Traditional air intakes that are found in cars and that are not altered from the factory are usually referred to as Stock Air Intakes.  This word stock is commonly used in the automobile industry.  This means original, un-altered factory installed component.   When we all purchase a car from the dealer and the car is brand spanking new, everything is considered unaltered.  Any component that is altered to provide better performance can no longer be called an original component.

The main purpose for a car to have an air intakes arrangement is that your car requires air to breathe.  Just as we require air to breathe and nourish our bodies, a car's engine also needs air so it can run and move you from one place to another.  Air entering your engine needs to be clean and fresh with very little to no containments.  At the factory, they install from your engine a long tube referred to as the air intakes tube.  This intakes tube is usually constructed of durable plastic to keep the cost down.  At the end of the tube is a filter that is referred to as the air filter.  This filter is required to capture the dirt or debris that may try to enter the intakes tube path to the engine.  These two components together, the intakes tubing and air filter are referred to as the air intakes system.

Car air intakes system allow your car to breathe easier creating more horsepower and greater gas mileage by allowing the outside air to enter into the filter-opening box, pass through the filter, down the intakes tubing and into your engine.  This as mentioned previously, allow for a clean fresh supply of oxygen to enter into the engine producing horsepower and torque.  The only real disadvantage of factory air intakes is that they are usually very restrictive and smaller than aftermarket air intakes systems.  The manufacture wants to control how much horsepower is produced and to be in line with gas mileage figures for that particular automobile.  In addition, an important concern for automobile manufactures is how much noise is entering into the cabin.  The restrictive air intake provides a balance with horsepower, gas savings and reduced cabin noise where the car manufacturer can please many different people with its product.

Key points to remember about Air Intakes:

• Stock means factory installed.
• Air intakes permit your engine to breathe correctly.
• A filter with an intake tube is referred to as an air intake system.
• Manufactures use restrictive air intakes to lessen cabin noise.