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Lets Rice Ma Car, y0!
(682 posts, started )
Then the only real engine modification that is more cheap-ish is a chip tunning or box tunning. The tunners claim it will give you more power and more miles per galon .
Why is very very very VERY rarely true.
Hmm, kind of.

A chip, depending on what type will cost anywhere from $500 to $1000
Then the actually tune can cost anywhere from $300-600
And you can't take the car to anyone to get it tuned...i know i wouldn't.

It will increase power, and fuel efficency.
But it also increases the chance of the engine going kabloom.

Cars run rich from factory so that if anything happens, say it starts leaning out...it always has that extra fuel there just in case.

That doesn't happen if you get it tuned, which is why only most people with atleast SOME knowledge of cars do it. (Probably best to get a AFR gauge in your car also)

I think a Intake system and exhaust system will be fine.

Intake will add power and reduce fuel, exhaust will add power. Not over-ly expensive, and your car's not going to go kabloom if something messes up.
Considering that none of these changes really alter the efficiency of the engine (in terms of energy released per unit of fuel), then how does more power = better mileage? You burn more fuel to get more power. Cruising with less throttle doesn't help, because of the throttling losses that occur.

I don't believe claims that give more power AND more economy from very basic external mods. If that could have been achieved, then the manufacturers would have done it, as MPG and Peak Power are USPs.
I'd get practical upgrades;

-comfort upgrades
-upgrades that will increase fuel efficiency without losing power
Quote from tristancliffe :Considering that none of these changes really alter the efficiency of the engine (in terms of energy released per unit of fuel), then how does more power = better mileage? You burn more fuel to get more power. Cruising with less throttle doesn't help, because of the throttling losses that occur.

I don't believe claims that give more power AND more economy from very basic external mods. If that could have been achieved, then the manufacturers would have done it, as MPG and Peak Power are USPs.

Cars run rich from factory, Correct?
So by doing this, you allow the computer to put more air into the engine, which allows more fuel that was originaly getting wasted to be burnt.

This adds power, but at the same time you aren't wasting the fuel.

I'm actually not sure how it saves fuel, but i've been told by people that get it tuned that it does.
can't be sure, ill let you know on the 6th of september i guess :P
No, they don't run especially rich. If anything they run lean for the sake of emissions, quick warm up, and quick catalyst activation.
Quote from tristancliffe :No, they don't run especially rich. If anything they run lean for the sake of emissions, quick warm up, and quick catalyst activation.

Don't mean to offend you or anything, as i'm sure you know alot more than me.

But a lean motor can go pop fairly quickly, and doesn't last as long as a motor that runs rich.

"A rich tune is a safe tune" - Is pretty much what most people say, and most performance cars i've know (Admittedly, they're all forced induction) have ran extremely rich from factory.

Take my brothers car, tune hasn't been messed with, still runs the factory MAP + MAF's and its at 10.0:1, when the ideal is 12.0:1
Quote from tristancliffe :No, they don't run especially rich. If anything they run lean for the sake of emissions, quick warm up, and quick catalyst activation.

Fully agree.
Use what little money it would be worth spending on your car to keep it well maintained. Brakes are best when they work properly. Tyres are nicer when they're not 6 years old and mismatched front to rear. Service the car, spend some money having it professionally cleaned/valeted and it will be as good as it can be. I wouldn't invest anything else in it in terms of "mods", although I wouldn't blame you for putting a cd player in there.
Quote from Becky Rose :No it's like a spray on stuff that coats the screen that makes it low friction and the water just rolls off so you get better visibility.

You talking about Rain X, think there is also one called Rain Wizard aswell.

Edit: Also if you do go for an air filter get either a K & N or a Pipercross one.
Quote from ColeusRattus :

Well, looking "better" depends on your point of view. I for one would define your "better" as "rediculous". And it's "wheels", not "rims". Also, for a starter driver I don't recommend alloys as they are very prone to bend when you hit a curb.

i just knew someone would react to that....

So what? you get what i mean...
#63 - Jakg
Quote from sinbad :Use what little money it would be worth spending on your car to keep it well maintained. Brakes are best when they work properly. Tyres are nicer when they're not 6 years old and mismatched front to rear. Service the car, spend some money having it professionally cleaned/valeted and it will be as good as it can be. I wouldn't invest anything else in it in terms of "mods", although I wouldn't blame you for putting a cd player in there.

Obviously after the MOT i'll fix what needs fixing but I wondered if there was any "big thing" I should do.

