The automotive performance of a car is always related to the amount of fuel consumed by it. However, a car’s performance can be increased in certain ways without negatively affecting the gas mileage of a car. Given below are few tips:
Performance chips: Computer chips that operate most new cars these days keep track of how much horsepower and torque can be displaced. Using performance chips or recalibrating the current chip used in a car can help in increasing the torque and horsepower to a great extent.
Cold air Intake: Power of a car engine can be increased if the temperature of the air that enters the car can be reduced. An under the hood modification in the form of cold air intake can help in this. Such an enhancement also beautifies the engine bay by making it colorful and attractive. Such a unit will also make an appealing sound.
Reusable air filters: Throughout the life of most of the cars, about 6 to 12 auto air filters are used without facing any problem, but when not in use most of them end up at the landfills for waste materials. Even though reusable air filters cost thrice as much as normal air filters, they are washable and last much longer than the regular ones. In fact, when you buy a reusable air filter for your car, it is actually the last one you will be ever buying for it. These air filters help you to increase acceleration and horsepower, besides having a very positive impact on the environment.
Performance exhaust systems: Another way to unleash horsepower, trapped up torque, and improve the overall automotive performance is by using "catalyst-back exhaust systems" (cat-back) for cars. Such a system installed in a car reduces exhaust back pressure by using low restriction performance mufflers and large width exhaust pipes while keeping all the important emission parts in their proper place. In addition to better performance, the exhaust system emits awesome sound.
To improve the automotive performance of your car, you may have to bear additional costs. While shopping online for the auto aftermarket products always opt for a trusted wholesaler. That way you will be able to acquire good quality automotive parts at very low prices. The auto aftermarket products/ services for increasing automotive performance of cars include accessories, replacement parts, appearance products, lubricants, various tools and equipments required for repair and service repairs. If you do the shopping yourself, you will be able to save a lot.
In 2007, the auto aftermarket had done better than in 2006, with a total sale of $285.5, which is a 4% increase from the previous year. In the light truck and car section alone the auto aftermarket experienced $211.4 billion sales while in case of heavy duty vehicles the aftermarket sales figure stood at $74.1 billion.
Increasing Automotive Performance
Custom Dash Gauges, Pods and Dash Covers: a Guide
Customizing your ride does not stop with the exterior. There are many ways to add style and function to the interior of your ride. While interior lighting, custom shifter knobs, steering wheels and seats offer you many benefits, one area that must not be overlooked is your dash. Dash gauges offer you numerous benefits, allowing you to track every nuance of vehicle performance, from oil pressure/temperature to turbo and supercharger operation and your RPMs. Custom gauge pods and dash covers will give you the look you need and house your accessories.
Why should you purchase custom dash gauges for your ride? Most automakers provide very few gauges in the dash. The speedometer, a temperature gauge, the odometer and the fuel gauge are all that the OEM usually includes. While that small selection is fine for commuters and standard drivers, those who add performance enhancements to their vehicles usually require more in the way of information.
Custom dash gauges provide you with a wide range of information. For instance, many vehicles do not have a tachometer today; even straight shift models sometimes lack this fundamental gauge. You can purchase aftermarket tachometers that even provide you boots information. Water temperature, oil temperature, exhaust temperature, air-fuel mixture readings, voltmeters for gauging your battery power and oil pressure gauges are all more than handy. For the serious tuner, these gauges are vital.
To hold those gauges, you'll need gauge pods. These are aftermarket housings that adhere or screw to your dash or A column. Custom gauges fit inside the pods, providing a sleek, streamlined look for your interior. You'll find pod clusters in sets of two and three, or even more. In addition, you can choose from a wide range of different colors. Different styles mount in different locations. While the top of your dash is the traditional place to mount gauges, the A column offers you ready access to the information and a great racecar look.
Another popular option is that of gauge faceplates. These are custom colored gauge covers that fit over your existing gauges. Dash cluster removal is necessary for installation of these babies, though; make sure you know what you are doing before you choose to install them in your ride. White, red, blue and several other colors are available, as are "glow" effect faceplates.
Additionally, dash covers give you a way to protect your dash from the damaging effects of sunlight, while still maintaining a great look. Dash covers are custom made to fit your OEM dash and can be configured with numerous side panels and add-ons. These are available in several different colors, though black and tan are the two favorites.
