| Like humans, almost all mannerism of contraptions | | | | Increasing the air intake of your car |
| that have a motor require air to function. Vacuum | | | | There are also different ways to do this. Mind |
| cleaners to hair dryers to lawn mowers and yes; | | | | you, it may not be the prettiest of ways. It's |
| cars, all require the intake of air to work properly. | | | | called Cold Air Intake (CAI) hoses. |
| In cars, air is required in the combustion chamber | | | | Here's another theory: cold air is heavier than hot |
| where fuel is burned to produce power. If you | | | | air, so theoretically in the atmosphere, cold air |
| didn't pay attention in basic science class, air is | | | | should be located closer to the ground. With this in |
| needed to keep a fire burning. Same concept | | | | mind, imagine if you place your air intake hose |
| here. To put things bluntly; more air = better | | | | (hose that directs air into the air filter unit) at the |
| combustion = better acceleration. | | | | front of the car, and at a low position, cold, or in |
| There are only two types of air filters available in | | | | the case of South East Asia, air that is not so |
| the market: an open pod or a drop in. | | | | warm, can get into the combustion chamber and |
| Choosing which one suits you best | | | | help the combustion even more, thus allowing |
| Open pods are generally larger in size and requires | | | | better acceleration. |
| the removal of your whole standard air intake | | | | This however requires one to drill a hole in the |
| unit. They have the best performance when it | | | | middle of one's bumper. I have seen some pretty |
| comes to air intake, but lacks in filtration | | | | well done CAI, but for the most of it, it will look |
| capabilities. | | | | like your car just had a molar removed. |
| Drop in filters on the other hand provide 'plug and | | | | Before getting all excited and deciding to buy a |
| play' bliss for beginners, as you can simply swap | | | | new air filter for your car, take note that |
| your OEM air filter for these things. No | | | | aftermarket filters do allow your car to breathe |
| modifications necessary. Air intake is generally | | | | better, but at the cost of less filtration. This does |
| better than standard OEM air filters, but again, | | | | not mean that fitting an aftermarket air filter will |
| filtration is not as good. | | | | damage your engine in the long run. All it means is |
| Deciding on which to get for your car is simple. It | | | | that your car's standard OEM air filter is able to |
| all depends on the type of transmission your car | | | | filter tinier dust particles, at the cost of allowing |
| uses. An automatic car will benefit from a drop in | | | | less air through. Aftermarket air filters however |
| filter, but will have little or no improvements if | | | | are washable, making it a lifetime investment for |
| fitted with an open pod; the reason being open | | | | your car, unless you decide to keep changing |
| pods require a rev above 3,000 rpm to be able to | | | | filters to test the difference that is. |
| perform optimally, and automatic cars generally | | | | A simple test to see how dirty your air filter is |
| change gears before the 3,000 rpm mark. | | | | and also to determine its filtration capabilities is to |
| Manual transmission cars however can benefit | | | | simply put it up against a source of light. A clean |
| from both open pod and drop in filters, as the | | | | filter would allow one to see light poking through |
| engine revs easier and the driver can decide when | | | | the 'pores' of the filter whereas a dirty filter |
| to change gears. Life just isn't fair. | | | | would block out the light entirely. Air filters with |
| There are several well known brands out there | | | | good filtration capabilities usually get dirty faster, |
| that are synonymous with aftermarket air filters. | | | | meaning that it's doing a good job at filtration, |
| Brands such as K&N and HKS are probably | | | | whilst a filter with less filtration capabilities would |
| the best car air filters money can buy. | | | | stay cleaner longer. |