When it comes to car performance, horsepower is one of the primary factors. However, what revolves around “horsepower”? Do they play a great role in a car's capabilities?
As we just referenced above, horsepower does play a great role in a car's performance. Just as they can influence your vehicle's speed directly, they can likewise influence their acceleration times and overall power. In addition, horsepower can also allow for easy towing of your car, while also making it feasible to haul huge loads.
Just as tempting as they might sound, you need to find a balance between them and your vehicle's extra features, such as aerodynamics, weight, and handling characteristics, and also to allow for optimal driving dynamics and fuel efficiency. So, the great question is: how to increase horsepower on a car? With various methods available for increasing the horsepower of cars, some of the most basic ones are:
- Weight Reduction
- Air filter upgrade
- Ignition system optimization
- Performance camshafts
- Exhaust system upgrade
- Turbochargers and Superchargers
- Fuel system upgrade
- Performance chips and Tuners
- Piston and cylinder upgrades
- Engine rebuild
- Using the right fuel
- Maintenance Tuning
Let's quickly go through each method carefully.
Weight Reduction
Without much argument, weight reduction has proven to be one of the quickest and most cost-saving ways to increase your car's speed and make it more responsive. Surprisingly, these methods accommodate two methods of approaching them, which are removing parts or replacing components with lighter alternatives.
The former revolves around removing unnecessary items from your car's trunk. Some might go beyond that, as it leads to the removal of headrests, backseats, and floor mats.
That brings us to the latter, which is opting for a lighter part to replace stock components in your car. This won't only help to reduce your car's weight, but it will also help you stay firm in your position when moving through tight corners on a track.
Related to this, another way you can reduce the weight of your car is by swapping your factory wheels with lighter aftermarket models. Likewise, getting two pairs of carbon-fiber wheels can be expensive, hence getting wheels made out of lightweight alloys is a more affordable alternative.
Air Filter Upgrade
Air filters are an important component that allows your car to run better while also keeping dirt and other unwanted substances out of the engine. As a result, you can expect your car to mix air and fuel in the right way. That is, with clean air, your car has the potential to travel fast while consuming less gas.
As a result, upgrading these filters is a common way to upgrade your car's horsepower. They will also contribute to making your engine stronger. While also allowing more airflow, they likewise help your engine perform well. They add about 3 to 5 horsepower to your car and your car can therefore run faster, drive smoother, and perform better.
Employing a cold air intake system that drives in cooler air, improves your engine's power greatly. As a result, choosing a good air filter and using it appropriately can make a big difference in how your car drives.
Some advantages of cold air filters are that they result in better gas mileage, and also increase the horsepower of your vehicle. In addition, they also allow for improved acceleration.
Ignition System Optimization
Optimizing and upgrading your overall ignition system will also improve your engine's combustion efficiency and power output, hence indirectly adding to your car's horsepower. Most commonly, by replacing them with high-performance spark plugs, you get a stronger, more consistent spark that can lead to various enhancements, like better combustion, which will result in increased horsepower and torque.
Another way is to upgrade ignition coils and wires. As referenced, Ignition coils and wires are an important aspect when it comes to increasing the horsepower of your car. Supplying the needed voltage to the spark plugs will allow for a stronger and more consistent spark. Likewise, the tendency for misfires is greatly reduced, which indirectly and directly increases durability.
Performance Camshafts
The camshaft plays a significant role when it comes to the combustion engine. It serves several essential functions that contribute greatly to the engine's operation. The function of the camshaft is to help control the opening and closing of the engine's intake and exhaust valves at specific intervals. The camshaft's major design includes the cam lobes, and they are positioned to push against the valve lifters. This lobe actuates the valves with the camshaft rotation, and this hereby gives space for the air and fuel to enter the combustion chamber through the intake stroke. Likewise, this also provides space for exhaust gases to get blown off during the exhaust stroke.
Camshafts are an important component when it comes to increasing a car's horsepower. Apart from aiding in contributing greatly to improved intake and exhaust flow, they likewise lead to increased volumetric efficiency and optimized power bands.
Their designation also helps to shift the engine's power band to a higher RPM range. This way, more power is provided at higher speeds. One of the ways camshafts add to this horsepower is through enhanced torque.
Exhaust System Upgrade
Exhaust systems also play a major role in your car's performance. A reduction in the back pressure and an improvement in the exhaust gas flow are the activity that guarantees that. With this, you will easily get an increased horsepower, which will result in a more aggressive sound.
More so, the exhaust manifold or headers can be upgraded. Since this helps in the efficient direction of exhaust gas from the engine cylinder, upgrading it will further optimize exhaust flow, leading to increased power and throttle response. For better understanding, we recommend you read through “Boosting Horsepower: The Impact of Exhaust Headers on Engine Performance.”
