[07stanggt]

This may be a stupid question but I know that colder air makes more power. I think i have read that for every 30 degrees you cool the air you make 5% more HP. My question is, is there a point when cold weather will have a negative affect on engine performance though?

Does the tune come into this? I mean i feel like sometimes when its real cold my engine runs rougher than when its nice out... like 70.

[07Bullitt]

dunno but last week it was 15 degrees here and i got mine out and it pulled like a mother from 2-4. first gear i didnt get a damn bit of traction. dont think the temp would effect how your car runs with the tune, if you start goin to the track though you may want to put a cooler thermostat in to help the engine a bit.

[gloryboy]

Cold air does help make more power. It is more dense and therefore gives you a more potent explosion in the cylinder, and it also allows your engine to run more timing....

[06RedfireGT]

I know my Expedition pulls a hell of a lot harder when its cold. At the track though, in cold weather you won't hook up as good.

[LV51FER]

As said, it's denser as the air essentially contracts so you have more oxygen to burn and it also cools the whole process so less chance of detonation.

[1LOUDGT]

I have found 2 factors concerning the 4.6 3v and cold weather.1. When I start my my car if I only turn the key to auxiliary I hear a buzzing and multiple clicking noise. When it stops I start the car and the car runs great. If I just start the car it revs high and runs like shit till it reaches peak operating temp. 2. These engines love cold air.

[07stanggt]

So the to my question is no. There is no point where the power gain from colder air will stop. On a night that its 10 degrees my engine will make more power than i night that its 50 degrees with no change to the tune.

What about a supercharged car that has a intercooler. Are they seeing the same power gains doesnt the intercooler cool the air already to a certain temp.

[Emay]

The intercoolers on charged or turbo'd cars is to attempt and bring the air charge back down to ambient temperature. A turbo/SC car heats the air coming through the head unit, it's unavoidable. So the answer is to intercool and get as close to ambient as possible.

If you thought you saw gains in cold air on NA, jump in any SC car and feel those differences. You'll flip seeing how hard the car pulls right to red line and beyond.

There is a downside for us FI cars though. Cool air, produces more boost. You have to account for that if your not forged and your on the edge of those internals. Otherwise our tiny little connecting rods will air condition the side of the block..

I'm in the process of adding a NX intercooler sprayer on mine, this will allow me to get my air charge colder than ambient even on a 95 degree day. Putting it on a Zex window switch to activate at 3800 and remain on to 6400rpm. I'm all fired up to see the difference in IAT's.

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by Emay The intercoolers on charged or turbo'd cars is to attempt and bring the air charge back down to ambient temperature. A turbo/SC car heats the air coming through the head unit, it's unavoidable. So the answer is to intercool and get as close to ambient as possible. If you thought you saw gains in cold air on NA, jump in any SC car and feel those differences. You'll flip seeing how hard the car pulls right to red line and beyond. There is a downside for us FI cars though. Cool air, produces more boost. You have to account for that if your not forged and your on the edge of those internals. Otherwise our tiny little connecting rods will air condition the side of the block.. I'm in the process of adding a NX intercooler sprayer on mine, this will allow me to get my air charge colder than ambient even on a 95 degree day. Putting it on a Zex window switch to activate at 3800 and remain on to 6400rpm. I'm all fired up to see the difference in IAT's.

I completely agree with this. This past summer, I consistently had my boost level at about 8PSI on the 10PSI pulley. So, doing what any good HP citizen would do, I purchased the 12PSI pulley from Whipple. Now winter hits and I'm pulling a bit over 10PSI with the same 12PSI pulley in the cold weather so I put my 10PSI pulley back on and am perfect at 9-10PSI. Definitely something worth mentioning.

[07stanggt]

Originally Posted by Emay The intercoolers on charged or turbo'd cars is to attempt and bring the air charge back down to ambient temperature. A turbo/SC car heats the air coming through the head unit, it's unavoidable. So the answer is to intercool and get as close to ambient as possible. If you thought you saw gains in cold air on NA, jump in any SC car and feel those differences. You'll flip seeing how hard the car pulls right to red line and beyond. There is a downside for us FI cars though. Cool air, produces more boost. You have to account for that if your not forged and your on the edge of those internals. Otherwise our tiny little connecting rods will air condition the side of the block.. I'm in the process of adding a NX intercooler sprayer on mine, this will allow me to get my air charge colder than ambient even on a 95 degree day. Putting it on a Zex window switch to activate at 3800 and remain on to 6400rpm. I'm all fired up to see the difference in IAT's.

That answer my question thanks.

I said this before i'll say it again, I love your car dude. On your picture though the one on the right with the car at an angle. It looks like you got a wing becuase of the frame of the picture. has anyone ever said that, just food for thought. I know you dont but.

[Emay]

Thanks for the props, and no, no one has ever said that before. Looking at it now it does appear that way.