Air box question again sorry

[Meek_racing]

Right then,

Was chatting to some of the older or shall I say “more senior” engineers where I work about modifying my airbox to pipe cold air from the front. They all smirked like typical engineers and said that cold air into the engine is not the way to improve performance. Instead they said that warm air is better as it combusts faster which would kind of make sense….

So just curious why cold air feed is the way forward? Ive always thought that the ram effect was the way forward but with the winter coming is this such a wise thing to do?

Any suggestions please? Ive got a new airbox off ebay so was planning on modifying it to take a 70mm Dia pipe and lead it to the front lower grille...and give it a bit of a colour spray

 

[MarkCup]

Cold air is more dense than warm air, so there's more oxygen and you can burn more fuel, hence more power.

If warm air was the way forwards, why do cars like Scooby's and Evo's have intercoolers to cool the air right down before it reaches the engine?

I'm no expert...I'm sure someone will be along with the correct answer soon

 

[rich[182]]

He's talking rubbish, cold air is better than hot air

 

[Neil G]

Cold air is better but the 'ram air' thing is bollox

 

[Meek_racing]

He's talking rubbish, cold air is better than hot air

I wasn't saying that. Just something I was told when passing convo with some of the engineers. If you don’t ask then you will never know.

I always thought it was better until they started talking about warm air being easier to vaporise as its less dense. That’s the bit that made me think. I know moist air is good as it carries a lot more oxygen.

 

[jayxx83]

probably best to strike a balance between the two. Scoobys and the like need intercoolers because the air that goes through it is roasting hot from being heated by the turbocharger.

Mabye ice cold air isnt good for n/a, just cool air which can then vaporise easier than ice cold.

 

[LegoHead]

Maybe warm air in a diesel.

 

[edde]

Cold airs densor so better for power.

There a patent out years agao from someoen who showed that hot air into th engine could lead to huge MPG improvements but that not realy applicable to making HP numbers.

If hot air made power why would race car have big front mounted intakes why not get the air and run ir round the engine ay as much as possible to heat it up.

I think its ever 4 degrees lowering of air temps means 1% more power.

 

[edde]

Maybe warm air in a diesel.

Nope same again for diesels cold air is better for HP.