Replace your car's stock intake with a cold air intake to increase horsepower and fuel efficiency. Swap out your exhaust system with higher flowing parts to maximize your engine's performance. Opting for higher-performance tires, shocks, springs, and brakes can significantly improve your car's performance.
- High-Flow Cold Air Intake System. One of the first aftermarket parts you should consider when you're aiming for better gas mileage is an air intake system. ...
- Cat-Back Exhaust System. ...
- Performance Chip or Tuner. ...
- Performance Suspension Kits.
Should you upgrade your car’s engine?
If your engine and wallet can both support his upgrade. By “forcing” in more air, you can mix more fuel and output more power. They are easier to install than their cousin the Turbocharger, and give you more instant gratification when you step on the gas.
How can I get better fuel mileage on my truck?
With the price fuel trending upwards, truck owners are looking for as many ways as possible to get better fuel mileage. You've probably already tried the simple things you can do to suck more miles out of a full tank, like avoiding unnecessary idling, eliminating quick accelerations, and making sure your tire pressure is correct.
How can I improve my car’s performance?
One upgrade that can deliver power and mileage benefits with minimal effort is a tuner or flash programmer. They can improve performance by modifying the computer’s fuel and timing calibrations; just hook one up to your vehicle’s diagnostic port, choose a tuning level, and press a button.
How can I increase my car’s horsepower and torque?
Reflash your vehicle’s computer These devices reprogram your cars computer, allowing for more horsepower, torque, and even better gas mileage. Depending on the engine, you can see some pretty respectable gains this way.
Can you modify a car to get better gas mileage?
Fuel magnets claim to increase the efficiency of your vehicle by breaking up fuel molecule clusters into smaller, more combustible fragments. Simply place the magnets around your fuel line about two inches from the engine, so they say, and you'll instantly see a 24% improvement in MPG.
What modifications increase MPG?
8 Mods To Increase Fuel Economy You Might Not Think OfThink Aerodynamics. Our first mod involves rethinking the way your car travels through the environment. ... Consider your tire choice. ... Get Grounded. ... Oil Swaps. ... Ditch The Belt. ... Catch up on maintenance. ... Increase performance. ... Tune the ECU.More items...
Can you increase a cars mileage?
Monitor the traffic ahead and "time" stoplights to maintain momentum and avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking. Observe speed limits. Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy 7 to 14 percent.
What aftermarket parts help fuel economy?
Install These 4 Aftermarket Parts to Improve Your Gas MileageHigh-Flow Cold Air Intake System. One of the first aftermarket parts you should consider when you're aiming for better gas mileage is an air intake system. ... Cat-Back Exhaust System. ... Performance Chip or Tuner. ... Performance Suspension Kits.
How can I double my MPG?
Drive More EfficientlyGo Easy on the Pedal. Speeding, braking, and rapid acceleration waste gas. ... Slow Down. Gas mileage efficiency tends to decrease above 50 miles per hour. ... Leave Extras at Home. ... Use Cruise Control (When Appropriate) ... Turn off the Car. ... Check Tire Pressure. ... Replace Spark Plugs. ... Check the Alignment.More items...
At what speed car gives best mileage?
7. The Energy Saving Trust says that the most efficient speed you can travel in a car in terms of achieving the best fuel economy is 55-65mph. Any faster, though, and the fuel efficiency decreases rapidly. For example, driving at 85mph uses 40% more fuel than at 70mph (oh, and it's illegal too).
Does premium gas increase mpg?
Premium gas has a higher resistance to engine knock in luxury and performance vehicles with turbochargers or high-compression engines, so you can hit that horsepower smoothly. Additionally, premium gas can increase fuel efficiency, potentially bringing better gas mileage for longer while decreasing emissions.
Does a cold air intake improve gas mileage?
Cold air intake - Cold air intakes will improve fuel efficiency, only to the extent that they are actually delivering colder air versus your stock intake. Air cleaners and filters - Air cleaners and filters generally don't produce much in the way of fuel economy.
How to get more gas out of an engine?
The most effective way to do that is by replacing the factory exhaust system with a high-flow, cat-back exhaust system.
What is the next step up in a car?
