If your vehicle has a diesel engine, there are things you can do to improve its power and efficiency. While diesel engines are known for their power, efficiency is not a word commonly used to describe them. Modern innovations are quickly changing this, however.
By taking steps to make your diesel engine more powerful and efficient, you will get more out of owning your vehicle, and reduce its environmental impact. This post explores this topic in more detail and will tell you about some of the different performance upgrades you need to know about.
Sourcing Quality Parts
The first thing you need to know is that if you want to upgrade or modify your vehicle’s diesel engine, you need to find the highest-quality parts you can. Buying quality diesel engine parts isn’t necessarily a difficult thing to do, but it does take some careful shopping and an eye for detail. A good way to determine whether or not a particular supplier is worth working with is to read reviews. A supplier’s reviews will tell you everything you need to know about them.
In addition to reviews, consider cost. Brand new diesel parts can be expensive, especially if you are buying very specific ones, i.e., made by a particular manufacturer, only for use on a specific make or model of car. You will be pleased to know that many car manufacturers offer flexible payments, such as pay-in-three. Paying for your parts using a flexible arrangement will allow you to buy parts that cost more than your budget would usually permit.
Hiring Professional Support
If you are not a mechanic, the chances that you will be able to make upgrades to your car yourself are slim to none. You are probably going to need a professional’s support. However, paying for modifications can be expensive. If you are on a tight budget and want to make upgrades to your car without breaking the bank, there are a few different things that you can do. The first of these is to pay for the repairs you need done on credit, meaning you spread the cost and break it into more affordable monthly installments.
The second thing you can do is to use a credit card. A credit card will make it possible for you to pay for your car’s repairs or modifications upfront, without having to pay a deposit. No matter which form of credit you plan on using, you need to make sure that you are in a good enough position to make repayments. You should never take out credit if you can’t afford to make repayments. Failing to repay credit can lead to defaults being issued, and debt collectors visiting your home.
Watching Online Tutorials
If you want to make modifications to your car yourself, you can do it by watching online tutorials. There are thousands of video tutorials available for free on the internet that teach people how to upgrade their cars themselves. If you are going to turn to video tutorials, you need to make sure that you have the right tools. If you do not have the right tools, repairs are going to be an impossibility. You can order tools online, or you can buy them from a tool supply store.
Make sure that if you plan on working on your car yourself, that you have accidental damage coverage included as part of your insurance plan. This is so you do not end up causing serious, irreversible damage. People who are new to mechanics often cause damage to their vehicles, mainly because they have no idea what they are doing. Making mistakes when you are repairing your car can be costly, and can lead to what would otherwise be unnecessary repairs.
Performance Upgrades You Can Make
Cold Air Intake
Upgrading your car’s cold air intake can actually increase airflow. Increasing airflow has the power to improve combustion, which along with improved power output and increased fuel efficiency, can significantly improve your vehicle’s performance.
Performance Exhaust System
Installing a high-performance exhaust system is one of the most effective ways to improve your vehicle’s diesel engine. A performance exhaust system can allow your engine to breathe more efficiently, which will improve its overall performance.
ECU Tuning
Your vehicle’s ECU (Engine Control Unit) manages things like fuel injection and timing. Upgrading it can be a good way to improve overall engine performance. However, this is likely something you will need a professional’s support with.
Turbocharger Upgrades
Making turbocharger upgrades can significantly improve your vehicle’s overall performance. If you are somebody who likes to drive fast, turbocharger upgrades are definitely worth making. They, like ECU tuning, should only ever be made by a professional mechanic.
Fuel Injectors
Swapping your vehicle’s fuel injectors for high-performance ones can give you better control of your engine’s fuel delivery and improve its overall efficiency. It can also increase your vehicle’s horsepower and its torque, which will allow your engine to run a lot more efficiently, and perform better.
Intercooler Upgrades
Intercooler upgrades can be used to increase the density of the air that enters your engine, which can improve combustion. This will lower intake air temperatures, preventing overheating, and allow for more oxygen to get into your cylinders.
High-Performance Air Filter
A high-performance air filter can also improve your engine’s efficiency and overall performance. If you are interested in upgrading your air filter, take your car to a mechanic, and do not attempt to undertake the work yourself, because there is a chance you could make a mistake, which could damage your engine.
Upgraded Transmission
Your vehicle’s transmission is something else you need to consider replacing if you want to upgrade its overall performance. You can generally perform transmission upgrades yourself, but more complicated work should not be undertaken. There is a chance you could damage your transmission if you try to work on it yourself, and transmission repairs can be very expensive.
Making upgrades to your diesel engine can massively improve its performance and overall efficiency, which can save you money on fuel in the long run. As stressed several times above, do not attempt to undertake serious repairs or modifications yourself, as you could cause damage to your engine, which could cost you a lot of money to repair.
