Cold-air intake for 850 "non-turbo" / air-filters.

Hello,

Can cold-air intake (ram-air) for a 1997 850 "non-turbo" Volvo improve
mileage; yet leave horsepower unchanged?

Any recomendations for innovative air-filters that allows ample air
intake; which can also improve mileage/performance? By any chance,
would such air-filters be special order (not available at most auto
supply stores)?

Thank-you

 

The performance depends on how you drive it. You could do modifications
that (in theory) add 500 horsepower and still drive it such that
performance is unchanged.

You may achieve some tiny improvement in economy and/or performance by
installing a cold air intake, but it is unlikely to be anything you'd
notice. There are many other more effective ways to improve economy, the
easiest is to add a few psi to your tire pressure.

 

next important is probably to adjust your driving habits so you can reduce
braking. Means enough distance to the car in front of you, stepping off the
accelerator earlier where you know a speed limit is coming. Braking equals
throwing money right away which you have invested before into buying fuel meant
for producing mechanical energy.
Franz47