My first pay day should be coming at the end of the month, which should be around £450 ish, which can all be spent on the car if needs be.
Quote from Migz :I was only talking about the "you are going to crash" bit, of course they are going to speed, nothing feels better then the feeling of power and abusing it!!
(Not political power, the power that you get when your behind a wheel)

But yeah i was just saying that not all 17 year olds are going to crash, but yes alot of them are going to speed.

do you have any idea what you are talking about?
it didnt make any sense at all.

first you are saying all teens will speed.
and second not all of them are gonna crash. (yeah of couse not all of them are gonna crash. only those who think they can drive like schumi in their rice rockets would crash)
plus one crash is more than enough.
higher speed = more serious accident.
TBH i dont give a crap if you crash or not? or even die in the accident?
i simply do not care.
what i care is that these stupid unnesscery accidents caused by stupid immature teens are costing innocent people's life.
Quote from Jakg : and I've also seen things like films you spray over you numberplate so that speedcamera's can't see it etc.

They don't work :\

EDIT: Read that someone already typed that, don't feel like erasing it....
#66 - Jakg
meh

Off to clean it on the outside now...
Quote from SidiousX :They don't work :\

EDIT: Read that someone already typed that, don't feel like erasing it....

True, they also showed the way they get round it on TV, just the Becky said, they put it negative and it brings the reg straight up, so dont bother investing in the spray, I have heard though a Hayabusa at full speed can go past a speed camera and the time the speed camera has flashed the bike is gone, I dont believe it though.
You can avoid getting a speeding ticket by a camera if you go over 300 km/h in anything.
You can also avoid a speeding ticket by, STICKING TO THE BLOODY LIMIT!!!, now theres a novel soloution...........
Quote from danowat :You can also avoid a speeding ticket by, STICKING TO THE BLOODY LIMIT!!!, now theres a novel soloution...........

No one really sticks to the speed limit though do they, all the cars I have been in always go about 10mph over, another solutions is, slow down when you get to the speed camera
you can avoid a speed ticket if you do more than 170mph. That is what speed the camera's go upto.
Quote from Klutch :Don't mean to offend you or anything, as i'm sure you know alot more than me.

But a lean motor can go pop fairly quickly, and doesn't last as long as a motor that runs rich.

"A rich tune is a safe tune" - Is pretty much what most people say, and most performance cars i've know (Admittedly, they're all forced induction) have ran extremely rich from factory.

Take my brothers car, tune hasn't been messed with, still runs the factory MAP + MAF's and its at 10.0:1, when the ideal is 12.0:1

No, if you WAY to lean you'll run the risk of pre-ignition, which is bad, or detonation which leads to pre-ignition which is bad.

Rich mixtures develop more power - when lambda is around 0.85. Rich mixtures burn cooler, and this cooling has a benefitial effect on engine life - valves are less likely to burn out for example.

But lean, up to about Lambda 1.2 will give more fuel efficiency.

Engine specialists are attempting to go super lean using stratified injection, which would enable more EGR (even better for emissions), but without causing lots of emissions in the first place, and without misfires or incomplete combusion. Couple that with a dethrottled engine and you cast any of the advantages of diesel (of which there are few as it stands) into history forever more.

However, any numpty with a tuning shop and a rolling road will give you a rich tune because it's safer and because it will give more power. It will be detrimental to emissions and fuel efficiency.

And remember, only about 1% of companies who own dynos (chassis or engine) actually have the faintest idea what and, more importantly, why engines do what they do.
Quote from danowat :You can also avoid a speeding ticket by, STICKING TO THE BLOODY LIMIT!!!, now theres a novel soloution...........

um yeah. the idea is indeed novel, but it can't be done.

once, as a test, guys from a car/driving magazine in greece, tried traveling from athens to thessaloniki, a 500km distance, obeying the limits.

it took them EIGHT HOURS.
Quote from tristancliffe :No, if you WAY to lean you'll run the risk of pre-ignition, which is bad, or detonation which leads to pre-ignition which is bad.

Rich mixtures develop more power - when lambda is around 0.85. Rich mixtures burn cooler, and this cooling has a benefitial effect on engine life - valves are less likely to burn out for example.

But lean, up to about Lambda 1.2 will give more fuel efficiency.

Engine specialists are attempting to go super lean using stratified injection, which would enable more EGR (even better for emissions), but without causing lots of emissions in the first place, and without misfires or incomplete combusion. Couple that with a dethrottled engine and you cast any of the advantages of diesel (of which there are few as it stands) into history forever more.

However, any numpty with a tuning shop and a rolling road will give you a rich tune because it's safer and because it will give more power. It will be detrimental to emissions and fuel efficiency.

And remember, only about 1% of companies who own dynos (chassis or engine) actually have the faintest idea what and, more importantly, why engines do what they do.

Yeah, its why i said earlier not to take it to any old tuning shop.

And thanks, good to learn a few things
#75 - Jakg
Quote from danowat :You can also avoid a speeding ticket by, STICKING TO THE BLOODY LIMIT!!!, now theres a novel soloution...........

Nowhere did I say I planned on speeding - just that i'm fairly sure at least once I will speed by accident and in a wholly selfish way i'd like to escape punishment if i'm caught.

(FWIW i've only had 2 lessons and i've already broken the limit at least 3 times without realising).

Lets Rice Ma Car, y0!
(682 posts, started )
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