The next step up is a cold air intake system. It replaces the restrictive factory air intake with a high-flow filter element and a larger diameter intake tube to draw in colder, denser air. Cold, dense air holds more oxygen—oxygen the engine can use to make more power.
How does an O2 sensor affect mileage?
Two other components that affect performance and mileage are the oxygen sensor and the catalytic converter. The oxygen sensor monitors oxygen levels in the exhaust stream and sends the information to the Engine Control Module (ECM), which adjusts the engine’s air/fuel ratio based on that data. If you notice a drop in mileage and performance between the 50,000 to 75,000 mile marks, the sensor is the most likely culprit. When it fails, the computer goes into a default mode that uses a richer air/fuel ratio (more fuel than air) to protect the engine from damage. New O2 sensors are inexpensive and relatively easy to replace.
How to keep fuel system clean?
Keeping the fuel system clean—especially the injectors—will go a long way to maintaining performance and mileage. Clean injectors atomize fuel better , improving economy and performance. Changing the fuel filter religiously and using a high-quality fuel system cleaner at regular intervals will keep dirt and junk from clogging the injectors’ tiny openings.
Why is ignition important?
Ignition and Electronics. A strong, reliable spark is a must for efficient combustion. An ignition that misfires or puts out a weak spark will cost you power and mileage due to incomplete combustion of the air/fuel charge in the combustion chambers.
Why use a high flow throttle body?
That helps improve low and midrange power and fuel mileage. High-flow throttle bodies are more suited to engines that have upgrades like an intake manifold, cam or cylinder head swap or high-flow exhaust, etc. to better take advantage of the extra airflow.
Why do cars have cat backs?
It features larger-diameter pipes and free-flowing mufflers to better scavenge exhaust gas from the engine. Better exhaust scavenging lets the engine pull a fresh air/fuel charge into the cylinder heads more quickly, which improves both power and mileage. A cat-back will make your car sound pretty cool, too.
How to make your car run better?
Modifying your car to increase its performance will do you very little good if you fail to stay on top of the required maintenance that keeps your car running smoothly. By changing your oil regularly, ensuring your tires are properly inflated, and following the recommended schedule of service for your vehicle, you can make your vehicle perform better and last longer. Check your vehicle’s owner manual for recommended service at different mileage points. Some cars may require timing belt or chain adjustments or fluid changes at specific mileage markers to ensure the vehicle continues to run as it was designed.
Why do people modify cars?
Many people choose to modify their cars to improve their performance , and there’s no shortage of modification options for the car enthusiast. Some fundamental steps you can take to improve the performance of your car include maximizing the efficiency of the air and exhaust flow and replacing suspension components to improve handling.
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What is a tune up?
Professional “tune ups” that include air and fuel filter changes, spark plugs, and even transmission fluid and filter changes are a great way to keep your vehicle running properly. Ensure your tires are inflated to their recommended pressure to improve fuel economy and extend the life of the tire. ...
How to make your car's exhaust flow higher?
Purchase a higher flowing exhaust. If the intake is how an athlete (your car) breathes in as it runs, the exhaust is how it breathes back out. There are a number of options available to you when it comes to installing higher flowing exhausts. Many people opt to install a catalyst-back aftermarket exhaust, which replaces the piping from your catalytic converter (s) to the muffler. Higher flowing catalytic converters, front pipes and even exhaust manifolds are all also common modifications. Replacing the entire exhaust system (from exhaust manifold to muffler) will maximize the performance of your engine.
Why is it important to swap tires?
Swap your tires for high performance alternatives. Tires are extremely important to the performance of your car. Good traction determines your car’s ability to put the power it produces to the ground; it’s the difference between getting a good launch and burning your tires at the starting line.
What does replacing the exhaust system do?
Replacing the entire exhaust system (from exhaust manifold to muffler) will maximize the performance of your engine. Larger diameter, higher flowing exhaust systems have a more significant effect on turbocharged vehicles. The increased exhaust flow also serves to increase the efficiency of the turbocharger.
How to get better gas mileage?
6. Check Tire Pressure. A little bit of vehicle maintenance can go a long way in improving gas mileage. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 1.25 billion gallons of gasoline—approximately 1% of total consumption - are wasted each year on underinflated tires.
