Your car is great. You like the sound system, the cushy interior and you’ve had it long enough to get that nice indentation in the seat – perfectly made for you. You’ve been maintaining it as you should, with regular oil changes and trips to the car wash. But wouldn’t it be nice if it were a little bit faster? If you could compete with those younger generations that stop next to you at a stoplight?
There are five easy things you can do to pep up your commute or add a little spice to your trip to the grocery store without breaking the bank.
Add a cold-air intake
This is the first thing everyone always suggests when you say you want to up your horsepower. The idea is that cold air is denser, so more air gets into the cylinders to mix with the fuel. More air means more combustion and more combustion means more power. This only works if the air intake is the limiting factor, however. If your engine is already sucking in big breaths of cool, fresh air, then try one of our other tricks.
Cat-back exhaust
No cats need be harmed in the increasing of one’s horsepower. This means that you straighten the pipes from the catalyst in the exhaust tubing to the back of the car, at the bumper. This will loosen up the entire system pushing the exhaust gases out easier meaning more room for more air and fuel, and more air and fuel means more power.
High-flow catalyst
When cars were first required to have catalytic converters, manufacturers rushed to slap them into place. They didn’t do one’s performance any favors, although they did help the air we breathe, not to mention they smell terrible when they start to burn out. It took decades for them to improve, with even cars from the ‘80s and ‘90s getting gummed up in the converters.Try this: swap an old catalyst out for a modern aftermarket high-flow number and feel the difference in the pedal. Do this along with a cat-back exhaust for the biggest bang for your buck.
Tire tricks
Believe it or not, there are a bunch of small modifications you can make to your tires to increase the feel of power in your car. Some experts suggest starting with a more aggressive alignment. Dial out the toe-in that manufacturers specify so that the wheels are pointed straight ahead for more straight-line speed. If this is a little too advanced, back it up and make sure your tire pressure is just right for your car. The pressure can change with the weather, so it’s something you might want to check often. You can always get a new set of lightweight wheels to mount those short tires on, too, but be careful here if you’re pinching pennies. A set of carbon-fiber wheels may lighten your load, but they’ll lighten your wallet by far, far more.
