Does helping your cars engine breathe better increase horsepower/torque?

Question

I know for the most part alot of cars have engine components that restricts the car from breathing better which decrease horsepower and torgue. I wanted to know if you change parts on the car(intake/exhaust)etc to help it breath better and more efficently, will it increase your cars horsepower and torque?

Answer 1

The simple answer is YES.

But the long answer is - it depends. It depends on how bad your factory system is. Often factories are required by noise laws to severly limit good air flow. But recently I noticed that many small cars (like Civic) already comes with short air intake and exhaust header pipes.

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Even so it will only increase by 5 to 15 HP max (more like 5 HP). And the extra HP usually comes at high RPM. So if you are not the kind of person who often red-lines the engine, you won't see much HP increase.


Good Luck.

P.S. But it sure sounds nice when I hit the gas past 4,500 RPM...

P.P.S. The DodgeMan would be correct about engine BOGGING down but that only really is a problem for old carb engines. New fuel injected system do NOT have this bogging problem.

Answer 2

Yes, it can, but the cost can be more than it's worth. just to get a few extra horsepower. If you don't know what you're doing you can dramatically hurt the gas mileage without gaining much power and you might even damage the engine if you start messing around making random changes to the intake or exhaust system. There are lots of books on enhancing engine performance safely, or you might consult a performance specialist.

Answer 3

Although your question is not vague, it leaves a lot unasked. Older engines, pre '90's models, respond a lot better to breathing modifications like exhaust and intake. Newer computer controlled engines respond as well, but being smaller in cubic inches you will not see the proportional increase you see in older engines unless you change sensors as well and there is a point where it all ends and gains start to reverse unless a new computer is installed to control the changes made, or the engine is bored/stroked. So Dodge Man is correct by saying you can bog a computer controlled engine.

Answer 4

Yes, but the amount it increases will depend on how badly it is restricted now. Its not likely its going to increase to the point that you can really feel it. At the least, your car will run better, get a little better mileage, and be more responsive.

Answer 5

to a certain point it will too much air and it will bog down or loose power the amount of air is determined by the intake tube and the air intake,you can help it some or not do any good for the engine at all,it usually will help increase the horse power a small amount,gas mileage will sometimes be better,sometimes there's not much of a noticeable difference in them,it depends on the engine and the miles it has on it,and how you drive it,good luck.

Answer 6

you need to keep the air flowing putting dual exhaust helps hp headers helps hp you have the right ideas keep on going

Answer 7

Yes it most ceratinly will.

Answer 8

Yes, it will on both counts.