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High Performance Vehicles Depend On Good Air Flow

Tags: high performance, part, parts, automobile, auto, automotive, car, cars, truck, trucks, horsepower, HP, vehicle, vehicles, air intake system, engine, engines, fuel-injection systems, torque, exhaust, Gibson Billy Boat, mandrel bending muffler mufflers airflow

High performance on a car or truck is often thought of in terms
of higher horsepower (HP), more torque, faster speeds and quicker
acceleration. High performance upgrades generally include
improvements in efficiency and/or power.

People who don't know a lot about cars generally think that a
bigger engine or transmission might be required in order to
achieve higher speeds or more reliable towing power, but that is
not always the case.

Car enthusiasts generally say that "there is no replacement for
displacement" when it comes to power. What that means is the
bigger engine will always deliver more power to a vehicle. Yet,
the same people who tell us that we should strive to put a bigger
engine in our vehicle also admit that stock vehicles leave a lot
of capability unutilized in a car or truck.

Automotive manufacturers always try to build a generic
configuration that will appeal to the mass audience, while
keeping the price of that vehicle as low as possible. As auto
manufacturers cut corners and pennies from their production
costs, they also sacrifice some performance capabilities in their
vehicles.

Air Intake Systems

One such example may include air intake filters. While the stock
air filter in an automobile accomplishes its intended task,
removing 99% of the dirt and dust from the air, before the air
can enter into the firing chamber of the car or truck engine, it
also unnecessarily restricts the airflow into the engine. Cold
air intake kits and high-flow air filters will effectively block
dirt and dust from entering the engine, while allowing greater
airflow into the engine 's firing chamber. Cold air intake kits
completely replace the factory airflow assembly, including the
filter, air box and air path allowing more airflow to reach the
upper intake. This single change from stock equipment to
performance automobile equipment will add horsepower to any
engine that employs a fuel-injection system.

Performance Computer Chips

With the introduction of fuel-injection systems in cars and
trucks, a computer chip was installed to manage the various
components of the vehicle, including those designed to manage the
airflow and the air/fuel ratio. The computer algorithms that
control the vehicle 's performance are quite complicated and are
expected to serve many masters.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has mandated that auto
manufacturers must meet several criteria in the automobiles they
produce. The EPA has dictated that any vehicle sold in the United
States must meet certain emission requirements for 100,000 miles.
They have also dictated that vehicles must meet specific fuel
economy standards.

Onboard computer chips make sure that the vehicle 's systems will
meet these government-mandated requirements and dozens of other
requirements as well.

When the auto manufacturer is programming the algorithms for
their stock computer chips, they are concerned more with
government manufacturing requirements than the needs of the
driver. Performance computer chips strive to answer the needs of
the driver, by providing engine system fine-tuning that will help
the driver accomplish certain goals.

A properly tuned computer chip can deliver faster acceleration,
greater torque and higher horsepower. This translates into better
passing acceleration, reduced engine wear, and better throttle
consistency and control for improved gas mileage.

Some performance computer chips even address wheel upsizing, the
air/fuel ratio, shift points and gear selectors. Performance
truck computer chips can even tweak a truck 's performance to
deliver increased towing capacity.

Exhaust Systems

Airflow is such an important element of a vehicle 's overall
performance, yet many people only look to their air intake for
performance improvements and overlook the relative importance of
their exhaust systems.

Just as "what goes up must come down," is true, "what goes in
must come out," is also true. Added airflow going into an engine
will absolutely increase the volume of gases leaving an engine.

One of the most well known issues affecting the performance of a
typical stock exhaust system in an automobile is the bends in
exhaust pipes. When an automotive manufacturer puts together
their vehicle exhaust pipes, they use a standard bending system
that bends a pipe in a similar fashion to how we bend a drinking
straw. When we bend a straw between our fingers, the
circumference of the straw will be reduced at the bend. The same
effect happens with an exhaust pipe that is bent by the
manufacturer.

