Category Archives: Engine

Spoon, Mugen, TRD, and about two dozen other 'big name' companies all sell these "High Pressure" radiator caps. However, if you ask the average person what they actually do, you'll be met with cricket chirps.

Most imports use 1.1 kg/cm2 radiator caps while these aftermarket pieces are typically 1.3 kg/cm2. These caps are also available for domestics and some exotics as well, but the same principle applies regardless of the make/model of car. Sometimes they are rated in the "bar" unit.  The conversion factor is 1.02, so for the purposes of this article, because kg/cm2 is more awkward to write, I will say 1.1 bar and 1.3 bar. 1.1 bar is nearly exactly equal to 1.1 kg/cm^2. So, yes, I realize import caps are rated in the metric unit, but I'm going to use bar instead to make my writing a little easier.

These caps look cool, and they're sold by big names - but let's look at what they actually do and why you may or may not want one. (more…)

Last time I showed you how I measured the intake restriction on project Lexus. Hopefully seeing how easy it is done has now inspired you to go out and take some measurements of your own.

Let's Review

So before we get started, let me quickly review some of what we learned in the past two articles. First of all, we discussed how you can use a vacuum gauge or differential pressure meter to measure intake restriction.

I then showed you on the IS300 exactly how I tapped the intake system in various places to determine where the intake restriction was. Anywhere I tapped the intake system I knew that the restriction from that point FORWARD (towards the front of the intake system - ie the snorkel and in fact, the open atmosphere).

I also told you that, surprisingly, the IS300s intake system is actually quite good even in completely stock form. The total pressure drop on this car, with a bone stock intake system was only -9.1 inches of water (among one of the better stock systems I've measured). This pressure drop was measured on a previously modified engine as well. This means that if anything, the pressure drop on our car would be higher than or equal to the stock car. I suspect it would be the same. (more…)

In the last article, I told you that you can easily measure intake restriction using a differential pressure gauge (or simply a vacuum gauge).

For whatever reason, nearly no one does this, and it's a shame, as it'd save most people a grip of cash and probably show them that some of the things they've done in the name of performance, didn't actually accomplish much at all - or perhaps also, that it accomplished quite a lot.

I don't like to waste money, and I like to be able to quantify for certain what changes I've made when I do a mod. In this article, I am going to show you how I measured the intake restriction on a 2002 Lexus IS300. However, you can follow these exact steps on ANY car, regardless of the year, make or model. (more…)

One of the things you will find if you have a oil pressure or temperature gauge is that regardless of the fact that oil is running through your engine and cooling it just like the coolant - it takes on and loses heat differently than coolant.

Oil temperature is probably the most important thing to know, specifically for those of us who are pushing our cars hard. Free reving (or worse - racing) on an engine that has not fully reached it's oil operating temperature is extremely dangerous. But don't think that the coolant gauge will tell you this information - it won't.

As a general rule of thumb, after the car is warmed up, oil tends to be a few degrees warmer than the coolant (usually 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit).

However, it takes much longer for oil to come up to temperature than coolant. When you start your car in the morning, most of us are wise enough to not romp on the car until the coolant gauge is up to operating temperature. This is certainly better than romping on it cold, but it's still not quite ideal.

You see, the oil, especially in colder ambient temperatures, takes several times longer to come up to temperature.

Oil will not get to complete operating temperature easily by simply idling, it requires driving around and putting SOME load on the engine. I see people in the pits at races all the time reving their motors to 'warm the engine up'. It won't do any good and is only putting premature wear on the car.

The best way to get a car's oil temperature up is to simply drive it around for a few minutes. Ideally you'd have an oil temperature gauge to tell you when it's at operating temperature - and oil pressure gauge (lower pressure) would also tell you this information.

What's the danger of running an engine cold?

Total engine failure.

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Measuring intake restriction allows you to pinpoint the exact point in your intake system where restriction is occurring and then decide how to best address that restriction. The typical way we deal with restriction in an intake system is just to replace the whole thing with a (usually) expensive intake system.

However, in many cases, the factory air box could very inexpensively be modified to create the same or better gains than a fancy aftermarket intake. In fact, you'd be surprised to find out that in the real world (ie, not on a dyno but on a real road) that most intake systems do not provide anywhere near the gains they claim. Many in fact, actually hurt your power production - in the real world.

If you ask on a forum which intake is best, you'll get a hundred opinions and people swearing up and down that this intake is better than that one or whatever. However, if you want hard facts from any of them - you'll be met with more e-Facts than anything.

Dyno results are often very deceptive as they are measuring the horsepower output of a car that is strapped to rollers, not moving down the road where aerodynamic forces play a much bigger role than many enthusiasts realize, and with the hood open instead of holding in all that hot air from the radiator and exhaust system. The motivation of the aftermarket part seller is to sell more parts - therefore, they are not always completely honest about their dynos. People on the forums are also not always entirely honest, as many want to believe their car is faster than it is and they've spent money on this intake or exhaust - they want to justify their purchase! No one likes to look foolish.

So what is a wise enthusiast to do? Well, take actual measurements - that's what!

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One of the easiest and cheapest ways to check an engine for serious issues is to use a plain ole vacuum gauge. A vacuum gauge can tell you a lot about an engine's condition, similar to a full leak down test - but in a much easier way. In just 3-5 minutes you can know if an engine is healthy or not.

For those of you modifying your engine, I think it makes a lot of sense to make sure your engine is in top notch shape before spending money on modifications, especially if you're working on a high mileage car. Making sure the engine is making at least stock horsepower before you spend more money on it is a very sensible thing if you ask me.

Vacuum gauges are often forgotten in this age of OBDII scanners and other specialized tools, but a vacuum gauge can VERY quickly tell you whether or not your engine (or one in a car you're about to buy!) is good, or ready to die.

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In the last 3 parts of this article series we've focused mostly on wheel choice and it's effect on your car's performance. However, in this part we're going to talk about the most important component of your car, the tires. Up until now, tires have kind of been in the background of the discussion but now it's time to bring them to the foreground where they belong in your modification journey.

I have to get it off my chest first and foremost that I am sick of seeing guys who have spent hundreds, even thousands of dollars on their various performance modifications only to fit cheap tires on their car.

The tires on your car are the ONLY interface between your entire car and the road. They are what transfer power to the road, stop you when you hit the brakes, and hold you in the corners. More than any other component, they affect your car's performance.

In fact, if you could do only one performance modification to your car, I'd suggest strongly that you leave everything alone and change the tires to the stickiest summer tires you can find (for a street car), or a purpose built race tire. No matter what other modification you do, you will not get the same bang for your buck as the investment in good tires.

Now that we've established to some degree why the tires are so important, let's talk about selecting tires.

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