If you are feeling the need for some serious speed it is possible to gain more horsepower in the vehicle you already own. How you do it will depend on how much money you are looking to spend to for more horsepower. There are several specific ways to increase your vehicles horsepower that can work into anyone’s budget. Some options will be do-it-yourself projects, while others may require the professional services of a licensed mechanic.
Here are some options for finding the speed you need:
Check Your Fluids
Transmission fluids and motor oil can affect the performance of your engine. If there is too much heat or friction, you can actually be losing horsepower when moving parts begin to slow down. The engine is working harder and losing speed. Select high-grade lubricants and be sure to change fluids as recommended.
Engine Control Unit
One of the cheaper ways to increase horsepower is to install an engine control unit. The engine control unit is what is the brain hub in today’s vehicles. By installing an aftermarket unit that modifies timing and greater fuel efficiency, you’ll gain more horsepower.
New Intake
This is a common way to add more horsepower to a vehicle. Most auto parts stores carry intakes so you can do the job on your own. Select a cold air intake over a short ram intake as cooler air being drawn away from the engine will create even more horsepower.
Aftermarket Exhaust
Installing an exhaust with a larger diameter than the original one is recommended for achieving more horsepower. Also, having a straight design exhaust improves performance because having fewer bends will yield maximum horsepower. Using aftermarket parts will allow the engine to get rid of exhaust fumes freely. Adding a high-flow catalytic converter will also add to your increased horsepower.
Superchargers/Turbo Chargers
For a dramatic increase in horsepower, you might ant to invest in an aftermarket supercharger or turbo charger. They create forced induction which brings about a large gain in torque and power. Turbo chargers are a turbine that creates pressure in the engine from the fumes of the exhaust. The pressure makes the air become denser and allows for more fuel use, thus creating more power. Turbo chargers are good in smaller engines that can deal with the high levels of compression. Superchargers are used in larger engines and are belt-driven components. Superchargers bring greater horsepower at lower RPMs. Using either turbo chargers or superchargers require modifications to be made to the fuel system that will handle the extra pressure. You can install bigger fuel injectors or fuel rails with return lines.