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Cold air vs hot air

Z

zoiks

Lifer
From what I've heard colder air intakes increase overall engine power and efficiency. Does this mean that ultimately a car in a colder region may produce more hp than the same car in a hotter region?
 
PlasmaBomb said:
Yes.

Altitude also reduces a cars power output.

Humidity also has an effect.
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So is basically the 0-60 times posted for a given car the best case scenario in a cold climate area?
I guess they shouldn't be conducting any speed tests in the mideast then.
 
There are other variable which will affect the 0-60 times, I don't think there are standards set for recording them.

If your car produces a lot of power, recording timings in a cold environment may make the tyres struggle.
 
i would say that a denser air charge makes more power.
Cooler temps, low humidity and dew points.
Like was said before however, cold tires are not the best for traction.
 
jaha2000 said:
i would say that a denser air charge makes more power.
Cooler temps, low humidity and dew points.
Like was said before however, cold tires are not the best for traction.
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Yeah but with snow tires the car in a cold climate would probably win.

I find that my car hates humid days.
 
You don't want too cold as the air becomes denser, oil is thicker at start etc...usually somewhere in the 65-75F would probably be ideal in terms of testing for 0-60 or whatnot.
 
DeathBUA said:
You don't want too cold as the air becomes denser, oil is thicker at start etc...usually somewhere in the 65-75F would probably be ideal in terms of testing for 0-60 or whatnot.
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Once the engine is warmed up I'd think the air could be as cold as you can get and still not be too cold.
 
Howard said:
Once the engine is warmed up I'd think the air could be as cold as you can get and still not be too cold.
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As someone who has experience driving in -35C weather, when it's that cold out, the engine *never* reaches its optimal temperature. It seems to lose significant horsepower and makes a funny whirring sound. The motor certainly does not sound happy to be running so cold.

I'd say the coldest you can go before this starts to happen is -15C or so.
 
Howard said:
Once the engine is warmed up I'd think the air could be as cold as you can get and still not be too cold.
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Maybe. But I know that fuel efficiency goes up as weather warms, so I'm assuming and maybe I'm wrong that an engine runs better when it's warmer. But I'm no expert.
 
Depends on a ton of factors. I believe generally if you had all things equal, colder air tends to offer more power but warmer tends to offer a bit better fuel efficiency. With modern ECUs though, I don't know that you'd see much of a difference just because they're going to try to keep the engine in optimal ranges and so it will try to compensate for temp differences.
 
darkswordsman17 said:
Depends on a ton of factors. I believe generally if you had all things equal, colder air tends to offer more power but warmer tends to offer a bit better fuel efficiency. With modern ECUs though, I don't know that you'd see much of a difference just because they're going to try to keep the engine in optimal ranges and so it will try to compensate for temp differences.
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Can't compensate for oxygen content. It's like getting a free displacement boost.
 
Hot air rises thus making your car lighter and if there's one thing Colin Chapman has taught us...it's that lighter is better.
 
JulesMaximus said:
Hot air rises thus making your car lighter and if there's one thing Colin Chapman has taught us...it's that lighter is better.
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It's for this reason I drive with the windows up and heat on year round. I maximize my mpg and also sweat off a pound or two each time I drive, which further enhances my mpg. win/win!!!!1
 
Less dense air also offers less resistance and drag. I was offended to get nearly 30 mpg in my 'stang (2.73 gears, stock, etc) city/highway mix until I figured out the problem was the 5800-8300 ft of altitude I was driving it at. Air+fuel in = power out, after all.

At sea level it delivered a much more rational low 20s mpg-wise.
 
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