Cold air intakes promise a lot, but do they deliver? Yes, in some ways. Turbo engines also promise extra oomph for your vehicle. It stands to reason that combining the two should beget an extremely powerful engine. The big question is whether you need a cold air intake on a turbo engine. Let’s explore what each mechanism does for your vehicle and whether they’re better together or apart.

Our Take on Cold-Air Intakes

Cold air intakes do what manufacturers say they do—mostly. The devices deliver cool air to the engine, which contains more oxygen than hot air. More specifically, cold air has a high concentration of oxygen molecules because of thermal expansion. Hot air has the same amount of oxygen, but it’s more widely spaced apart. Think of the physical state of ice versus steam!

When cold air intakes bring cool air to the engine, they provide more oxygen in a tighter package. The more air and oxygen the engine gets, the more power it can turn out. That’s all well and good, but what about turbochargers?

The Skinny on Turbochargers

Turbochargers also promise to boost engine power. They operate on the process of compression and deliver fuel to the engine. However, turbos compress exhaust gas as it leaves the engine, then returns it. In principle, this allows more fuel to enter the engine, leading to more power. There is a noticeable upgrade in performance and fuel efficiency, as well as less noise from the engine. However, turbochargers don’t always work immediately—they need a second or two to activate. They also place extra stress on the engine, so you may have to do engine maintenance more frequently.

Better Together?

Let’s get back to the titular question: Do you need a cold air intake on a turbo engine? Whether you have a 6.0 Powerstroke performance turbo or another model, consider the following facts before you add or subtract anything from your engine.

Generally, drivers are divided on the question. Some think cold air intakes won’t serve a turbo engine working with heated exhaust gases. Others disagree, suggesting that it never hurts to have cooler air entering the engine. Excessive heat in an engine reduces its power, so taking in cool and oxygen-rich air is a definite plus. It’s not as if the two processes cancel each other out! Keep in mind that manufacturers may promise more than their devices can deliver, so talk to your mechanic or seek out the experiences of others who have installed cold air intakes on similar vehicles with turbo engines.