Short Ram vs Cold Air Intakes

Are you looking to increase the horsepower of your pickup or SUV? One way to do just that is by installing an air intake system. You have your choice of either a cold air intake or a short ram intake. While being very similar, each come with their own unique pros and cons.

In both systems, the intake collects air from outside your engine compartment. The purpose of the intake is to collect a colder air charge than inside the engine compartment, allowing the fuel management system to give the engine a denser air/fuel charge into the combustion chamber. To clarify: Cold Air = More Horsepower. Warmer air from your engine compartment is good for fuel economy, but since there are less oxygen molecules than a cold air charge, the fuel will be leaned out. This increases your fuel efficiency, but decreases your horsepower.

These systems utilize some type of external scoop that faces forward on the vehicle, forcing colder air into the engine. The Short Ram Air Intake, like the K&N 77 Series High Flow Performance Metal Air Intake for example, does exactly what it sounds like. As you drive, fresh air is “rammed” through your hood, forced down the intake manifold, and filtered through the air cleaner. Once you hit thirty five mph, this intake system will act similarly to a turbo charger; taking in more and more air to increase your horsepower.

Now, let’s take a closer look at Cold Air Intakes such as the Magnum Force Stage 2 Cold Air Intake System from Advanced Flow Engineering for example. A Cold Air System replaces the stock air cleaner box and its plumbing with a simple tube that relocates the air intake to a position where it is picking up cold air from outside the engine compartment. This system itself consists of a large tube which allows for greater airflow capability than a stock filter system.