While mudding is a fun off-road activity, it can take its toll on your vehicle if you put the pedal to metal and head for the biggest mud hole! Some precautions need to be taken to make sure your vehicle will be able to handle the mud and keep on going! The question of whether you can go mudding with a cold air intake is, therefore, a sensible one to ask.
Mudding with a cold air intake is possible, but there are a few things you need to look out for when taking your truck into the mud.
Some of you reading this post may be unsure what mudding or, indeed, what a cold air intake is, exactly. We will take a few minutes defining them so we are all on the same page understanding what they are all about.
What Is Mudding?
Mudding is known by various names including mud racing, mud bogging, or mudslinging. Essentially, it is an off-roading activity where you find the muddiest environment you can and drive through it!
Many would say it is just an excuse for grown men to act like boys and play with their toys in the mud! People who make comments like this are probably jealous of the fun that others are having roaring in the mud!
Driving in mud takes a whole new set of driving skills! It can take some time to master the skills required to maneuver your vehicle through the mud at a slow speed let alone while going as fast as you can!
You will get stuck in the sticky stuff many times while you are learning these skills, but have an enormous amount of fun while doing it!
What Is A Cold Air Intake?
I am sure you are all aware that air is a key ingredient for the correct functioning of the internal combustion engine! Obviously, the quality of the air that is drawn into the combustion chamber will affect how efficiently the fuel is burned. This will, in turn, affect the performance of the engine.
It is common practice to have the air intake under the hood or the car, but this has some disadvantages. The air drawn in for under the hood is hot, due to the proximity of the engine which is heating up the air. There is also the possibility of dust and other contaminants being in the air around the engine. These contaminants, if not filtered out properly can reduce the efficiency of your engine.
The theory around a cold air intake is to draw in air that is outside the engine compartment. Vehicles with this type of air intake system will often have a vent on the side of the vehicle near one or both of the front doors or behind the front grill. Cold air from outside the engine bay enhances fuel burning capability and is generally cleaner air.
From the description above about mudding, it is important that your cold air intake the boxed variety. This will ensure the filter is protected from sucking in water which will get into your engine and pretty much destroy it!
If your vehicle does not come standard with a cold air intake, it is a fairly easy and inexpensive item to have fitted to your vehicle as an aftermarket addition. One word of caution, however, if your vehicle is still under warranty, you need to check if adding the cold air intake will invalidate the warranty.
Warranty issues aside, adding a cold air intake system to your truck will definitely have a positive effect on performance, so it is well worth the effort.
Can You Go Mudding With A Cold Air Intake?
Now that we are clear on what mudding entails and what a cold air intake does for your off-roading truck, let’s tackle the answer to the question.
Due to the nature of cold air intakes, the opening through which air is drawn is exposed somewhat to the elements. Air intakes that are under the hood are protected to a large extent from mud and water that are slung up by the wheels.
If you are participating in mud racing, you not only need to worry about the mud you are kicking up but also the mud that the other vehicles around you are slinging around!
Mud getting into the cold air intake will largely depend on several factors.
- How deep is the mud? Shallow mud is unlikely to cause you a problem unless it is flung from a truck next to you. If the depth of the mud is a foot or less, it is probably pretty safe. Mud that is deeper than this, may cause you some issues. The type of mud is also a factor to bear in mind.
- Type of mud. Thick clingy mud is less likely to get thrown large distances and therefore may be less of a problem. Watery mud, particularly if it is deep, is easier for the tread on the tires to throw around causing a potential problem.
So, if your vehicle has a cold air intake system, does it preclude you from having a glorious day in the mud? Of course not, but you will need to take a few precautions and follow a few guidelines to get your vehicle home intact.
To limit the chance of water or mud entering the system, you can consider the following potential solutions.
- Depending on your cold air intake system, it may be possible to fit a pre-filter. This filter is situated close to the intake opening, acting as an extra layer of protection, particularly against the inflow of mud and debris.
- A system that opens on the side of the vehicle may allow for a cowling to be fitted. This will allow you to change the direction of the opening to protect it from the bulk of the mud splatter.
- Install a bypass valve to prevent water from being sucked into the motor.
- Check the depth of the mud holes you will be driving through and don’t attempt ones that will exceed the capabilities of your vehicle.
These solutions will help in mitigating the problem, but the only way to be sure of protecting your engine would be to have a snorkel fitted. While this involves additional cost, it is definitely a cheap price to pay compared to replacing an engine!
Conclusion
So, can you go mudding with a cold air intake? The answer to the question is yes! You do, however, need to know the limitations of your vehicle and exercise wisdom the next time you take your truck into the mud!
As fun as mudding can be, it is always advised to exercise caution and to make sure you take the necessary precautionary measures to avoid any short or long term damage to your truck or off-road vehicle.
You also need to ensure that you have the right equipment in your recovery kit in case you have an issue with your 4×4 or truck while out mudding or if you get stuck. You can check out our recommended gear for mudding here to help you out of those sticky situations.
For more on how mudding can damage your truck and how to do the necessary to avoid it, check out my article on it here.
For any doubts or queries about your mudding and other off-road adventures, be sure to check out this space for all the advice, tips, tricks, and hacks you need to make the most out of your off-roading adventures.
Happy mudding!