How much does speeding reduce gas mileage?
Driving at slower speeds can save 22 to 43 cents per gallon. 1. 3. Leave Extras at Home. An additional 100 pounds in your car can reduce gas mileage by up to 1% .
How much does underinflated tires reduce fuel economy?
Tires can lose about 2 pounds per square inch (psi) per month. Each tire that is underinflated by 10 psi reduces fuel economy by about 3.3%. Four tires that are underinflated by 10 psi, then, would reduce a vehicle's fuel economy by a substantial 10%, at an added cost of 31 cents per gallon. 1.
Why do tires wear out?
In addition, the tires can wear out more quickly. 1. Tires that are out of balance (symptom: vibration in the steering wheel) can cause uneven tire wear, which can result in lower gas mileage. Tires should be balanced and rotated according to the vehicle's owner's manual to improve tire performance and fuel economy. 9.
How much does cruise control save?
That's a savings of about 43 cents per gallon. 1.
Is improved gas mileage good for the environment?
Improved gas mileage is good for you, good for your car, and good for the environment.
How to get better gas mileage?
One of the easiest ways to improve your gas mileage is to inflate your tires to the correct pressure. Sadly, a lot of motorists today neglect this part. As long as the wheels are able to turn and the tires maintain good contact with the ground, then it’s already good enough for them. Regrettably, running on low tire pressure increases the rolling resistance of your tires on the ground surface. This robs you of very precious fuel. So make sure to inflate your tires to their correct pressure even before rolling out of your garage. Thankfully, you don’t have to second-guess the pressure levels in your car’s tires. There are now plenty of useful gadgets that seamlessly connect to your mobile giving you real-time information on tire pressure. This way you will know when you need to make the necessary adjustments.
What factors increase fuel consumption?
Since the major factor that can increase fuel consumption is rolling resistance, you might want to check the tread pattern of your tires. The thing is many tire manufacturers today produce tires with relatively low rolling resistance. What this means is that the tires are able to roll along the surface of the road almost effortlessly. This reduction in resistance translates to easier workload for your engine which means, better fuel mileage.
How to clean fuel injectors?
If you’ve been to a jewelry store where they can restore any piece of gem into its former glory, then you have an idea of what we are talking about. Known as ultrasonic cleaning, the process involves immersing your car’s fuel injectors in a tub that is filled with a purpose-built cleaning solution before being subjected to ultra-high frequency sound waves or vibrations. This effectively shakes, loosens, and dislodges carbon deposits that may have accumulated in your fuel injectors. This gives you the full functionality of fuel injectors, enabling you to obtain a more efficient and more ideal fuel-air mixture in your engine. This leads to the more efficient burning of fuel, resulting in significant improvement in your gas mileage. Take note, it’s quite expensive.
How much can you save by refueling in the morning?
Did you know that refueling early in the morning can actually save you a dollar or two ? It may not be that much, but if you’re refueling on twice weekly basis, you’re looking at 5- to 10-dollar savings a month. The reason is quite simple. You take advantage of the physical properties of petroleum products. Petrol stations have their storage tanks buried deep underground. Early in the morning the ground itself is still relatively cold, making the petrol dense. As the day progresses, temperature rises. With each increment in the temperature scale, you can expect the molecules of petrol to be expanding. So, if you’re going to refuel later in the day when the gas has already expanded, the 1 gallon that you put into your car’s gas tank may not be 1 gallon at all. This is because it has already expanded giving you an actual volume of less than 1 gallon.
What is fuel economy?
Fuel economy is more about the right driving practices as well as a basic understanding of how certain physical principles affect the work of an engine. The bottom line is that any increase in engine work load results in an increase in fuel consumption, thus lowering gas mileage.
Does weight increase gas mileage?
Sure, it doesn’t have blood vessels and muscles you’d have to worry about, but the fact remains – any increase in vehicle weight will substantially lead to increased engine workload which easily translates to poor gas mileage . While the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or GVWR of your car will give you a fair idea of just how much is its weight capacity, we really don’t recommend pushing it to the hilt. For example, if the GVWR of your car states that it is about 4,009 pounds, don’t push the weight limit to 5,000 pounds. Doing so will increase fuel consumption.
