Cold air THRILLS

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by ZR2

I would disagree with the statement that Turbo cars are slower when it is cold. Just the opposite is true. I bought new a 1986 Buick Grand National. Look it up if you don't know it, but with denser air they are stuffing more air and as long as injectors can handle it more gas into the chamber for firing. I don't have any proof, but it use to be said that every 1 degree drop was worth 1 more horsepower in the Turbo Grand National.. Ice on the plenum etc. I can tell you 1st hand that it was faster.

Yup!

Air volume expands and contracts with heat. Air pressure and volume being equal, there is more O2 molecules in cold temperature air than there is in hot temperature air. Water injection was a top secret "trick" in WW-II fighter aircraft - that and (drum roll plz) intercoolers cooled the air volume. Internal (water injection) and external (supercharging) of the combustion chamber air = more power. Cold air intake and power increase is "for real"! Too bad the friction coefficient of the tires is going the other way of air density as temps drop.