9 Ways To Increase Your Car’s Performance
To be honest, this is the favorite topic for every car owner out there. It is understandable to see various promises and assumptions about boosting the car’s performance. We have gasoline additives, miracle lubricants, fire-injector spark plugs, new-fangled carburetors, as well as countless miracle additions. All of these make car enthusiasts fantasize about the right paths to speed and power, yet all of them bring disappointment. Just like burning fat drugs, there is nothing free and easy, especially in the world of automotive. Remember, engine systems are mostly about math and physics, along with mechanical motion. So in order to boost the working performance, we need to get more twist from the system, as well as increase the rotary monkey motion. In this article, we will provide you with 11 easy methods to raise the horsepower of your vehicles, as well as the performance of the engine.
Synthetic Lubricants
One of the most significant ways to raise the performance of the vehicle is the synthetic lubricants. Just as simple as it sounds, the synthetic lubricants reduce frictions, which prolong the life of the engines. To be more specific, it creates much better lubrication than normal conventional oils do. Another bonus point of this lubricant is that it does not break down in high-stress and high-heat conditions. This is also the reason why racers use it a lot in performance applications. Even when the weather is cold, synthetic lubricants are still stunning with the protection. The most significant example has to be Mobil 1™ synthetic motor oils. Thís motor oil’s purpose is to be more robust when it comes to low-temperature pumpability, high-temperature stability. It can also protect the engine against deposits.
Velocity Stack
For some new car owners that are unfamiliar with the terms of velocity stack, it is a device that can improve airflow. With the shape of a trumpet, it is fitted to the air entry of the carburetor, fuel injection or intake system. By using the velocity stack device, car owners can raise horsepower, increase airflow, as well as reduce induction turbulence.
Ignition System
Another way to boost the car’s performance is timing check the ignition system. Be honest, we do not check the ignition systems until the “Check Engine” light illuminates and a misfire appears. It is totally understandable. After all, this system has become low maintenance for the last 20 years. However, it is still a part of the whole car maintenance, along with the spark plugs. So when you need to change the part for ignition, choose the best, most high-performance ignition components for your dear vehicle. They will raise the performance of the vehicle significantly. Some of them are ignition wires, meaning coils, as well as platinum tip spark plugs.
Many people do not know this, yet upgrading the original equipment is the best way to boost the performance of the engine, and in this case, boosting the ignition operation. The lackluster light off, or a misfire means your car is losing power and wasting fuel. The rise in tailpipe emissions is also an issue. Therefore, no matter how small they might be, a potent spark from a high-energy ignition system makes a huge difference in power.
This leads back to the ignition timing. It is a power dynamic that you should be in a car since too much of it will destroy the engine. In case when you are using conventional distributor ignition systems, it is our recommendation to set total timing at 2500 rpm with dyno pull or a road test. After that, you should move timing one degree at a time, starting from 33 to 34 then to 35 and so on, along with the dyno testing. Remember to never take total timing beyond 36 degrees BTDC.
Larger Throttle Body and Injectors
Larger high performance throttle body increases horsepower, and therefore, raises the performance of the whole vehicle. And this totally depends on the type of engine you have. Normally, you can gain around 10 to 20 more horsepower along with comparable torque. Yet again, you do not want to buy a huge throttle body. If you go too large, you will lose power since not every engine can be suitable with a larger throttle body. Not to mention, you need higher-flow fuel injectors to use a larger throttle.
So if you want to boost the performance of the vehicle using this method, it is the best to bring your car to a reputable dyno tuner. They will make adjustments to fuel as well as spark curves, which adjust your throttle body and injector upgrade.
Cylinder Head
Another way to increase engine power is related to cylinder head. In the past, cylinder head selection was the best solution for car owners looking to increase engine performance. With an excellent cylinder head swap, you can get more power. Yet only if you adjust it correctly. The first and most important rule is that bigger doesn’t always mean better. In order to make a decision, you need to check valve and port size, along with flow numbers. With the purpose of boosting power, car owners need torque for intake velocity, along with compatible exhaust scavenging. A camshaft profile is also quite essential. The reason for this is that it works well with the cylinder heads, therefore providing good overlap as well as nice flow-through momentum. A huge valve and monster ports are not needed to have.
Experiment with Jet Size
As we all know in dyno testing, jet swaps can go either way when it comes to power. To be more specific, either too much or too little can mean power losses. And in order to fix this, you should pick up a Holley jet kit. The method is to go up one jet size at a time and see what you get. In the case when you lose power as you go richer, you need to return backward, one jet size at a time. In order to determine course of action, car owners need to go with a spark plug reading right after a shutdown from wide-open throttle.
Dual-plane Manifold
Dual-plane manifold is one of the few ways to raise the car’s performance. In order to boost the performance of the vehicle, there are more ways than just horsepower. Acknowledge torque is one of them. In fact, if you are usually driving on the street, then torque is your cup of tea. And a single-plane intake manifold is not a good solution.
A dual-plane intake manifold, on the other hand, provides great low to mid-range torque. It also allows the engine to breath at high rpm. To make it simple, dual-plane manifold’s long intake runners give you torque, while high ceilings deliver horsepower. Another thing to keep in mind is to consider the use of a carburetor spacer. You can get even more torque out of a traffic light.
Fuel line Right-sizing
You can also Increase horsepower with the right size of fuel line, and this is serious. In fact, it is surprising how often we get this one wrong. It is impossible to get 450 horsepower from a 5/16-inch fuel line. With a high-performance engine, you’re gonna need a lot of fuel. Remember, minimum fuel line size should be around 3/8-inch for most applications. And when horsepower rises above 500, you need a 7/16-inch fuel line.
Compression
Increasing compression is one the most productive ways to raise horsepower, therefore increase the performance of the car. And it goes without saying that if you build compression into your engine, you build directly in power. In the last century of internal combustion, this is by far the most common sense way to make power. Then why does everyone just use this method? The problem might be in the way you raise compression. Both Compression and cam selection go hand in hand in this aspect. Not to mention, cam selection also affects cylinder pressure or working compression.
If you are having trouble building compression and cam selection, you should ask the engine builder. The professional can give the best advice to you. There is one thing to keep in mind: The compression beyond 10.0:1 these days can cause spark knock, pre-ignition and detonation. Car owners should also watch for fuel and spark curves while the bumping compression is happening.The pump gas can be more dangerous than you think, so always be careful. If you are willing to spend more on this, it is always good to purchase high octane and smog-legal unleaded fuel.