Does replacing an air filter improve gas mileage?
If the air filter is clogged up with dust, debris, or other particles, your car’s engine will have to work double time to draw air for mixing with fuel. This increases fuel consumption and lowers gas mileage. Replacing the engine air filter can instantly bring you amazing improvement in your gas mileage by as much as 15%.
How much does it cost to adjust a BMW 3 series?
A pair of adjustable mounts would cost about $400 for a BMW 3-series.
Why are cars so highly developed?
These days, cars are so highly developed to meet emissions and fuel-economy standards that it's usually not possible to improve over the factory designs. We said "usually"—cars are still compromises to corporate comfort and accessibility standards.
How much does a 1521 brake pad cost?
Racing brake pad maker Carbotech offers a high-performance version called the 1521 for street cars. It'll cost you about $250 for a complete set on a Corvette C6. Carbotech also makes a varied array of race and autocross high-temperature pads, but warns of excess noise when they're used on the street.
How much does a brake line cost on a Lotus Elise?
A set of lines from Stoptech for a Lotus Elise costs about $100.
How much does it cost to plus size a Ford Focus?
Prices start at about $1300 for plus-sizing a Ford Focus.
Why do cars have air intakes?
While the factory air intakes on most cars are designed to keep the engine clean and free-breathing in all conditions, opening up the path with a fo am filter that doesn't have a stock bug-catcher airbox lets cooler ambient air help the engine produce slightly more power.
Can you improve your car over the factory?
These days, cars are so highly developed to meet emissions and fuel-economy standards that it's usually not possible to improve over the factory designs. We said "usually"—cars are still compromises to corporate comfort and accessibility standards. We've found 10 relatively simple bolt-on components that give you true performance increases without permanent modifications to your car.
How much does a supercharger cost for a 5.7L?
Superchargers are built into or replace the existing intake manifold, so each unit matches exactly to the engine. Meaning, the supercharger that fits a LT1 5.7L won't exactly fit an LS1 5.7L. About the only maintenance issues are keeping it oiled and occasionally replacing the belt. Superchargers range from $1,600 for the very basic kits, to $5,000+ for polished units with high boost pressure.
How much does a turbo kit cost?
That air ignites with an increased amount of fuel, and the result is more horsepower. A complete turbo kit starts around $2,500 and can go all the way to $10,000, depending on turbo size, expected boost pressure, specialized coatings and more.
How does a turbocharger work?
Basically, exhaust gases spin a turbine, which spins a compressor that forces air at high velocity and pressure into the engine. That air ignites with an increased amount of fuel, and the result is more horsepower.
What is a performance brake kit?
A performance brake kit includes upgraded rotors, pads, shims and hardware for installation. The pads have slotted to sweep away grit and gas buildup, so the pad stays in full contact with the rotor. The holes are the old racers saying of “speed holes," adding lightness and increasing heat dissipation. The aggressive street pads deliver stable performance, strong pedal feel and reliability after repeated stops.
Why do you need a larger sway bar?
Larger sway bars are the single best upgrade to keep your performance car flat in the corners or give your family sedan sports car handling without negatively increasing road noise or harshness. A larger diameter bar remains stiff despite the cornering forces, preventing the body lean seen in sloppy suspensions.
Why do air filters make more horsepower?
More air means more horsepower. This simple idea is why performance air filters exist, and why their higher flow rate helps your engine make more power. An air filter can only do so much on its own, so help it out by swapping the restrictive factory intake plumbing for a performance cold air intake.
Can you run nitrous on a drag racer?
That will easily leave two black rubber marks down the entire length of the on-ramp. Keep in mind, while nitrous systems are legal to install in a daily driver, most states ban the use outside of a track, so check your state and local laws before installing. If you're into drag racing, go grab a bottle and get started.
Why are economy cams cut?
But rather than aiming to increase high RPM performance, economy cams are cut to enhance efficiency at lower engine speeds where ecodrivers tend to drive. "Cool" cams may have lower lift, duration and more advanced timing than regular cams, resulting in more low end torque at the expense of high end power.
What is another option for bumpers?
Another option is fabrication/modification of your existing bumper.
Why do cars use light rims?