Regardless of the exact gauge configuration you choose, you'll find that installing gauges, dash covers and gauge pods can add a great look to your ride, as well as providing you with the information that you need about engine performance. A true tuner needs all the information available, in order to ensure proper engine performance.
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Spoilers Erupt Exterior Passion
Some will say it's the customized style or expression. Others will tell you that they like the aerodynamic support they get when zipping down the highway with reckless abandon. The answers vary from place to place and driver to driver. It doesn't matter though, as one thing's for sure: spoilers can cause a custom explosion when fitted on the right piece of machinery.What Are Spoilers For?The design and implementation of automobile spoilers dates back to decades ago and the early days of stock-car racing. It was thought, and logically so, that it was possible to mimic (albeit on a much smaller scale) the airflow disruption that spoilers on airplanes provided. It is this airflow disruption that reduces drag on any object in motion. Since airplanes travel at high speeds, it is crucial for them to remain at a stable course throughout flight. Without them, there would be major turbulence, if not concurrent crashes. To be able to reduce the instability that cars may see at faster speeds, a rectangular panel fashioned out of sheet metal provided the basis for early prototypes. After trial, error, and almost four and a half decades worth of evidence, we have the spoilers that are visible on the road today, and there are different styles and shapes that are put into service.Custom & Factory SpoilersMost aftermarket spoilers you see are either custom or factory. Custom spoilers are available in a variety of styles, all geared towards driver-preference. There are several types of custom spoilers that have positively exploded on the current market. One of the most popular versions includes a dynamically squared wing that features pedestals (brackets) that hold the spoiler up, and can be painted a contrasting color for extra fashion-sense or shaded to match the body. Many times, they are even wider than the trunk, suggesting racing aggression and style (this is the method that is featured prominently in most auto accessory publications). Another type of high-rising wing custom spoiler that makes headlines includes a sweeping arch that presents a widened gap between the spoiler itself and the trunk. But when it comes to custom spoilers, no style is really off limits - that's the key. Custom spoilers are not the standard, by any stretch. But that is what makes drivers so attracted to them: they stand out. Fixed on the right car's rear, a custom spoiler can demonstrate an image that is nothing short of awe-inspiring, and awakens the entire vehicle.Factory spoilers are frequent additions for a wider spectrum of drivers. Factory spoilers are ordered to match the color and dimensions of your car precisely. They are basically the spoiler that you wish your car came with, hence the term "factory." Factory spoilers, like most other types of spoilers, can be ordered to come in an exact OEM match color, which is most often the case. Some drivers actually prefer to receive their factory spoilers unpainted so that they can be in control of the painting process, whether to have it done privately or wait until after installation. What makes factory spoilers such a palatable option for many is that they even seem to blend in perfectly with vehicles that you normally might not associate with such a trait. It is for this reason why you might be surprised by the eclectic groupings of drivers who go for the factory spoiler look. They are designed to replicate the OEM direction for that specific vehicle; therefore you rarely see mismatches between the spoiler and the exterior design. Factory spoilers can perhaps be viewed as the leader in this aftermarket genre.Both custom spoilers and factory spoilers can come "lit" or "un-lit." Lit refers to the optional brake light that would be centered inside the wing's casing. A lighted spoiler, whether custom or factory, is often an excellent safety feature depending on the type of vehicle. With this option, the spoiler can act as another avenue of defense for larger trucks that are galloping behind. Most companies offer this viable custom choice, and are certainly recommended for a second look.Rear-Roof Wings & Lip SpoilersSpoilers are not just designated to be trunk ornaments. The roof of your vehicle can see some action as well. Rear-roof wings are a dashing member of the spoiler family that many drivers are starting to become increasingly attracted to. Rear-roof wings, like traditional custom or factory spoilers, are normally painted to match the body. The most common shape and placement of rear-roof wings is very much a combination of a lip spoiler and factory spoiler. They are mounted (or placed) right above the rear window and angle in a similar fashion to regular spoilers. This version is not normally ultra-aggressive, and normally do not present a steep slope (although they could). They are a fantastic addition for turbo-loving enthusiasts and sensible SUV drivers