Does Intake Air Temperature Affect Engine Power?

[VanGabrielle]

Intake air temperature does affect engine power. Here is the analysis of why intake air temperature affects engine power: 1. If the intake air temperature is too high, it will lead to reduced engine power and may also cause engine knocking. 2. Knocking is a highly detrimental abnormal combustion phenomenon in engines. When the piston moves upward to compress the air-fuel mixture, both the pressure and temperature of the mixture increase. If the mixture ignites before the spark plug fires, this is known as knocking. 3. During knocking, while the piston is moving upward, the burning air-fuel mixture pushes the piston downward, resulting in decreased engine power and increased fuel consumption. 4. Severe knocking can even cause connecting rod deformation and piston cracking. If this occurs, the repair costs would be extremely high. Therefore, to enhance power output, it is advisable to lower the intake air temperature.