No matter what power and torque a car engine develops, many drivers want more. There are several ways to increase the power of an atmospheric engine, but each modification to the original car construction has pros and cons. The Indy Auto Man mechanics from the Indianapolis used car dealer center share insights on engine tuning and figure out possible disadvantages.
Increasing engine power can significantly enhance your vehicle’s performance, making driving more enjoyable and responsive. Various methods, such as optimizing air intake and upgrading exhaust systems, can contribute to improved output. For those looking to delve deeper into engine modifications and performance enhancements, there are additional resources available that provide comprehensive guidance and insights.
Is it always possible to increase power?
As a rule, the engines of ordinary cars have a design safety margin. That is, they are ready to withstand higher loads than specified by the manufacturer. Therefore, it is almost always possible to increase power – the only question is the amount. In addition, sometimes manufacturers limit engine power not because of its design but for economic reasons. In short, one way or another, there is always a reserve. The question is whether you will feel the changes. Maybe it is better to buy a car in Indiana with appropriate characteristics? Much depends on the amount of modifications.
What are the options for increasing engine power?
Methods for increasing engine power can be divided into two directions, conventionally called software and mechanical. The software includes the currently popular chip tuning and mechanical – modifications using new parts. This is the installation of a supercharger on a naturally aspirated engine, increasing the engine displacement, replacing the power unit components with stronger and lighter ones, optimizing the intake and exhaust tracts, introducing a more efficient fuel system, and so on.
Depending on the tuning budget or the desire of the car owner to interfere with the engine design, one can choose an option for upgrading the engine or combine several in various combinations. In addition, most mechanical modifications are only possible with software upgrades.
Strengthen the power of a naturally aspirated engine
The simplest option is the above-mentioned chip tuning. Changing the engine control program allows increasing power by adjusting the factory algorithms for the operation of the power unit. Software tuning is especially relevant for cars with the engine installed on different modifications (or related models). One can use firmware from a more powerful unit to increase the power of the basic version of the engine. At the same time, you should not count on considerable changes in the power of an atmospheric engine due to chip tuning. Changing the control program alone will give 10% of the increase at its best. If you need more power, you will have to do mechanical modifications to the car.
How to increase engine power in other ways?
A relatively simple option is to optimize the air intake into the cylinders and the exhaust gas outlet due to a new exhaust. In this case, so-called “zero resistance” air filters are popular. As for the exhaust, you can, for example, get by with installing a tuning manifold. However, this will not help to seriously increase the power since naturally aspirated engines are tricky to force. You can completely “overhaul” the engine, replacing the components with lightweight and more durable ones, but this is a very expensive way to add “horses”. A nitrous oxide injection system will provide a short-term increase in power, which became popular after the release of the Fast and Furious franchise. When heated, nitrogen oxide N2O decomposes into oxygen and nitrogen, which increases the proportion of oxygen in the fuel-air mixture by about a third. As a result, you can supply more fuel, briefly adding the power. But if you do not participate in races, there is no point in such engine tuning. In addition, the motor is not structurally designed for such loads, and its service life can be reduced by an order of magnitude.
How to increase engine power if the dynamics are fundamentally unsatisfactory?
One option is to turn an atmospheric engine into a turbocharged one, equipping the power unit with a supercharger. However, this is also not a budget option. In addition, not every engine can withstand such modifications – the engine’s resources will be significantly reduced. To avoid this, in addition to a turbocharger, you will need many other parts that are more durable than standard ones – which also dramatically increases the cost of such a project.
There are ways to increase dynamics that do not affect the engine. After all, the engine is only a supplier of traction, with an “intermediary” in the form of a transmission. For example, you can change the differential to another one, with a reduced or increased gear ratio. You can also change the gears in a manual transmission. Of course, such tuning only affects the nuances of dynamics – it improves acceleration or increases the maximum speed. But other characteristics inevitably deteriorate.
Pros and cons of increasing engine power
Like any car modification, increasing engine power has its pros and cons. Moreover, there will be more negative aspects for the average car owner. A modern vehicle for public roads is already the result of the work of a large team of qualified engineers. And, as a rule, it harmoniously combines parameters sufficient for an ordinary driver.
True, sometimes the increase is noticeable on the power stand but is almost not felt on the road.
Engine tuning is not cheap, and the modification costs are not everything. You will have to spend money on more expensive fuel, carry out maintenance more often, and not save on consumables. Add to this the deterioration of environmental characteristics due to a change in the composition of exhaust gases. If you are not concerned about the environment, remember that forcing the engine in most cases is accompanied by increased fuel consumption, more intensive engine wear, and a significant reduction in the life of the power unit – including the gearbox. At the same time, your car will be removed from the factory warranty, unless you use the services of a large well-known tuning studio.
Plus, large-scale engine modifications are changes to the design of the vehicle, which means you will have to go a long way to obtain new documents. And it is not at all a fact that experts will recognize such alterations as legal and permissible, which means that the car will not pass the technical inspection, that is, you will have problems at least with its sale to a new owner.
Therefore, those who feel that their engine power is not enough should better consider buying another vehicle. Taking into account attractive prices on the used car market and advantageous trade-in offers.