alike. Many different kinds of drivers prefer different styles - a "gimme" statement, but never more true when pertaining to automotive customs, especially spoilers. And not every driver desires a ferocious statement being made.For those who prefer a more subtle but no less appealing spoiler upgrade, there is a solution: lip spoilers. Lip spoilers approach right off the "lip" of the trunk (or as a rear-roof adornment, as well as other parts of the vehicle that we'll discuss at a later time). Lip spoilers are embedded flush onto the trunk and do not feature pedestals. Rather, they peer up slightly, delivering a luxuriously promising image that the more upscale sedans have been known to express. They can be secured either with screw-mounted hardware but most often come with ultra-grade 3M adhesive that makes for a near effortless installation - a fact that doesn't get lost on most consumers (rear-roof wings also can be installed using 3M tape). While lip spoilers are an admired aftermarket choice and can be categorized often as a "custom spoiler", many luxury automakers are starting to include them as a specific trim-level option.Materials, Ordering, & InstallationSpoilers can be comprised of several different materials, and this mostly depends on the manufacturer, not the type of spoiler. Fiberglass and ABS plastic have long been the two most common substances preferred by the majority of spoiler producers, but silicon and carbon fiber are starting to come on more and more. Fiberglass layering and contouring involves a process that is as specific as they come. Whether filled with foam or derived with plastic, the length has to be proportionately contoured to meet the vehicle's dimensions. If the measurements are off just a fraction of an inch, the entire spoiler is corruptible. Not only will it look unattractive and laughable, but it can also be a detriment on the road by throwing off the wind variants that permit airflow re-ordering - hence the reason why spoilers were invented in the first place (remember?). Carbon fiber is a durable, sleek material that is used as an ingredient in numerous aftermarket parts. Carbon fiber spoilers are hot items. They are also quite expensive and not fully available for as wide of a selection of makes/models as fiberglass and ABS plastic.Ordering a spoiler can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be. That may sound ambiguous, but you would be shocked by how many drivers think they want one type of spoiler, pay for it, receive it, and then once it is mounted, decide it doesn't look right. And of course after that, they want to send it back, blaming the company for this oh-so-tragic occurrence. While ridiculous, it is a good example of being an unprepared customer. To stave off such a distinction, make sure you know what you want. I always recommend viewing countless pictures of spoilers, especially if you can find them shown on your model. Here is where you will get a good idea of what your new spoiler could be capable of. If you want to go with a custom spoiler, internet searching all of the flavors and options can take you just couple of moments. And of course, pay attention to the ones you see on the road. Figure out what it is that you like about them, and also in what way you feel a spoiler will compliment your ride. This is usually the second most enjoyable part of the experience!Installation is not the challenging task that you may believe it to be. As mentioned above, lip spoilers and rear-roof wings can be set using 3M auto adhesive. For those who may be unfamiliar, 3M double-sided tape is basically impenetrably strong and will undoubtedly last a very long, long time (if not forever). Custom and factory spoilers usually require a bit more, but are still simple installations in their own right. With either of these rear spoilers, they typically come with mounting hardware and components (although some do use 3M tape instead). Now, as soon as I mentioned the word "hardware", you may have gotten nervous. Don't. Hardware in this case merely refers to the screws and such that you would need. However, light drilling may be involved, depending on the spoiler. If this is the case and you do not feel totally confident, any halfway decent restyling shop can handle this installation extremely quickly.The Difference Between "Seen" and "Unseen"At the end of the day, we can talk aerodynamics, down force, materials, and everything else. But what it comes down to is how much you want your vehicle to express itself. And there are obviously different ways to go about that. Few aftermarket modifications wield the kind of power that spoilers do - that much is a given. No matter where you are, you notice a car that has one. Whether in traffic, in a parking lot, or just passing you by on the highway, spoilers catch your eye. I am certain that if you take a second to think about it, you will agree. That is a spoiler's biggest advantage. From factory spoilers and custom spoilers to rear-roof wings and lip spoilers, there are boundless selections that touch every driver's sensibilities. The trick is knowing your own style, both on the road and on the curb, and going from there. Because once you figure that out, a primed, painted spoiler takes care of the rest.
