Almost everyone's first muscle car mod is a cold air intake – they're easy to install, affordable, and give your engine some extra pep right out of the box. Plus, when you pair them with a tune, a bigger manifold, and an upgraded exhaust system, you can add some serious horsepower to your ride without getting into forced induction.
But what about the sound? Your muscle car has to sound good too, right? Otherwise, the horsepower and torque gains just aren't as fun. Fortunately, cold air intakes make an impact, and we’ll cover how and why down below.
What Is a Cold Air Intake?
Before we dive into how a cold air intake will change the way your car sounds, it's important to know what they are. Simply put, a cold air intake (CAI) is an aftermarket air intake designed to improve your engine’s performance by drawing in colder air. It works because the colder air is more dense and contains more oxygen per volume unit, which is better for combustion.
On most vehicles, your stock intake is located near the engine and covered by a box with a square filter. Sure, this is great for keeping the engine clean, but it's terrible for making power. CAIs work so well because most of them move the intake away from the engine and place it in the wheel well, on some of the older V6 Mustangs for example, or somewhere else that's further from the engine.
When paired with oiled filters that improve airflow while protecting the engine from debris and dust, you’re getting more cold air flowing through the engine. Many cold air intakes are also made with metal piping instead of plastic, rubber, or silicone materials, which is better for cooling.
The only drawback is that they do have a tendency to get heat-soaked if they're not properly wrapped or if you’re driving in stop-and-go traffic. It's also possible for more debris to sneak into your engine through a cold air intake, so make sure you’re checking, replacing, and cleaning the filters often.
Facts that Impact How Cold Air Intakes Affect the Sound of Your Car
Cold air intakes affect the sound of your car due to their ability to suck more air into the engine, which makes a deep, throaty, and suction sound. Depending on several other factors the exact sound that it makes will vary.
How a cold air intake affects the sound of your car depends on the design of the intake, what your stock setup is, and other modifications you've installed.
Learn more about how some of these factors will influence how a CAI will sound.
How Much Air Is Flowing Through the Engine
The biggest factor that impacts how a cold air intake affects the sound of your engine is how much air it allows to flow through the manifold. Since cold air intakes increase the volume of air flowing into the engine, it has a more aggressive sound and you can really hear the air flowing through the metal piping. What's more, most cold air intakes are more exposed and come with larger filters, so more air will flow through the engine and make a louder, almost roaring sound.
Factory Regulations
Depending on the manufacturer, your vehicle may have some emissions regulations or other regulations the company has to meet in order to sell the vehicle. While this results in great cars, some manufacturers have to neuter the way they sound. Removing the old intake and replacing it with a cold air intake can bring you more of that muscle car sound that you’re after.
The Type of Cold Air Intake
The type of cold air intake will also affect how your car sounds. While most aftermarket products will change the way your intake sounds due to more air flowing through it, you'll notice that each intake will have a unique sound due to the length of the piping, location, and even the filter.
For these reasons, K&N air intakes tend to have a unique sound compared to aFe intake parts due to the materials, filters, and overall design of the intakes. That said, they're both great options and can look and sound great on your Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger, so it's more of a preference thing.
Other Modifications
Whether you’re adding a new intake manifold or going with forced induction, like a turbo or supercharger, pairing these aftermarket mods with a cold air intake will change the way your engine sounds. Intake manifolds, headers, and exhaust parts will also change how your vehicle sounds.
When using other modifications your results may vary, so speak with our sales techs to find out which parts and accessories will work best with your current setup.
Unlock Your Car’s Potential with a Cold Air Intake
Whether you’re looking for an affordable way to make some extra power, or you need one of the best cold air intakes on the market to complete your build, you’re in the right place. Shop online and explore our extensive catalog of premium aftermarket intakes from brands you can count on.
Consider upgrading the surrounding components to make an even bigger impact, like adding new intake manifolds, headers, and even premium Borla exhaust parts. Order online today for all the assistance you need from our helpful sales techs, and when you place an order watch it arrive fast with convenient shipping options you can't find anywhere else.
