Air Filters & Cold Air Intake Kits

What Does a Cold Air Intake Do?

A cold air intake replaces your factory air box and filter with wider tubing and a high-flow filter that draws in cooler, denser air. Denser air lets your engine burn more fuel per stroke, which is where the extra power comes from.

Temperature makes a real difference. Even a 10-degree F drop in intake air temperature is worth roughly 1% more power.

Most kits use one of three designs. Underhood systems either leave the filter element visible or tuck it inside an enclosed box. Ram-air systems are the third option.

Read our guide to cold air intake systems and kits for a closer look at each design. When you're ready, compare complete systems and individual parts in cold air intake kits & components.

Which Car Air Filter Type Is Right for You?

The right car air filter depends on how you drive and how much maintenance you're willing to do. Here's how the common filter types compare:

• Oiled cotton filters are washable and reusable, and they often come in a conical shape.
• Dry filters skip the oil, so you don't have to worry about over-oiling the element.
• Paper panel filters drop into the factory air box as a direct replacement.

If you want a reusable air filter you can service at home, a cotton element is the usual pick. Just don't over-oil it, because excess oil can foul your mass airflow (MAF) sensor.

K&N air filters include washable cotton elements and PowerCore filters. For replacement elements, round filters, and hardware, browse air cleaners, filters & components.

Cold Air Intake Kit or Drop-In Performance Air Filter?

Choose a complete cold air intake kit for the larger gain, or a drop-in performance air filter for a quick, low-effort upgrade. Our tech team puts a full kit at about 3 times the gain of a drop-in high-flow element.

A drop-in filter keeps your factory air box and tube, so you only swap the element. That makes it the simpler choice if you want to keep your stock layout.

A full kit replaces the air box and tubing, so it moves more air and makes more power. Roto-Fab builds kits with oiled filters for the 2010-2015 Camaro V8, 2012-2015 Camaro ZL1, and 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS-V. Its Big Gulp Series also fits the Camaro ZL1 6.2L. For trucks, the K&N 57 Series FIPK Air Intake System fits Chevy C/K pickups and the Suburban.

Want real numbers before you buy? See how much horsepower a cold air intake can add to your vehicle.

How Do You Choose the Right Cold Air Intake Kit?

Start with fitment, then match the kit's design to how you drive. Check these points before you order:

• Use the Year/Make/Model filter to confirm the kit fits your engine and chassis.
• Pick a tube material, keeping in mind that plastic and polyethylene stay cooler than aluminum.
• Choose a visible element or an enclosed box, which helps shield the filter from underhood heat.
• Decide between oiled and dry filter media based on how you want to service it.

Tube material and filter placement both affect how cool your intake charge stays. If you drive in hot weather or sit in traffic, an enclosed box helps keep heat soak in check.

Need a starting point? Compare our list of the top 10 cold air intakes for boosting horsepower.

Which High-Performance Air Cleaner Fits a Carbureted Engine?

A 14 in. round aftermarket air cleaner is a common upgrade for carbureted and classic engines. You can pick a 2 in. or 3 in. filter height to match your hood clearance.

JEGS-brand air cleaners include 14 in. x 3 in. and 14 in. x 2 in. smooth-top designs in chrome-plated or black powder-coat finishes. There's also a red 14 in. x 2 in. cotton air filter element. Edelbrock offers the Elite II and Pro-Flo 14 in. round air cleaners, and Proform makes Classic Chevrolet 14 in. x 3 in. air cleaner kits.

Race and show builds can step up to bug catcher and Hilborn-style scoops for single or dual 4-barrel carburetors. You'll also find velocity stacks, like the K&N 58-1191 with a 5 in. height. If you run a hood scoop, plan for 3 in. of clearance.

Own a 1985-1997 GM 5.0L or 5.7L TBI truck? The JEGS TBI Air Flow Enhancer is built for it. Pair your air cleaner with performance intake manifolds, or shop all Air & Fuel Delivery parts to finish your build.