Turbochargers Vs. Superchargers: a Guide
If you're interested in adding power and performance to your ride, no doubt you've considered adding a turbocharger (just turbo to tuners), or a supercharger to your ride. However, it can be difficult to determine which is the best for your needs. For instance, what is the peak operating range of a turbocharger, versus a supercharger? How much horsepower can you gain from each and which is more cost effective? Here are a few answers to your myriad of questions.
First, you need to understand how each system operates, before you can make an informed choice. Both turbos and superchargers are a form of forced air induction. In other words, they provide boost by forcing more air into each cylinder. More air means more fuel can be dumped in, resulting in larger explosions, more rapid explosions and greater speed. Basically, they provide more air, which results in longer, cleaner burns. You waste less fuel, and go farther, faster. However, that’s where the similarities end.
Turbos:
Turbochargers operate on spent exhaust gasses. These gasses enter one half of the turbine, propelling the turbine and forcing compressed air into the engine. The drawback to this method is that the air is very hot (use an intercooler to combat the heat) and the turbo operates at a fairly high RPM rate (75K to 150K RPMs).
Superchargers:
Superchargers are a little different from turbos. Unlike turbos, they do not operate on exhaust gas. Instead, they use a pulley and the belts on your engine to drive the impeller, rotating screws or rotors. This forces air into the engine, providing more boost for your ride. Superchargers operate at a lower RPM rate than do turbos (anywhere between 15K to 40K, depending on the type of supercharger).
That's all well and good, but which is better, you ask? That depends on what you want. Both systems cost approximately the same (there will be a few dollars difference, but not much). However, superchargers experience much less lag than do turbochargers. This results in more immediate power. However, turbochargers can provide more boost at higher rates of speed, meaning that you get more out of them at higher RPM ranges.
Turbochargers also create more boost surge, which can damage engines, as well as creating additional backpressure that must be forced out through the headers. Superchargers produce more noise than turbos, but are generally longer-lived, providing you with a longer lasting performance enhancement.
In short, it comes down to personal preference. Both devices provide an amazing boost to your engine performance, knocking your speed capabilities up dramatically. Both systems have pros and cons associated with them, as well. You choice will also depend on your usage. For instance, a supercharger is ideal for a street machine, but if you are going to the track, a turbocharger offers better benefits. Before choosing either system, you will need to define your needs, as well as any future use of your ride, in order to make the best choice.
Choosing The Auto Parts That Work The Best
Depending on what you are going for with your car, be it show status, full-on race car or simply a general upgrade to a few key parts, the main thing that you will need are new auto parts. But what sort of parts will you need for your vehicle? Well it all comes back to what you want to do with it.
For show cars, new wheels and a body kit are great auto parts to start out with. This is because both of these upgrades will go a long way toward giving your ride a much better look that will grab people’s attention. Because car and truck shows are all about getting the most traffic by your ride and also getting the attention of the judges, big wheels and a complete body kit are going to transform your ride from what it once was into a great looking vehicle that will turn heads.
For those race car types, an auto part that will go a long way is an exhaust system. Because they help the exhaust gasses escape faster, they will add more power. If the race series you are in allows it in the regulations, a new turbo kit would also be beneficial. Again, this upgrade is all about the power that you will make to allow your vehicle to accelerate much faster. The other very important upgrade to any racing vehicle is the suspension. Whether you are on track or off road, improved suspension bits are going to play a big part in getting your car or truck to the finish line before all the other competitors.
For those looking to make general upgrades to your vehicle, parts like stereo systems and air intakes are great because they don’t take all that much to install and will help to improve both your engine and driving enjoyment. Of course the engine will be improved with more air flowing into it. The addition of the air intake or air filter element will let the engine breathe better and contribute to an increase in your fuel mileage. This is important if you are taking long trips because then you can pump up your new stereo and listen to music for longer.
Of course, these are just suggestions for what to install on your car depending on what it is going to be mostly used for, but any and all of these parts can be added to each other, although you may not want a stereo system in your race car if you are trying to save weight and record the ultimate lap time – and you don’t want to be distracted by the music either. In the end, the decision about what you add to your car or truck is going to be up to you, but no matter what you add, the results will be great.
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