Adding an air intake to a 2006 chevt cobalt?

you might see a 1mpg increase, but most likely less than that.

6HP is not much of a gain, but if you add headers and and other small items like these, when you add them up you find a significant gain. It will be worth it.

Cold air intakes are more eye candy than performance items.

You are being very optimistic expecting 6 HP from a cold air intake. In reality, you may get half that.

These intakes may flow a little better than stock. But if you really think about it, how much air does a little 4 cylinder need.

You get very little gains from the so called cold air part. Here’s why. First, if you examine the stock unit, you will see that it draws air from an opening in the radiator core support, so the air is relatively cool.

Second. A cold air intake, even if it has some sort of intercooler, will NOT cool the air any cooler than the ambient outside air temperature. So the incoming air won’t be all that much cooler than the stock unit will.

Third. On a V8, you can expect about a 1 HP gain for every 10 degrees that you can cool the incoming air. So if you could cool the air 50 degrees, you might gain 5 HP. These gains are proportionately less on 4 and 6 cylinder engines. So to get your expected 6 HP, you would need to cool the air an additional 120 degrees cooler than the stock unit. This isn’t going to happen.

You also have to consider that all vehicles built since the mid 70′s require an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve. This device sends a portion of the hot exhaust gas back down the intake manifold. Your engine is designed to run with this hot gas so it is not a problem. But there is no way a cold air intake can overcome this hot gas.

Cold air intakes are eye candy. You won’t hurt anything by putting them on. But don’t expect them to give any serious performance gains. Spend your money elsewhere on something like a nitrous oxide if you are serious about making some power.

Yes.

Helping your engine breathe is a good first step.

Secondly, you might notice better throttle response, another benefit.

Third is the sporty sound it makes. Factory air boxes are designed to keep intake noise at a minimum and often include a resonator to further reduce the sound. The improved airflow from an aftermarket filter often causes a more sporty engine sound that can help you better understand what your engine is doing (rpm) and help you to rev match in a standard car and drive smoother/faster.

An airfilter upgrade will not make a big improvement in power turning your 2.2 into a firebreathing dragster, but it does make more power, is slightly more fuel efficient, and makes an agressive sound (cool) helping you to be a better driver.

Mad Jack is spot on.

Don’t waste your money. You won’t gain much power and you won’t gain fuel economy.

Also DO NOT add a oil based filter in your stock box. The oil will destroy you Mass air flow sensor. How do I know? I have the same car just a 2007 and have done this