After-market exhaust systems are always manufactured with what
they call a "mandrel bent" in the exhaust pipes. This process is
a bit more expensive, but it ensures that an exhaust pipe will
maintain a constant circumference through its entire length.
Mandrel bending is a process manufacturers utilize that places a
ball into the pipe during the bending process. The ball ensures
that the pipe will maintain a constant circumference, which in
turn ensures that exhaust fumes will not be constricted at any
point in the exhaust pipe itself.

Simply adding a larger exhaust pipe on the backend of a vehicle
is not recommended. If the exhaust pipe has a circumference that
exceeds the actual requirements of the vehicle exhaust system,
the engine will pick up horsepower and lose low- to mid-rpm
torque. The larger tailpipe will add top-end speed to the
vehicle, but it will hurt acceleration and towing power.

T-304 stainless steel is used in airplanes because of its high
resistance to corrosion in all weather conditions. A good quality
exhaust pipe system will utilize T-304 stainless steel to protect
its external surfaces from the varied corrosive elements of car
and truck travel, such as snow, ice and salted roads in the
winter, and the salt air of coastal environments.

Both the Gibson Performance Exhaust systems and the Billy Boat
Exhaust systems employ the mandrel bending along with T-304
stainless steel into their high performance exhaust packages.
Both companies have also brought into their exhaust packages a
high performance muffler to complement their exhaust pipe
systems.

A top-performance muffler manufacturer understands the
detrimental effects of restrictions and airflow. Stock mufflers
contain screens and packing material inside that serves to
diminish airflow by offering more restriction to the path of the
exhaust fumes. Testing has shown that stock mufflers generate as
much as a 34% restriction in the airflow of the muffler. Gibson
Performance mufflers have been shown to generate as little as a
5% restriction to airflow. That is a huge difference!

Beyond the muffler, high-end exhaust systems take into account
restrictions at common joints in the exhaust system. Premium
high-performance exhaust systems have implemented better design
in their joints to ensure less restriction, less turbulence, and
less backpressure.

All of these improvements over the standard exhaust system help
drivers to extract more horsepower and torque from their
vehicles.

In Conclusion...

Any performance modifications added to a vehicle can improve many
aspects in a motor vehicle 's performance:

* More Horsepower increases top-end speeds.
* More Torque increases acceleration and towing power.
* Better airflow and fewer restrictions increases horsepower,
torque and fuel economy.
* Better airflow and fewer restrictions also reduce engine
wear.

When compared to the cost of putting a new engine or transmission
in a vehicle, replacing a worn-out engine, or buying a
better-suited vehicle, the cost of performance enhancements is
really pretty small.

The truth is that many people thought they needed a vehicle
upgrade, but they figured they would try the less expensive
upgrades first. Much to their surprise, they discovered they had
bought the right vehicle to begin with; it was just that the
manufacturer did not fully equip their vehicle for performance
during the manufacturing process.

