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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.)
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.
Remaps for diesel engines
Our members frequently talk about their latest mods and power figures. Many of our members have remapped their diesel engines and boast of more power, better economy and unchanged reliability.
But do the claims live up to reality? What sort of power figures can you get from a diesel remap? Diesels have really come so far in a very short time.
Ceramic exhaust coatings and exhaust wraps
Under bonnet temperatures are one of the biggest performance killers around.
Quite simply, you want your engine to be sucking in cold air as this carries more oxygen and will allow you to burn more fuel.
The exhaust system is one of the contributors to under bonnet temperatures. You can therefore lag the exhaust to help prevent this heat soak into the engine bay.
