Car Tuning News Features Articles ICE Car care Tuning Handling Wheels Tyres Intake Exhaust Transmission

How to tune a car engine for power or economy

Let’s take a look at ways to tune a car engine and what exactly we mean by engine tuning.

First up we have to accept that there are many different types of engines.

We can only cover generic theory in this article on how to tune a car and suggest if you want more specific advice you sign up to our car forums where our helpful and friendly members will assist you further.

Turbo tuning and power gains on turbo engines

Tuning turbo engines. "A lot of hot air." What is a turbo. If you go back to your childhood you […]

Low ratio sport gearbox setup and selection.

Gearbox – Lower ratios give better acceleration times and lower fuel economy. Six or seven speed boxes are better matched to modern engines.

Most street applications are closer 1st and 2nd gear ratios for that off the line 0-60 boost or for the fast exec a lower 2nd and 3rd ratio give improved overtaking flexibility and 30 – 70 mph acceleration with a high 4th and 5th gear to give motorway fuel economy.

Vents – adding performance with Bonnet vents.

Performance gains are possible with the addition of bonnet vents.

Warm air really does kill performance. This is due to the air intake temperatures being hot and air at high temperatures carries less oxygen.

When driving an engine hard the under bonnet temperatures quickly build up and the engine has no choice but to suck this air in reducing your power.

Todays featured car modification articles





TorqueCars Forums

Join TorqueCars our sister site to read over 300,000 posts on modified and tuned cars and tips.

This will also allow full access to their car project features, gallery and some and exclusive member only areas.




Forum Hot topics



Roll Cages

Roll cages & Roll bars custom fitting kits
Read more...

10 Second Car

Building a 10 second car
Read more...

Diesel Remaps

Remaps for diesel engines
Read more...

Performance Tyres

Tyres and tread patterns for High performance cars
Read more...

Flywheel Lightening

Flywheel lightening & performance gains from lighter flywheels
Read more...

Lambo Doors

Lambo style doors suicide doors and gullwing door conversions.
Read more...

Gullwing Doors

Gullwing Doors & gull wing door conversion kits
Read more...

Car Styles

Definitions of car styling looks
Read more...

Split Bonnets

Creating a custom self opening split bonnet or split hood.
Read more...

MPG Calculator

MPG calculator UK miles per Gallon - calculate MPG and save fuel
Read more...