There are all kinds of things you can do to your vehicle that enhance both its appearance and performance, and the hood scoop has long been considered one of the best ways to do just that. Whether you’ve got a big, beefy truck or a sporty hot rod, a hood scoop adds so much to its aesthetics. But do hood scoops actually add power? Regardless of the answer to that question, a hood scoop is a must have for any aggressive build, but it’s important to know if it actually serves a functional purpose. So, let’s get to the bottom of it!
What Is a Hood Scoop?
Let’s kick things off by actually figuring out what a hood scoop is, for those that might not be familiar. A hood scoop is an opening or otherwise raised section on the hood of a vehicle, designed to allow cooler and denser outside air to enter the engine bay — sometimes even directly into the intake system. Without a hood scoop, the engine bay is typically filled with hot air, which isn’t ideal for performance.
It’s important to note that not all hood scoops are created equal! There are some out there that are purely aesthetic and add no additional function to help with performance at all, let alone add actual power. Other options include classic cowl-induction setups to modern heat-extracting louvers and forced-air scoops, so you have plenty of options available.
Does Cooler Air Mean More Power?
The key concept behind the hood scoop is that engines thrive on cool, dense air. To highlight the actual science behind this concept: colder air contains more oxygen per cubic inch, which allows the engine to burn more fuel and, in turn, create more power. This is why performance mods like cold air intakes, intercoolers and ram-air systems focus on temperature control, and it’s also why the short answer is yes — hood scoops add power!
But again, every hood scoop is different, so it’s important to know what kind of scoop you have and ensure it’s equipped properly. If you add a functional hood scoop to your vehicle, you could potentially see all of the following benefits:
- Increased volume of incoming air
- Lower air intake temperatures
- Slightly pressurized intake at higher speeds
- Improved combustion efficiency
We’ll use one of the most popular choices to give you an example. With a well-executed ram-air scoop, you could see improvements of anywhere from 5 to 15 extra horsepower — and if you have a high-performance vehicle, maybe even more! While it might not sound like much, every little bit counts when it comes to performance tuning.
Function vs. Form
We’ve mentioned it a couple times now, but we want to be sure to hammer down the fact that not all hood scoops are functional. A lot of factory vehicles feature hood scoops, but they’re often completely sealed off or only vent to areas of the engine bay that don’t benefit from the colder air. These hood scoops obviously won’t offer any functional benefits, especially no extra power. If all you’re interested in is the aggressive appearance associated with having a hood scoop, these might be enough for you. But if you’re looking to enhance your build’s power, make sure you’re getting a functional hood scoop.
Now that you know a little more about hood scoops and what they can do for you, we’d be happy to help you figure out which kind would be the right choice for your build. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the different types of hood scoops available, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us right here at Glover Customs. We look forward to hearing from you!
