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Tuning turbo engines. "A lot of hot air." What is a turbo. If you go back to your childhood you […]
How to add a turbo to a non turbo car.![](https://www.carref.com/cms_admin/images/turbo-engine-266x114.jpg)
The basic reason for forced induction (turbo or supercharger) is not to increase compression or the maximum pressure in an engine cylinder, it is to increase volumetric efficiency (the efficiency of the engine at drawing in air) although forced induction is the most effective method of upping compression.
In computer games we just tick a box, and within seconds our car is fully turbocharged and running much faster. In the real world things are very different.
Suspension settings, lowering and stiffening![](https://www.carref.com/cms_admin/images/suspension-front2jpg-266x114.jpg)
On the track your priority is fast cornering and suspension plays a large part in this. Track conditions are quite forgiving and you can make some compromises like using hard suspension and lowering the car for optimum aerodynamics and a low centre of gravity.
This works well because tracks are fairly flat and you do not have a carrier bag full of eggs in the car from your return trip to the supermarket.
Benefits and drawbacks of engine water injection systems![](https://www.carref.com/cms_admin/images/water-injection-266x114.jpg)
You’ve finished tuning up your engine but you find that at full throttle the engine splutters or stalls. When you get the car on a diagnostic you find that the knock sensor is kicking in to protect the engine.
Engine knock is a condition where the fuel inside the engine ignites prematurely and occurs within an engine running at high compression. (It can also be caused by other factors including low octane/poor quality fuel or hot spots within the engine.)