Will an Aftermarket Air Intake Improve the Performance of My CR-V?

The Honda CR-V is a small SUV. On a stock CR-V, the engine's incoming air is routed through an air box and a larger filter that keeps the air clean. An aftermarket air intake can be installed on the CR-V as a performance upgrade.

Cold Air Intake

Aftermarket air intakes are commonly referred to as cold air intakes, since they increase the amount of dense, cold air that is delivered to the engine. A larger intake tubing and a larger, exposed cone-style filter let more air in.

Performance Increase

While makers of aftermarket air intakes often make bold claims for the performance increase that results with their intakes, the gain is usually just a few horsepower. This is particularly true in smaller engines like the ones used in the CR-V. While an aftermarket intake may add a few horsepower, it will not provide a dramatic boost in power.

Other Considerations

An aftermarket air intake does usually result in more responsive and instantaneous throttle response. It will also make the engine louder, since the sound of the incoming air is not muffled as much. This may be a good or a bad thing, according to the driver's taste. One potential drawback to an aftermarket air intake is that the incoming air may not be as well-filtered as it is with the stock intake.

References

• Auto Anything: Performance Air Intakes