Which aftermarket air intake is best for my vehicle?
When looking for an aftermarket air intake system you want one that will increase performance and fuel efficiency but continue to protect your engine from dirt and debris.   To evaluate whether an aftermarket is meeting these needs, you should look at all three parts of the air intake system, the air filter, the air filter housing, and the tubing connecting the air filter housing to the engine.

The Air Intake Air Filter
The air filter is designed to protect your engine from dirt and debris.  Dirt and debris ingested in your engine act like sand paper against the cylinder walls.  Over time this will cause a decrease in engine performance and maybe even engine break down.  You can get more detailed information in our filter section, but keep in mind you want a filter that will protect your engine with limited restrictions on air flow.

The Air Filter Housing
The air filter housing is the area that holds your air filter.  Air filter housing comes in three variations:  stock, open element and aftermarket sealed air filter housing.

Stock air intake housings are often a plastic box that seals the air filter.  On the underside of the air box is a hole to let air in and on the upper side of the box is another hole that leads to the intake tube.  In some cases, the stock air box is adequate to provide the protection and air flow you need.  The inlet is set against the wheel well to get non-engine cold air, the air box is sealed to protect the filter from flying dirt and debris, and the air box is designed to provide the engine with plenty of air flow.  In other cases, an aftermarket air intake can replace the stock air box housing to great benefit.