more prevalent in shorter vehicles such as passenger cars, but it is also present in trucks. The location of the air filter makes it possible for road water or mud to spray onto the air filter. From there it is sucked along the intake pipe until it reaches your engine. Once there, wreak havoc. Sure, it takes more than a few drops of water to disable your engine, but the threat is there and should be taken into account when considering adding one of these systems to your truck.
That being said, there are some drawbacks to this, especially in exchange for the extra power you’ll enjoy. You can find several quality systems that will work well in this situation, although K&N has been a trusted name for years. Their filters are designed to last a lifetime, with only cleaning required to continue using the filter.