Seed Newsvine

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<h1>High Performance Vehicles Depend On Good Air Flow</h1><br />by Guest<br /> High performance on a car or truck is often thought of in terms<br /> of higher horsepower (HP), more torque, faster speeds and quicker<br /> acceleration. High performance upgrades generally include<br /> improvements in efficiency and/or power.<br /> <br /> People who don't know a lot about cars generally think that a<br /> bigger engine or transmission might be required in order to<br /> achieve higher speeds or more reliable towing power, but that is<br /> not always the case.<br /> <br /> Car enthusiasts generally say that &quot;there is no replacement for<br /> displacement&quot; when it comes to power. What that means is the<br /> bigger engine will always deliver more power to a vehicle. Yet,<br /> the same people who tell us that we should strive to put a bigger<br /> engine in our vehicle also admit that stock vehicles leave a lot<br /> of capability unutilized in a car or truck.<br /> <br /> Automotive manufacturers always try to build a generic<br /> configuration that will appeal to the mass audience, while<br /> keeping the price of that vehicle as low as possible. As auto<br /> manufacturers cut corners and pennies from their production<br /> costs, they also sacrifice some performance capabilities in their<br /> vehicles.<br /> <br /> Air Intake Systems<br /> <br /> One such example may include air intake filters. While the stock<br /> air filter in an automobile accomplishes its intended task,<br /> removing 99% of the dirt and dust from the air, before the air<br /> can enter into the firing chamber of the car or truck engine, it<br /> also unnecessarily restricts the airflow into the engine. Cold<br /> air intake kits and high-flow air filters will effectively block<br /> dirt and dust from entering the engine, while allowing greater<br /> airflow into the engine 's firing chamber. Cold air intake kits<br /> completely replace the factory airflow assembly, including the<br /> filter, air box and air path allowing more airflow to reach the<br /> upper intake. This single change from stock equipment to<br /> performance automobile equipment will add horsepower to any<br /> engine that employs a fuel-injection system.<br /> <br /> Performance Computer Chips<br /> <br /> With the introduction of fuel-injection systems in cars and<br /> trucks, a computer chip was installed to manage the various<br /> components of the vehicle, including those designed to manage the<br /> airflow and the air/fuel ratio. The computer algorithms that<br /> control the vehicle 's performance are quite complicated and are<br /> expected to serve many masters.<br /> <br /> The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has mandated that auto<br /> manufacturers must meet several criteria in the automobiles they<br /> produce. The EPA has dictated that any vehicle sold in the United<br /> States must meet certain emission requirements for 100,000 miles.<br /> They have also dictated that vehicles must meet specific fuel<br /> economy standards.<br /> <br /> Onboard computer chips make sure that the vehicle 's systems will<br /> meet these government-mandated requirements and dozens of other<br /> requirements as well.<br /> <br /> When the auto manufacturer is programming the algorithms for<br /> their stock computer chips, they are concerned more with<br /> government manufacturing requirements than the needs of the<br /> driver. Performance computer chips strive to answer the needs of<br /> the driver, by providing engine system fine-tuning that will help<br /> the driver accomplish certain goals.<br /> <br /> A properly tuned computer chip can deliver faster acceleration,<br /> greater torque and higher horsepower. This translates into better<br /> passing acceleration, reduced engine wear, and better throttle<br /> consistency and control for improved gas mileage.<br /> <br /> Some performance computer chips even address wheel upsizing, the<br /> air/fuel ratio, shift points and gear selectors. Performance<br /> truck computer chips can even tweak a truck 's performance to<br /> deliver increased towing capacity.<br /> <br /> Exhaust Systems<br /> <br /> Airflow is such an important element of a vehicle 's overall<br /> performance, yet many people only look to their air intake for<br /> performance improvements and overlook the relative importance of<br /> their exhaust systems.<br /> <br /> Just as &quot;what goes up must come down,&quot; is true, &quot;what goes in<br /> must come out,&quot; is also true. Added airflow going into an engine<br /> will absolutely increase the volume of gases leaving an engine.<br /> <br /> One of the most well known issues affecting the performance of a<br /> typical stock exhaust system in an automobile is the bends in<br /> exhaust pipes. When an automotive manufacturer puts together<br /> their vehicle exhaust pipes, they use a standard bending system<br /> that bends a pipe in a similar fashion to how we bend a drinking<br /> straw. When we bend a straw between our fingers, the<br /> circumference of the straw will be reduced at the bend. The same<br /> effect happens with an exhaust pipe that is bent by the<br /> manufacturer.