Auto makers regularly raid the light rims bin when trying to improve a vehicle's fuel economy ratings. Lighter wheels mean less mass to accelerate, which means less energy used. Unit for unit, reducing rotational mass will show greater benefits than reducing static (non-rotating) mass.
Why are side mirrors absent from most high efficiency concept vehicles?
Side mirrors are absent from most high efficiency concept vehicles for a reason: they increase both frontal area and Cd.
Does taking off the front bumper make it stock?
Take it off and your car will not only look stock, but it'll have better aerodynamics.
Do spoilers work for downforce?
Sure, the dealer or that go-fast kid on the corner might've convinced you that spoilers are good for downforce, but in reality, most are merely a cosmetic addition - one that is more likely to add drag than it is to do anything meaningful for handling.
Can OEM racks be removed?
A compromise for OEM racks with difficult to remove side rails/mounts is to remove just the crossbars. Usually this is a simple job.
How to find savings after adding modifications to truck?
Subtract the new dollar amount from the original figure to find your annual savings after adding modifications to the truck.
How to calculate fuel mileage?
Do the Math of Fuel Usage 1 Annual miles driven divided by your truck's average miles per gallon = the total gallons used per year. Do that math. 2 Multiply the answer in Step 1 by the average price of fuel per gallon to determine about how much you spend on fuel each year. 3 Next, estimate how much the modifications will increase your fuel mileage. Be conservative, because the advertisements for each product are usually off. 4 Using the new mpg figure, repeat the calculations in Steps 1 and 2 to estimate how much you'll spend on gas on the modifications. 5 Subtract the new dollar amount from the original figure to find your annual savings after adding modifications to the truck. 6 Now divide the price spent for modifications by the annual cash savings to determine how many years it will take to cover the cost of the modifications.
How to calculate how many gallons of gas a truck uses per year?
Annual miles driven divided by your truck's average miles per gallon = the total gallons used per year. Do that math.
Is it worth it to modify a truck?
The cost of modifications might be a good investment if you are making changes to gain power (which all three updates will provide), because you want to help reduce fuel dependency, or because you want your truck to have a certain look or sound. Take all of those elements into consideration and keep in mind that there are no right or wrong decisions — it's your money and your truck. Do what works for you.
How to improve car performance?
Anything that creates friction in your car’s engine reduces performance. Keep up with and change all of your car’s fluids on schedule. The better condition your car’s motor oil is in , the more it can do for your engine output.
How to increase horsepower in a car?
By increasing the duration and timing of the value openings within the engine , you can increase both horsepower and acceleration in your car. This can be accomplished by installing a performance cam. The downside to this other than the cost is that you create a noisier engine sound while you’re obnoxiously idling in front of your girlfriends house at 2 am, or is that an advantage? You decide.
How does a turbo charger work?
While a supercharger gets it’s power from a belt connecting directly to the engine on the way in, a turbo charger gets it’s power on the way out from the exhaust. They are extremely efficient in the respect that they “recycle” energy from the exhaust stream to power themselves, but do to the nature of this, they create a delay or “turbo lag” in increased energy. With a turbo charger, you’re looking at a 25% increase in hp, even though the peak Hp can be higher than the supercharger.
How to throw more horsepower at your engine?
A quick, cheap and easy way to throw a few more horsepower at your engine is to swap out your air-filter for a high performance one . It allows your engine to “breath” better, kicking in a small amount of additional power. Keep in mind that you need to check your state’s regulations. Not all filters are legal in all areas.
How to make carbon monoxide in car faster?
Installing a free flowing exhaust with larger diameter piping will allow your car to expel exhaust quicker. The faster the car can exhale carbon monoxide, the quicker it can inhale fresh oxygen to make more carbon monoxide.
What is horsepower in a horse?
So to break it down for you, horsepower, a unit of power to define the rate at which work is done. In other words, the power that a horse gives when pulling, or essentially the power needed to raise 550 pounds a distance of one foot in one second, or the power needed to move 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute.
What happens if spark plugs aren't sparking?
If your spark plugs aren’t sparking, your engine is not performing. Not only keeping healthy sparkplugs in your car will maintain it’s performance, upgrading to higher quality spark plugs may also improve it’s performance. Wires are just as important..