If you want to find the perfect exhaust headers for your vehicle, visit Flashark's line of exhaust headers. With a wide variety of options to choose from, you're sure to find an upgrade that will not only meet your performance needs, but also give your car the sound and style it deserves.
Turbochargers and Superchargers
Some devices that are generally known as forced induction systems help to increase the quantity of air and fuel mixture entering an engine. Especially whenever it comes to improving the power and torque of your car. These forced-induction systems are the turbochargers and superchargers.
Turbochargers, on the one hand, spin a turbine employing exhaust gas. This, then, drives a compressor that forces more air into the engine. Before this process is possible, the engine's waste energy is employed. On the other hand, superchargers are mechanically driven by the engine's crankshaft, and what they do is force air into the engine directly.
In actuality, selecting between these two devices might be a hassle, but what to consider is the desired performance, in which turbochargers take the upper hand. More power and torque are possible at higher RPMs, while superchargers, on the other hand, only provide a more immediate boost at lower RPMs. Cost, engine compatibility, and reliability are some other factors to consider.
Fuel System Upgrade
In achieving optimal engine performance, a well-tuned fuel system is essential. Due to this, you might need to upgrade components within your fuel system. The reason is that they will significantly enhance your car's power output and responsiveness.
What you should know is that a high-performance fuel pump will give your engine a larger volume of fuel. Doing so will provide you with the maximum power. Mostly, it is functional when extra modifications like installing a turbocharger or supercharger are needed. Upgrade Injectors are also another option, as they can allow you to deliver fuel more precisely and efficiently. This will then aid in improving combustion and power output.
Fuel rails are also another part you can tweak, as they help to better distribute fuel to the injectors. When you upgrade them, your injectors will have an adequate supply of fuel. However, it is of utmost importance to ensure that all components fit together and are properly calibrated.
Performance Chips and Tuners
Just like we humans have brains, so do cars. When it comes to cars, the engine control unit (ECU) is the brain. It performs a lot of functions, and most importantly, it helps to manage various engine functions. Tuning the ECU allows your ECU's software to be modified and allows for optimization of your engine's performance. This is possible through the use of a performance chip or by direct reprogramming of the ECU.
To release more horsepower, upgrade the software, and changes will happen to the ECU's parameters, which include ignition timing, fuel maps, and boost pressure (for turbocharged or supercharged engines). This will help you increase horsepower and torque by optimizing engine performance for specific driving conditions.
Likewise, you get to improve fuel economy for better efficiency while also enhancing the throttle response, which will make your car feel more active and engaging to drive.
Piston and Cylinder Upgrades
Using a forged piston is another way to increase the horsepower of your car. Being made from a stronger material than cast pistons, they appear to be more durable and can undergo higher pressures and temperatures.
Upgrading to forged pistons comes with lots of benefits, which include increased engine durability, performance, and enhanced reliability. More so, increasing the compression ratio is also a certified way to increase the horsepower of the car. This means that combining more air and fuel into the combustion chamber will help to give more power. The only problem is that it requires careful tuning, and this may necessitate using higher-octane fuel.
Engine Rebuild
Rebuilding an engine by inspecting its components and replacing any worn or damaged parts can be an excellent way to add more to your engine's performance. Some of the common internal engine upgrades are Camshafts, connecting rods, Pistons and rings, Cylinder head porting and polishing, and engine swapping. If you notice your engine can’t work with repairs, and you are inclined to get a performance boost, engine swapping will be the right decision. That is, you replace your existing engine with a more powerful one. Consider compatibility, performance, and cost when choosing a replacement engine.
Using the Right Fuel
One of the major things that contribute to increasing your car's performance is the use of the right high-octane fuel.
This type of fuel includes premium gasoline, and it offers lots of benefits for your car's performance. Examples of these benefits include increased power, improved engine performance, better fuel economy, and engine protection.
Maintenance and Tuning
While maintenance might be underrated, it goes a long way in ensuring your car's optimal performance, longevity, and safety. It combines a series of checks and procedures to identify and counteract potential issues before they become major problems.
With proper maintenance, your car's performance will increase in a lot of ways. Apart from improving fuel efficiency, it will also cause enhanced engine performance, a longer lifespan, and safety. The major key maintenance that should be done regularly is the oil changes, tire rotations and inspections, brake inspections, fluid checks, and tune-ups. Following this regular maintenance schedule will keep your car working properly, which will cause you to enjoy yourself while driving.
Conclusion
As we have discussed, increasing your car's performance, right from engine modifications to fuel system upgrades and tuning, requires you to implement certain techniques.
However, remember that when modifying your car, you should always consider legal and safety factors, as any slight mistake during upgrades can have significant impacts on performance, fuel economy, and emissions. Consulting with a professional mechanic and considering the legal and safety implications before making any changes is of utmost importance. That said, we wish you the best of luck with the thrill of increased horsepower!
