What Are Velocity Stacks and How Do They Affect Vehicles? Plus Benefits

Did you know there is a cheap way to improve airflow and draw out 3% more power from your engine? Using velocity stacks does both. While they seem complex, velocity stacks are simple modifications.

What Are Velocity Stacks and What Do They Do?

Velocity stacks, also known as intake trumpets, are trumpet-shaped air intakes for the engine. Their shape makes the airflow to the intake smoother, allowing the most air possible to flow through the given intake volume to generate more power for the engine.

They replace the ducting from the airbox to provide cleaner airflow and increase engine efficiency by sucking more air and acting as a resonating pipe that adjusts the pressure pulses in the intake plenum. The smoother and increased airflow burns more fuel to increase engine power.

Different velocity stack lengths help optimize air intake. The intake pulses help create a positive pressure over the intake valve that gets disrupted when the valve opens, creating a larger charge of air that enters the cylinder.

The power drawn out by velocity stacks makes them an excellent addition to high-revving engines. They further accentuate the already powerful torque of these engines, making velocity stacks a popular mod on race cars.

Velocity Stacks on High-Revving Engines

High-revving and more powerful engines suck in more air than a long-stroke unit because the amount of air that passes through the engine is proportional to the engine speed. That means installing velocity stacks will help you get more power out of your high-performing engine without breaking the bank.

They increase power by 3% and are cheaper than other mods that draw out power, such as ECU flashes, superchargers, or turbos. Velocity stacks are simpler than other options because you only have to install them to draw the power out.

Advantages of Velocity Stacks

The benefits of installing velocity stacks on your vehicle include better airflow, intake length change, reduced turbulence, optimized air-fuel mixture, improved throttle response, enhanced power output, and better sound.

Better Airflow

As mentioned, the shape of velocity stacks makes the airflow to the intake smoother, letting more air through the intake volume. The different lengths also optimize air intake, creating a positive pressure over the intake valve.

The intake runner’s length tunes the pulses of air rushing through the intake. With the right length, the pulses of air will rush toward the intake valve on the cylinder for a supercharging effect called “resonance supercharging.”

Resonance supercharging lets more air and fuel be packed into the cylinder. However, supercharging occurs part of the time at certain engine speeds, depending on the frequency of the pressure wave.

Changes the Intake’s Length

Installing velocity stacks on your car will also change the length of your intake resulting in better engine performance. Race cars use this to increase power at specific RPMs (rotation per minute).

The shorter length gives more power at high RPMs, while longer intakes give more power at lower RPMs.

Enhanced Power Output

Installing velocity stacks helps fine-tune the intake system, improving the engine’s volumetric efficiency. Doing so increases horsepower and torque, giving the vehicle more power than usual.

Each engine has different requirements. For example, the varying RPMs are proportional to how much air the engine needs. Having velocity stacks meets these requirements and gives the engine steady airflow, translating to more power.

Reduced Turbulence

An atmospheric wind will create a turbulent cross-wind that changes the airflow velocity and direction experienced by vehicles.

This leads to continuously varying wind noises inside the car and could even slow the vehicle down if they stir up the air, as it creates vortices and billows that take away energy.

One way to prevent this is by installing velocity stacks to smoothen out the incoming air before it enters the combustion chamber. Not only does it result in more power, but the lack of turbulence makes for a more comfortable drive.

Optimized Air-Fuel Mixture

The improved airflow caused by velocity stacks helps the engine control unit (ECU) optimize the air-fuel mixture in the carburetor or cylinder.

The optimal ratio causes all the oxygen and fuel inside the engine to be consumed during combustion, resulting in harmless water and carbon dioxide exiting the vehicle’s tailpipe.

Improved Throttle Response

The smoother airflow also improves your vehicle’s throttle response, as more air volume and speed increase both horsepower and throttle response at any RPM.

Better Sounds

Velocity stacks are also pleasurable to listen to. They give off a smooth, yet sporty, sound when you drive at high speeds. It’s definitely a head-turner on the road, without being a nuisance to other drivers.