You probably know that increased air flow through your
air filter and
intake manifold equates to better horsepower, torque, and fuel economy. You can improve on that even more, though, with a full
air intake kit that brings in cold air from the front of the vehicle. But how difficult is it to install an
air intake kit?
The good news is that, in most cases, it’s not difficult at all.
Most newer vehicles are not especially serviceable for the casual mechanic. Procedures like changing spark plugs or even replacing your
car battery are much more difficult than they were years ago. Fortunately, that’s usually not true with the air filter box – since the air filter needs replacement at regular intervals, the filter box is usually situated in a place that’s easily accessible for an owner or tech.
A quality air intake kit will include all the tubing, clamps, seals,
air intake tube, and all other parts for a complete OEM-style installation. Good air intake kits will also be computer-designed and precision-made for a professional, factory-style fit, meaning that they can be installed with hand tools. Air intake kits for Jeeps are a somewhat different story, since 4 x 4’s are subjected to some pretty extreme use off-road. Air intake kits for Jeeps are available with an
extended snorkel for crossing high water, to prevent the engine aspirating water through the intake and possibly hydrolocking itself.
Remember
hood scoops on Sixties and Seventies cars? They weren’t just there for looks;
hood scoops were designed to direct and concentrate air flow through the air filter and intake. Hood scoops are still useful for that exact reason; other vehicles take in cold air through the
grille opening, and air intake scoops are also available for vehicles that are set up that way.
So if you’re wondering how complicated it is to install a new air intake kit, the answer is…”not very.” With a few hours of your time and some basic proficiency with hand tools, you can put in an air intake kit that will give you improvements in fuel efficiency and performance for the life of your vehicle!
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