If you’re a car enthusiast, then you probably want your ride to be the best it can be. That means boosting its performance, handling, and fuel efficiency.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to improve your car’s performance without breaking the bank. These car mods will boost your power, handle, and efficiency while recouping their cost at the pump.
ECU Remapping
ECU remapping is one of the most common car modifications that improves performance. It can increase the power and torque output of your vehicle, resulting in better acceleration and speed.
Modern vehicles, especially turbocharged diesel engines, feature an Engine Control Unit (ECU) that controls many engine functions, regulating fuel consumption, emissions, and overall performance. This unit is responsible for providing accurate readings from various sensors throughout the engine.
This information helps the ECU calculate how much gas your engine needs for a given situation and how much horsepower it can produce. This allows your engine to operate more efficiently and use less gas for the same distance.
As a result, ECU remapping can improve your fuel economy by up to 10% or more, which is great for the environment. However, it is important to drive sensibly after remapping as more power can mean a higher reliance on the throttle.
Cold Air Intake
The cold air intake is a car modification that can boost your car’s horsepower and fuel efficiency. It can be a relatively cheap way to improve your vehicle’s performance.
In a nutshell, the cold air intake replaces your stock air filter with a new one that is more suited to cooler temperatures. The location of the air filter changes as well; it’s typically moved to an area outside of the engine compartment, usually close to the front wheel.
A cold air intake draws in more oxygen for combustion than the stock system does. This is because colder air has larger molecules and a higher concentration of oxygen than hot air.
In addition to increasing horsepower, a cold air intake also improves acceleration and throttle response. This means that your vehicle will surge to its intended speed more quickly, and can be especially useful on highways or empty backroads.
Exhaust System
The exhaust system is an important car modification that helps improve performance. It is a complex series of pipes that work together to control noise and to route exhaust fumes away from the vehicle.
Your exhaust system also reduces emissions by converting harmful gases into less toxic ones. This makes your engine run more efficiently, and it can also help you avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
It is important to note that there are many things that can affect your exhaust system’s performance. The layout and diameter of the pipes, for instance, can have an impact.
A good exhaust system will reduce the amount of backpressure into your engine, which can help you achieve a higher RPM range. It can also improve your fuel-burning efficiency by allowing the engine to breathe more freely and draw in more air during each combustion cycle.
There are a few different types of exhaust systems, including header-back, cat-back, and axle-back. The type you choose depends on what your goals are.
Brakes
Brakes are one of the most important components in any car. They not only slow down your vehicle, but also dissipate heat effectively when you press the brake pedal.
The braking system in your car works on the principle that if you push your foot harder, the brake fluid physically pushes your caliper pistons into your brake pads which mate against your brake disc (rotor). This causes friction, which converts motion energy to heat, slowing the car.
To reduce the amount of heat produced, manufacturers have been making brake rotors that are ventilated. These have a center vent that allows airflow around the rotor.