A cold air intake replaces the factory airbox and intake tube with a system that draws cooler air from outside the hot engine bay, usually through a smoother, larger tube and a high-flow filter. Cooler air is denser, so the engine can burn a little more fuel and make a little more power, and most owners also notice a louder intake sound and sharper throttle response. Gains depend on the engine and how restrictive the factory intake was.
How a cold air intake works
- Cooler air source: the filter is moved away from engine heat, often behind a heat shield or toward the fender or bumper.
- Less restriction: smoother bends and a larger tube reduce pressure loss between the filter and throttle body.
- High-flow filter: oiled cotton or dry synthetic media that flows more air than many paper elements.
How much power does a cold air intake add?
On many stock engines the gain is modest, because factory intakes are already reasonably efficient. Engines with restrictive factory intakes, and engines with other modifications, usually gain more. Makers publish their own dyno results for specific cars; CORSA, for example, quotes gains of up to 44 hp and 70 lb-ft for its carbon fiber intake on the C7 Corvette’s LT1. Treat any figure as specific to the car it was measured on.
Cold air intake pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Some power and throttle response, more on modified engines | Gains on a stock engine can be small for the cost |
| A deeper, louder intake sound | More intake noise in the cabin, which not everyone wants |
| Reusable filter on many kits | Over-oiled filters can foul the mass airflow sensor |
| Usually a bolt-on installation | A low-mounted filter can draw in water if you drive through deep puddles |
Some intakes change how the mass airflow sensor reads and may need the engine computer adjusted to avoid a check engine light; the maker’s instructions say whether yours does. In some states an aftermarket intake needs an exemption to be street legal, so check your state’s rules before you buy.
Cold air intake vs short ram
A short ram intake keeps the filter in the engine bay close to the throttle body. It is shorter and simpler and gives a quick throttle response, but it breathes warmer air. A cold air intake routes the filter to a cooler spot at the cost of a longer tube.
Air intake for the C7 Corvette
The CORSA carbon fiber air intake with DryTech filter ($953.18) uses a carbon fiber housing shaped for airflow and a dry filter element, and installs as a direct bolt-on. CORSA’s fitment table lists the 2015-2019 Corvette Z06 and Stingray and the 2017-2019 Grand Sport, while the product title names the Z06, so confirm your trim and engine with us before ordering. More upgrades for the car: Corvette parts by generation and cat-back exhaust systems.
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