<br /> <br /> After-market exhaust systems are always manufactured with what<br /> they call a &quot;mandrel bent&quot; in the exhaust pipes. This process is<br /> a bit more expensive, but it ensures that an exhaust pipe will<br /> maintain a constant circumference through its entire length.<br /> Mandrel bending is a process manufacturers utilize that places a<br /> ball into the pipe during the bending process. The ball ensures<br /> that the pipe will maintain a constant circumference, which in<br /> turn ensures that exhaust fumes will not be constricted at any<br /> point in the exhaust pipe itself.<br /> <br /> Simply adding a larger exhaust pipe on the backend of a vehicle<br /> is not recommended. If the exhaust pipe has a circumference that<br /> exceeds the actual requirements of the vehicle exhaust system,<br /> the engine will pick up horsepower and lose low- to mid-rpm<br /> torque. The larger tailpipe will add top-end speed to the<br /> vehicle, but it will hurt acceleration and towing power.<br /> <br /> T-304 stainless steel is used in airplanes because of its high<br /> resistance to corrosion in all weather conditions. A good quality<br /> exhaust pipe system will utilize T-304 stainless steel to protect<br /> its external surfaces from the varied corrosive elements of car<br /> and truck travel, such as snow, ice and salted roads in the<br /> winter, and the salt air of coastal environments.<br /> <br /> Both the Gibson Performance Exhaust systems and the Billy Boat<br /> Exhaust systems employ the mandrel bending along with T-304<br /> stainless steel into their high performance exhaust packages.<br /> Both companies have also brought into their exhaust packages a<br /> high performance muffler to complement their exhaust pipe<br /> systems.<br /> <br /> A top-performance muffler manufacturer understands the<br /> detrimental effects of restrictions and airflow. Stock mufflers<br /> contain screens and packing material inside that serves to<br /> diminish airflow by offering more restriction to the path of the<br /> exhaust fumes. Testing has shown that stock mufflers generate as<br /> much as a 34% restriction in the airflow of the muffler. Gibson<br /> Performance mufflers have been shown to generate as little as a<br /> 5% restriction to airflow. That is a huge difference!<br /> <br /> Beyond the muffler, high-end exhaust systems take into account<br /> restrictions at common joints in the exhaust system. Premium<br /> high-performance exhaust systems have implemented better design<br /> in their joints to ensure less restriction, less turbulence, and<br /> less backpressure.<br /> <br /> All of these improvements over the standard exhaust system help<br /> drivers to extract more horsepower and torque from their<br /> vehicles.<br /> <br /> In Conclusion...<br /> <br /> Any performance modifications added to a vehicle can improve many<br /> aspects in a motor vehicle 's performance:<br /> <br /> * More Horsepower increases top-end speeds.<br /> * More Torque increases acceleration and towing power.<br /> * Better airflow and fewer restrictions increases horsepower,<br /> torque and fuel economy.<br /> * Better airflow and fewer restrictions also reduce engine<br /> wear.<br /> <br /> When compared to the cost of putting a new engine or transmission<br /> in a vehicle, replacing a worn-out engine, or buying a<br /> better-suited vehicle, the cost of performance enhancements is<br /> really pretty small.<br /> <br /> The truth is that many people thought they needed a vehicle<br /> upgrade, but they figured they would try the less expensive<br /> upgrades first. Much to their surprise, they discovered they had<br /> bought the right vehicle to begin with; it was just that the<br /> manufacturer did not fully equip their vehicle for performance<br /> during the manufacturing process.<br /> <br /><h2>About the Author</h2><p>Isaak Carter writes about automobiles and performance systems<br /> for <a href="http://www.bestperformanceautoparts.com/">http://www.bestperformanceautoparts.com</a> Best Performance<br /> Auto Parts sells a wide-range of performance auto parts<br /> including those mentioned in this article: cold air<br /> intake kits, performance computer chips, and premium<br /> exhaust systems from Gibson Performance and Billy<br /> Boat Exhaust. Visit <a href="http://www.bestperformanceautoparts.com/">http://www.bestperformanceautoparts.com</a><br /> to learn more about performance enhancements<br /> you can make to your vehicles.</p> <br /><h3><a href="http://www.content4reprint.com/cars-and-trucks/high-performance-vehicles-depend-on-good-air-flow.htm" title="High Performance Vehicles Depend On Good Air Flow">Article Source:</a> <a href="http://www.content4reprint.com" title="Free high quality articles">Content for Reprint</a></h3>