Cold Air Intakes: What, Why, and Are They Worth It? 

Cold air intakes are a popular style of aftermarket air intake system. Unlike short ram intakes, which inhale warm air from the engine bay, cold air intakes feature an insulated air box and various air inlet tubes and scoops to pull cool, dense air from the exterior. 

Cold air intakes are frequently installed on all vehicle classes, ranging from high-performance sports cars to hard-working diesel trucks. These accessories replace your vehicle’s factory intake assembly with high-flow aftermarket intake tubes, air boxes, and filters to overcome restrictions in the intake tract, thus allowing more air to enter the cylinders. 

What Does a Cold Air Intake Do?  

The paper air filter is the most common type on the road today. Original equipment in most vehicles, this style of air filter provides an excellent balance of affordability and functional filtration. Paper air filters are intended to be replaced every 5 to 10 thousand miles. While more affordable than other designs, replacing paper air filters can add up over time.

Reusable Air Filters

The advantages of reusable air filters over paper are considerable—they are washable, free-flowing, and long-lasting, and they are an easy upgrade for most vehicles on the road. One of the most popular manufacturers of reusable air filters is K&N. With proper maintenance, K&N’s reusable air filters, featuring an oil-impregnated design, will likely outlive your vehicle. 

However, reusable air filters must be oiled every 5000 miles to retain efficiency and filtration properties.

While oiled cotton air filters are perhaps the most popular reusable car air filter design, other manufacturers use a dry, synthetic weave, which requires occasional cleaning with a proprietary cleaning solution. Both oiled and dry styles of reusable air filters are frequently used in air intake systems.

Intake Tube Materials

Cold air intake tubes vary by air intake manufacturer, with the two most popular materials being metal (typically aluminum) and composite (traditionally polyethylene). 

Composite intake tubes are usually manufactured from high-density polyethylene plastic. While plastic may evoke thoughts of poor quality, thermoplastic polyethylene combines lightweight flexibility with outstanding durability. The material is even used in certain bulletproof vests. This composite material is more than capable of withstanding conditions under your vehicle's hood.

From a performance standpoint, composite has a couple of advantages over metal. First, composite material doesn’t retain as much heat as metal, meaning your plastic tubing doesn’t run as much risk of heating the air entering your engine. Second, the composite molding process allows for precisely engineered contours that, in some cases, are far superior to a metal intake's bends. This design allows air to flow more freely into the intake manifold, reducing turbulence and improving power over traditional metal tubing.

Air Box Designs

Lastly, let’s discuss air box designs. From the factory, most manufacturers employ sealed air boxes with integrated air scoops that funnel cool, dense outside air directly to the filter. As a result, most high-quality manufacturers opt for similar designs—in most cases, if the original manufacturer does it, it’s probably best to take notes. 

This being said, not every manufacturer includes a premium molded airbox. In some cases, manufacturers affix an air filter to a bare intake tube, which sucks hot air directly from the engine bay. These intake systems, typically referred to as short ram intakes, aren’t true cold air intakes. 

While this design may look impressive, it may hinder performance, especially on hot days. Our recommendation, especially for street-driven vehicles in warmer climates, is to opt for a true cold air intake system with a factory-style sealed air box that pulls cool air from a vehicle’s exterior.

Are Cold Air Intakes Worth It? 

So, are air intake systems worth the money and hype? Undoubtedly, yes. These systems undergo extensive R&D testing to ensure maximum efficiency and dyno-proven performance gains you can not only feel but also hear. 

One of the most significant benefits of an air intake system is its effect on sound. The larger filter and larger-diameter intake tube produce a noticeable grumble or growl from the engine compartment under acceleration, especially when paired with an aftermarket exhaust system.

Yet another benefit is the impressive performance gains, especially under hard acceleration. Most cold air intakes deliver 5–15 horsepower gains and superior acceleration, making for a more enjoyable and sporty driving experience. 

The added airflow also enhances efficiency, with some manufacturers reporting fuel economy gains of one to two MPG. 

Top 3 Cold Air Intakes

Now that we’ve determined that cold air intakes are worth the price, let’s check out our top-recommended systems. Each system on this list has been hand-selected to offer the best blend of performance, sound, ease of installation, and quality. 

S&B Cold Air Intakes

As an industry leader in the aftermarket air intake department, S&B knows a thing or two about airflow. The company’s proprietary Cold Air Intake is a staple in the performance industry, especially for diesel truck applications. 

Featuring rotomolded composite intake tubes, heavy-duty silicone intake couplers and tube seals, an oversized sealed intake box, and your choice of 8-layer, washable, oiled-cotton, or dry replaceable filters, S&B Cold Air Intake systems offer outstanding performance. The clear inspection window also makes for a stylish addition to any engine bay.  

Features: 

• Increase horsepower and improve fuel economy

• Heavy-duty silicone intake couplers and tube seals

• Simple DIY installations

• Available with 8-layer, washable, oiled-cotton, or dry replaceable filters

• Oversized, fully enclosed air box

• Clear inspection lid to monitor the filter's condition

• Filters are tested to ISO 5011 Filtration Standard

• Backed by a million-mile warranty

• Made in the USA

K&N 77 Series High Flow Performance Metal Air Intakes

If you can’t stray from the aesthetics of metal intake tubing, consider a K&N 77 Series High Flow Performance Metal Intake. This premium intake system utilizes mandrel-bent alloy tubing for smooth, unrestricted airflow into the intake manifold. K&N’s reusable oiled-cotton air filter provides maximum filtration to keep your engine healthy and clean. 

This product features a vehicle-specific design for a simple installation. Vehicle-specific mounting tabs align with factory-threaded holes for a quick bolt-on install. K&N also employs a metal heat shield with a pre-installed bulb seal, sealing against the hood to prevent hot engine bay air from entering the filter. 

Features: 

• Available with a polished or silver intake tube

• Mandrel-bent tubing eliminates restrictions

• Guaranteed to boost horsepower and torque

• Vehicle-specific design for maximum performance and ease of installation

• Reusable air filter

• Mounts using factory holes for quick installation

• Oversized conical air filter improved airflow into the intake

• Compatible with OE computer systems

• Backed by a one million-mile warranty

• Some kits may not be legal in CA

Rugged Ridge Cold Air Intake

Treat your off-road rig to the unmatched performance of a Rugged Ridge® Cold Air Intake. This premium intake system utilizes a mandrel-bent, polished aluminum intake tube for smooth, unrestricted airflow into the intake manifold. Rugged Ridge’s black, powder-coated heat shield prevents engine heat from entering the included dry air filter, adding up to 10 horsepower and 12 lb-ft. of torque.

Features: 

• Polished aluminum intake tube

• Black powder-coated heat shield

• Dry filter requires no oiling

• Adds up to 10 horsepower and 12 lb-ft. of torque

• 50-state legal

• 5-year limited warranty