Auto Parts: air intakes, cold air intake, factory airbox

Question
Dear Mike Evans

I drive Toyota Ipsum /1998/ with SXM10G model. My car is 2000CC engine. But I'd love to drive powerful vehicle. For the moment, I got financial problems. But saw some youtube videos about air intakes. It gives more HP to the car. It also says cold air intake system. I got some questions about air intakes. 1. Is it possible to install this device to my car? 2. In my country, during the winter time the temperature drops until -30C. Is it ok to install cold air intake? 3. If it is possible, what type of air intake fits in my car? /I'll contact with the dealers as soon as I got know the right type/ 4. How often do I have to change the filter and caring the intake?

Thank you so much. I hope I got the useful information from you.

Sincerely,

Batzorig

Answer
    A cold air intake will give more power, especially in colder weather.  -30 is probably a little too cold, though.  If you were willing to switch back to the original airbox in the winter, a cold air intake could do you some good.  The stock airbox is designed to prevent the air entering the engine from getting too cold or hot.  A consistent temperature makes it much simpler to meet the emissions requirements imposed on the engine.  But colder air is denser, which means that the ECM can add more fuel and make more power.  You won't get a big boost, but it's not unusual to get an increase of 5%, which can be felt in the seat of the pants.  I don't know if anyone sells a kit for this car, as they didn't sell this model in the U.S., but you could make your own.  You  will need a cone-shaped re-usable air filter (as big a one as will fit) and some plastic or aluminum tubing the same size as the inlet to the Mass Airflow Sensor.  It is important that you not disturb the MAF or any of the components between it and the engine.  Just remove the factory airbox and filter assembly and attach the new filter to the inlet of the MAF.  Use tubing to get the filter as close to the outside air coming through the grill as possible.  Don't mount it too low, though, or it will pick up water when it rains.  If you look at some of the cold air intakes advertised on the web, you can get an idea of what it is that you should be trying to accomplish.  Good Luck.