Being a gearhead is a privilege that a lot of people would like to experience. However, where does one start? Well, first they might want to start performing as many DIY maintenance actions on their car as possible. Next, they might want to learn a thing or two about their own car. Later on, they should learn about engine tuning. This would be more than enough to classify one as a gearhead. First of all, it would provide one with countless hours of fun, tuning their vehicle and ensuring that it reaches the peak of its potential. Second, it can help your car outperform more expensive, newer vehicles on the market. Here are a couple of tips to help you out.
Aesthetics and power are not one and the same
There are a lot of things that you can do in order to upgrade your car. Some of these upgrades are not necessarily related to the performance of the vehicle. That’s the thing about tuning – it’s mostly related to the engine. So, unless the improvement actually adds to the horsepower of the vehicle in question, it’s not considered tuning. In other words, aesthetic upgrades, like adding a giant wing to the trunk or even scooping the hood of the vehicle, are not considered tuning.
Standard car maintenance is still a top priority
Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that car maintenance always comes as a top priority. Unless your engine oil is recently poured and is adequate for the make of the engine and the season (temperature and viscosity have a serious correlation), you can’t expect the vehicle to give its best. So, make sure not to neglect standard car maintenance. Before you consider replacing major parts of the engine, check if your spark plugs are in decent order. This way, you’ll get off to a great start.
Learn about how engines work in general
Tuning is closely related to improving various parts of your engine and exhaust system in order to make your vehicle outperform the original intention of the manufacturer. It’s about changing various parts and adding elements that enhance performance. As a result, the vehicle ends up showing more horsepower than was expected. For performance-oriented people, this is the equivalent of getting a new vehicle. In fact, it’s even better. This time, the performance enhancement is the direct result of your own work.
Find an adequate supplier
When buying tuning parts, it’s crucial that you have the right supplier. Why? Well, these parts are usually not cheap, which is why you need to know that you’re getting your money’s worth. This is a part that you’ll place inside the mechanism of your own vehicle and if it malfunctions, it may place you in danger. It might also be a good idea to find a supplier that specializes in a certain brand of parts. For instance, Ford drivers should probably look for renowned suppliers of Ford parts. This is the way everyone wins.
Budgeting is a serious concern
The cost of tuning is not that insignificant either. You see, the costs of parts can be quite steep, especially for those who plan for more than a one-time project. So, make sure to think about your budget from the very start. Skimming on parts and equipment is definitely a bad idea, so make a timetable of all the improvements that you want to make to your car and start implementing them as soon as possible. This will allow you to conduct all the improvements that you have planned in the foreseeable future.
Continuous research makes the difference
The last thing you need to keep in mind is the fact that learning about the parts that you plan to use might be the difference between the improvement of the performance of the car and wasting your money. When it comes to learning materials, this is where you should be extra creative. First of all, you need to understand that the owner’s manual tends to be the most relevant source of information. Second, various forums and tuning-oriented subreddits are just as great, seeing as how you can learn from people who were once in your shoes.
Conclusion
In the end, being a gearhead is not a simple thing or something that you can become overnight. It requires true passion, commitment and dedication to the art of car tuning. It requires an investment of equal measures of effort, dedication, time and money. In other words, it’s something that you should only commit to if you’re truly passionate about car tuning.
