How cold can the air be that comes into the engine before it's not doing anything?

I can't seem to find out how different air temps effect the engine.

Swirl

 

The cooler the better, it burns better.

 

The cold air helps the fuel atomization process which causes a more violent explosion, hence-more power! The colder the better, you'l notice your car will run better when it's not blazing hot outside.

 

In theory, for every 10 degrees cooler the air, its a 1% increase in power

 

I rode my bike when it was like 32* out, and it wouldnt get hotter than 135* and it ran super great.

 

It is not that the fuel burns better at colder temps.
In fact combustion is less efficient at lower temps, simply due to fuel droplets not vaporizing as well.

The advantage with cooler intake air is that more timing can be added via the input from the ACT and ECT.
Of course cooler air does have a higher density of O2 as well.

However it is important to understand that cooler intake air does not improve efficiency. If there is a noticable impact on fuel economy, it will be for the worse.

I question the ability to gain power with cooler intake temps.
It is entirely possible that all of the CAI kits make more power than the stock setup, simply due to the improved design of the intake tube routing.


just my thoughts,
jason

 

yeah but cold air intake in the fender have been proven to make a couple more horsepower than the same intake sucking in hot engine air. I read it in Muscle Mustangs. I put one on my car and it made one hell of a difference, so yeah I think it helps.

 

its because of the higher concentration of oxygen in the air. the colder it it the more dense it is. thats why adding an intercooler to any type of F/I addes so much power.

 

Again, there is a parts change being made.
I have not seen ANY dyno test conducted that used a refrigeration unit (or something similar) to decrease the temp of the intake air, while using the same EXACT intake routing.

If you can reference that article though, I would love to read it.


If cooler air does help power in an n/a application, then it is most likely to the fact the lower temp readings from the ACT will allow more timing advance. The difference in air density would be minimal between 110F and 80F.

Someone brought up intercoolers on boosted applications. This is not a direct comparison as the temps with boost are much higher, and quickly cause detonation issues.

Thanks,
jason

 

cold winter air is nature's nitrous