How to Improve Engine Performance

Posted on October 31, 2022 in Maintenance

Engine performance is holistic measure of how healthy, efficient, and reliable your engine is. When gas prices spike, maximizing your engine performance is a great way to save money at the pump— knowing the basic principles that govern the performance of your car's engine allows you to be a smarter consumer, and have a better appreciation of what is going on under the hood when you press on the gas pedal. When thinking about how to improve engine performance, it’s important to look at four key categories: emissions, fuel consumption, air intake, and noise.

Intake

Engine performance all starts here. As the air flows into the engine it is mixed with fuel and burned to make power. Intakes with better flow allow an engine to make more power, as any restrictions in the intake path reduce the amount of air that the engine can pull in.

Timing

Many modern engines have advanced modifications that increase performance by tuning the way the engine works in different conditions. Using different valve timing at different RPM (Rotations Per Minute) allows your car’s engine to work better in a variety of different conditions, which means more power.

Compression

The compression ratio of your engine is how much the pistons compress the air that comes into the cylinders. High performance cars tend to have higher compression ratios, which allow the cars to produce more power. The downside of this is that cars with higher compression ratios usually require premium fuel which is more expensive.

Exhaust

Like the intake, reducing restrictions in the exhaust almost always results in more power. Cars with performance exhaust systems optimize the exhaust flow to have as little backpressure as possible. This allows the engine to expel the waste fumes as quickly as possible so it can burn more fuel faster. Performance exhaust systems usually use high-flow mufflers which tend to be louder than stock equipment.

How to Improve Engine Performance At V&F

Every conversation on how to improve engine performance, starts with maintenance. Anything that limits the air, fuel, compression, or the spark within the engine can cause it to lose power. From a dirty air filter to broken spark plugs, minor maintenance slips can have a huge impact on gas mileage and engine performance.  At V&F, our highly trained and knowledgeable staff can help you develop an efficient, affordable maintenance schedule to keep your car running for years to come.