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How to Boost Your Car's Horsepower
Automakers are usually more eager to improve gas mileage and keep maintenance costs low than to maximize performance, but if you want to bring out your vehicle's inner hot rod, there are a few ways you can increase the horsepower, maximizing the performance and speed. See Step 1 for more information.
1. Reduce the weight of the car. One of the easiest things that you can do right now to increase the horsepower is to make your vehicle as light as possible, increasing the horsepower by giving the horse less to power. Remove unnecessary clutter from your car, and strip it down as much as possible for optimum performance.
2. Upgrade to a free-flowing exhaust system. Upgrading to a high-performance exhaust system can increase your horsepower by a measure of 5-10 on some natural aspiration vehicles, while vehicles with an additional supercharger can pick up much more.
It's a common misconception that oversized piping negatively affects back pressure, resulting in a loss of low-end torque and power. In truth, most engines prefer the most free-flowing system, in terms of intake, header and exhaust.
3. Use test piping. Research "cutback" systems for purchase, also sometimes called "test piping". These systems run from your catalytic converter to the end of the exhaust piping, increasing horsepower. The installation kit is generally several hundred dollars, but you could save on the price by shopping around and doing it yourself.
Measure the diameter of the pipe that comes out of your catalytic converter, and replace with larger exhaust piping. You can pay to have this installed at the shop, or you can do it yourself by cutting the old exhaust piping and leaving a few inches to weld onto. If you do, position the new system in place and weld or clamp it to the spot you just cut. Reinstall the hangers that you removed.
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1. Reduce the weight of the car. One of the easiest things that you can do right now to increase the horsepower is to make your vehicle as light as possible, increasing the horsepower by giving the horse less to power. Remove unnecessary clutter from your car, and strip it down as much as possible for optimum performance.
2. Upgrade to a free-flowing exhaust system. Upgrading to a high-performance exhaust system can increase your horsepower by a measure of 5-10 on some natural aspiration vehicles, while vehicles with an additional supercharger can pick up much more.
It's a common misconception that oversized piping negatively affects back pressure, resulting in a loss of low-end torque and power. In truth, most engines prefer the most free-flowing system, in terms of intake, header and exhaust.
3. Use test piping. Research "cutback" systems for purchase, also sometimes called "test piping". These systems run from your catalytic converter to the end of the exhaust piping, increasing horsepower. The installation kit is generally several hundred dollars, but you could save on the price by shopping around and doing it yourself.
Measure the diameter of the pipe that comes out of your catalytic converter, and replace with larger exhaust piping. You can pay to have this installed at the shop, or you can do it yourself by cutting the old exhaust piping and leaving a few inches to weld onto. If you do, position the new system in place and weld or clamp it to the spot you just cut. Reinstall the hangers that you removed.
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