Sooner or later, every automotive enthusiast will get bitten by the bug of power to make things go faster. It’s not uncommon to crave more of it, even if you’ve already got 500 ponies at your disposal. You may be wondering how to increase horsepower. Perhaps you’ve heard of a supercharger and are wondering how much hp does a supercharger add, or how much hp does a turbo add.
Hold your horses. Superchargers and turbochargers are considered advanced-level mods that will ideally need a bit of upgrading to other areas of your engine and powertrain first. We’ll take you through some of the basic-level and mid-level enhancements you can do to your engine before going the turbo or supercharged route.
Of course, if your vehicle already has a supercharger or turbocharger, you can reflash its ECU with a custom map, turn up the boost and get more power. However, you’ll still want to check out some of the things we talk about here, to ensure that your higher-boosted engine is working efficiently.
Upgrading Your Air Intake
An air intake upgrade is the first step towards your performance journey, and a relatively cost-effective one at that. You can easily find a great solution for under $500. Your stock air intake will typically have a lot of bends and curves to quell induction noise and may be relatively restrictive. Installing a shorter cold air intake with less bends, coupled with a performance air filter will grant you a few extra horses and some sweet induction noise under full throttle.
For some carbureted engines, a cowl induction hood is beneficial, coupled with a performance or high-flow air filter.
We must also mention that many aftermarket performance air filters are washable and re-usable when they become dirty, and you can buy DIY kits to refresh the filter when necessary.
Install A Performance Tuner
A performance tuner is a small device that plugs into your vehicle’s OBD2 diagnostic port (usually under the driver's side dash area) and communicates directly with the vehicle’s ECU. Performance tuners may change your fuel and timing maps to unlock extra performance, usually at a small fuel economy penalty. Some tuners or programmers can also increase fuel economy under certain driving conditions. This is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your vehicle.
Boost controllers can also be included in this category, as you can install a boost controller to an already turbocharged or supercharged engine, and increase its output. However, we’d advise you to act with caution on this one. Your factory-preset level of boost is designed to ensure maximum engine life, optimum fuel economy and best reliability. Most factory engines can take extra boost up to a certain level only, before the internals may need to be beefed up and other upgrades needed. As a rule of thumb, if you want to turn up the boost on your factory engine, 10-15% above stock is the maximum recommended.
Upgrade Your Ignition System
When it comes to boosting horsepower and enhancing engine performance, one of the most overlooked areas is the ignition system. Upgrading various components of your ignition system can lead to significant power gains and improved engine response. Start by replacing your stock spark plugs with high-performance alternatives. Performance spark plugs are designed to ignite the air-fuel mixture more efficiently, resulting in better combustion and increased power output.
Additionally, investing in performance spark plug wires can further enhance ignition system performance. These wires are designed to deliver a stronger spark to the spark plugs, ensuring optimal combustion in each cylinder. For vehicles equipped with distributor ignitions, upgrading to a performance ignition coil can provide noticeable improvements in ignition performance. Similarly, for distributorless ignition systems, upgrading the ignition coils can lead to better spark energy and more consistent combustion. Upgrading the ignition control module in distributor ignition systems can also optimize ignition timing and fuel delivery for improved performance. Lastly, consider a performance distributor upgrade to ensure precise spark timing and distribution across all cylinders, maximizing power and engine efficiency. By upgrading various components of your ignition system, you can unlock hidden power potential and enjoy a more exhilarating driving experience.
Clean Your Fuel System
If your vehicle is a little older, and by that we mean even five years old, you’d want to clean the fuel system. Over time, the fuel filter can become clogged with impurities, the fuel pump may be a little tired, the lines may need some cleaning and the fuel injectors may also not be spraying in the optimal spray pattern. A fuel system cleaner will help you recover some lost performance by restoring optimal fuel delivery. This is a critical step if you’re planning to increase performance in some of the other ways described in this article, as you want to ensure optimal fueling of your engine.
Aftermarket Exhaust Systems
Your factory exhaust is optimized to deliver a blend of performance, fuel economy, drivability at all RPM ranges, and be as quiet as possible. This means it may not be helping you realize the best performance from your engine. Installing an aftermarket exhaust system allows exhaust gases to exit your engine better, enabling more power to be made. From headers to the piping, catalytic converter, muffler and tailpipe, it’s all upgradeable.
A popular mod to start with is the cat-back exhaust system that upgrades everything after the catalytic converter, including the resonator, piping, and muffler. Moving backwards toward the engine, you’ll consider upgrading your cat as it can be a restriction point as you advance up the performance ladder, followed by installing custom headers to ensure that exhaust gases leave the engine as effectively as possible.
Install A Supercharger Or Turbo
Now, let’s enter the big leagues. Let’s slap on a supercharger or turbocharger and revel in the sweet, sweet power of forced induction. Typically, at this point, you’ll want to ensure that your intake and exhaust have been upgraded, your fuel system is cleaned, and you’re ready to take this step. Turbocharging or supercharging isn’t exactly a budget endeavor. When you factor in the costs of the other upgrades necessary, it can venture into the four-figure leagues.
You can find turbo or supercharger kits, and you’ll need to decide which one is best for your engine and your needs. Turbocharging and supercharging have their pros and cons. For example, you can realize more power with a turbocharger, and suffer comparatively less fuel economy reduction when not boosting, but turbochargers suffer from turbo lag at lower RPMs. Superchargers offer excellent response from low revs, coupled with a wicked whine, but they can be thirstier in terms of fuel consumption. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to talk to our experts at JEGS and they’ll help you figure it out.
Performance Parts Galore At JEGS
A family-run business since 1960, JEGS was born when Jeg Coughlin couldn’t find a proper place to buy performance parts for his car. Deciding to do something about it, he founded JEGS and the rest is history. Today, JEGS serves thousands of customers across the nation every week, and offers an extensive range of aftermarket parts, covering all conceivable automotive areas. With competitive pricing, comprehensive warranties where applicable and expert support, there’s plenty to like about JEGS.
