| Adding performance modifications to your car can | | | | fact that the more powerful engine has an easier |
| be a pretty daunting exercise. With so many | | | | time of moving the car. And of course, any extra |
| parts available and so many levels of | | | | power gives the speed freak what he’s |
| performance on the market, it’s hard to | | | | after—quickness. |
| even define what people consider performance. | | | | There are many performance air filters to choose |
| For instance, a Corvette pretty much screams | | | | from, but most use the same basic design. About |
| performance right out of the box. Then again, | | | | 30 years ago, K&N developed the cotton-gauze |
| squeezing 10 extra horsepower out of 120-horse | | | | filter media which revolutionized the industry. This |
| Honda motor can also be seen as major | | | | material lets more air pass, traps more dirt and |
| performance boost. | | | | lasts much longer than traditional paper media. |
| Some folks are after the ultimate performance, | | | | Since then, most companies have taken |
| Ferrari and Lamborghini style; others simply want | | | | K&N’s basic design and tweaked it a bit to |
| to improve their existing performance, Hyundai | | | | gain a market foothold. |
| and Saturn style. And of course, performance is | | | | The major difference between air filter brands is |
| relative. What 155 MPH means to one man could | | | | going to be their list of vehicles. Large companies |
| very well be another man’s nightmare; and | | | | like K&N and Green Filters have extensive |
| while one man considers 55 MPG a benchmark for | | | | application lists that include nearly every vehicle |
| performance, it’s a total waste of time to | | | | you can think of. They also produce universal fit |
| another. | | | | options as well as race-specific filters for |
| The one product that all performance seekers | | | | everything from Indy cars to go-carts. |
| can agree on is the aftermarket air filter. It’s | | | | So, when you’re looking for that performance |
| a fact that engines are basically glorified air pumps. | | | | edge, whether it’s speed, torque or mileage, |
| Air gets drawn into the engine where it’s | | | | a performance air filter should be your first stop. |
| heated, exploded and shot out the exhaust. | | | | Your engine will run better, you’ll experience |
| Simple physics dictates that if you can get more | | | | results instantly and installation takes only minutes. |
| air in, you’ll get more air out; which makes | | | | You’ll feel good about the upgrade and your |
| more power in the process. This extra power can | | | | car will thank you for it. |
| be used to improve performance—speed, | | | | There are many air filter companies out there |
| mileage or otherwise. | | | | specializing in performance filters. For the average |
| A more powerful engine not only runs stronger, it | | | | vehicle, it’s best to stay with the big guys like |
| runs more efficiently. So if the mileage miser | | | | K&N, green air filters and S&B. They’re more |
| keeps his foot out of the throttle, the power will | | | | likely to have the filter you need, no matter what |
| translate to increased mileage. This is due to the | | | | you drive. |