2010 NASCAR Illustrated Automotive Issue
Car Smarts : Do-It-Yourself Car Tips
By Steve Magnante
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Car Smarts
- Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for tire pressure. You can find it in the owner’s manual and usually on a sticker inside the driver’s side door. If that’s too cushy, bump all tires to 35-psi (but never exceed the maximum tire pressure rating found on the tire sidewall).
- Open the windows. Tests have proven that almost every car is more fuel-efficient (up to 3 mpg) with the windows down and the A/C off. The slight increase of wind drag caused by open windows is less than the effort it takes for the engine to run the A/C compressor.
- Get buff. Commercial airliners – and super speedway racers alike – know the benefit of maintaining a smooth exterior surface. Air molecules have a more difficult time passing over a rough paint surface than they do a high-gloss finish. A little wax goes a long way.
- Thin Is In. Reducing engine oil viscosity to the lowest manufacturer-recommended level can deliver surprising gains in engine efficiency and performance.
- Breathe Easy. If you love the sound of power, replace your car’s stock air filter and housing with a high-flow unit and you’ll likely see improvements in fuel economy and power.
- Excess Baggage. Every serious racer is obsessed about his car’s power-to-weight ratio. If you’re not crazy enough to rip out the back seat, heater, radio and carpeting, you can still take a look in your car’s trunk and remove stuff that just sits there. Pulling 100 pounds out of the car will feel like adding 10 horsepower under the hood.
- Laughing Gas. If you are looking for a fast, safe way to add power to any car without getting into major engine work, think about installing a nitrous oxide system. The performance aftermarket offers direct bolt-in kits for virtually every vehicle that’ll safely add anywhere from 25 to 150 horsepower at the touch of a button. DIY systems are designed to be installed in an afternoon and are tuned with a wide margin of safety to prevent engine damage. For a sweet and safe bang for your buck, it’s hard to beat a beginner-level nitrous kit.
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