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Top 15 Ways to Boost Horsepower of Your Car
‘Horsepower’ is a term derived by world renowned engineer James Watt. It is defined as the rate at which the car’s engine is able to run the car. It actually rates the performance of your car and hence plays a very significant role. It also controls the boost fuel efficiency and durability of the car’s engine.
In the modern era, most car manufacturers are focusing on creating engines that produce good power output but at the same time are able to deliver improved fuel economy. Often, car owners modify their car to boost performance so as to enjoy better acceleration.
In the modern era, most car manufacturers are focusing on creating engines that produce good power output but at the same time are able to deliver improved fuel economy. Often, car owners modify their car to boost performance so as to enjoy better acceleration.
Factors Affecting Horsepower
Horsepower of a car’s engine is greatly affected by the functioning of various engine components. The key factors that affect horsepower are as follows:
- Compression Ratio: It is the ratio of the volume between the piston and cylinder head before and after compression in an internal combustion engine.
- Volumetric Efficiency: Volumetric efficiency is the efficiency of the engine with which the engine can move the charge in and out of the engine’s cylinders.
- Internal Losses: No engine is 100% efficient. In the process of combustion, some amount of energy is lost to engine and driveline inefficiencies and idling.
Here are the top 15 ways to boost the performance of your car:
- The first way is to ensure that your car is in a well-maintained condition mechanically. If there is a problem or error in any of the engine’s components or other mechanical parts in the car, the engine will take in more power to accelerate the car. So, if the car is mechanically fit, it will take only the optimum required amount of power.
- You can replace the existing clutch of your car with another that is comparatively stronger as a stronger clutch helps deliver more power to the wheels.
- You can also boost engine performance by upgrading braking and suspension systems. Upgrading brakes will help to increase stopping power and a better suspension will help improve gearing that will in turn help enhance power.
- A high quality engine computer unit sold under a good brand too helps to increase power and tune engine’s performance.
- Use force induction systems such as turbochargers and superchargers to achieve power gain. Turbochargers are mainly fitted on smaller engines to deliver about 50% more power output whereas superchargers are fitted in larger engines to produce astoundingly high power.
- Fitting your car with a cold air induction system can also help gain power to some extent. This enables a larger volume of air to enter the engine and hence enhance power output.
- Engine management programme plays an essential role when it comes to enhancing power. The programme includes a study on how to change the timing of combustion, air-fuel ratio, and maintenance of the turbocharger.
- It is possible to upgrade the exhaust of your car’s engine. This will help the air-fuel mixture in the engine breathe more freely and deliver noticeable power gain.
- More on the turbocharger - Adding a turbocharger to a regular engine is one the best (though costly) ways to boost performance. Turbo kits available in the market these days comprise of an intercooler, a chip, piping, and matching engine manifold.
- It is important to consider the weight of the car while trying to boost horsepower. If the weight of the car is more the engine, it will require extra force to accelerate the car. So, it is essential that you remove all unnecessary items from the interior as well as the trunk.
- Weight of the car can also be reduced by fitting alloy wheels instead of traditional bulky steel wheels, lightweight drive shafts, lightweight crankshaft, and a racing flywheel. This will greatly help reduce the overall weight and thus the inertia of the moving components too.
- Upgrade your car transmission system from 5-speed gear shift to 6-speed. This will help reduce the time required for gear shifts which in turn will save power required for gear changes.
- Introducing advanced oil pressure gauges is also an effective way to increase your car’s power.
- Equipments like tachometer and speedometer should be well adjusted so that they can cope well with varied engine speeds and different gear shifts respectively.
- Upgrade to a free-flow air filter. It is recommended that you buy it from branded automotive stores and replace your existing air filter with it. An upgraded air filter will help filter particles, dirt, and dust more effectively. This will keep the engine clean and healthy.
