The idea of car tuning is one of the most discussed topics in many automotive communities. Even if you’re no enthusiast in the mechanics of racing cars, chances are you want more performance from your vehicle.
So, you might have come across the phrase tunning of a car while lurking on the web or during a discussion about vehicles in a gathering of gearheads.
In this post, we will discuss what tuning of a car means, how it works, its cost, and examples of vehicles that can be tuned.
To begin with, it is in our nature, as humans, to always feel that we can, one way or the other, improve on industry-manufactured products and services to better suit our needs or make ours personalized to stand out from others.
You can quickly grasp why car owners consider tunning their cars for better performance with this idea. However, the idea of car tunning can be explained from various dimensions depending on the area of modification being considered.
What Does it Mean to Tune a Car?
In short, there is a specific set of performance requirements that cars have been designed initially to meet. Tuning a vehicle means optimizing the car modification, usually for peak engine performance and characteristics.
However, sometimes, cars can be tweaked to improve their response, fuel economy, or other integral mechanical functions.
The culture of car alteration has even widened over the years from merely engine performance changes to the tuning of exterior parts for more personalization and aesthetics.
The general motive behind car tuning is to improve the vehicle’s overall performance to meet the user-specific need, which was not originally featured in the car make.
As necessary in some scenarios, tuning a car could be detrimental to the car’s functionality, especially in areas like emissions, reliability, and comfortability.
How Does a Tune Work on a Car?
It is essential to understand that modern cars are heavily controlled and monitored by car computers. The most important computer is the one that controls the engine, which is referred to as the Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
The performance of the ECU, which translates to the level of engine power, depends on how it is programmed or tuned.
For instance, we can take two identical car engines and give them two different performances just by how we tune them. One could be configured for better power output, while the other for maximum fuel economy.
(The engine can be configured to do both, as well.) A professional tuner should understand that configuring a car engine for improved power output will also encompass intervention on suspensions and brakes according to the outcome of higher acceleration and enhanced performance.
Other considerations for engine modification include paying attention to the tires to cushion the swaying effect and fixing better springs and shock absorbers.
How much Horsepower(HP) Does tuning add?
We’ve been able to see that tuning your car would improve its speed and acceleration. You might now be asking how much horsepower a tuner adds.
The horsepower is simply the power produced by the car engine, gauged by the rate needed to move 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute. If you have installed many performance parts such as cold air intake, exhaust, turbo, and others, then tuning your car will surely give you a lot of horsepowers.
You could probably gain anywhere between 10 to 15 horsepower from a dyno tune on a stock car to be more stringent.
P. S: Engine Tune-up won’t increase horsepower. However, since it entails inspecting and replacing components of the engine that are important to ignition, engine tune-up will also cause a smooth engine operation.
How Much Does it Cost to Tune a Car?
When taken to the tuning garage, the process carried out on your car will bring about increased performance, improved horsepower, and more efficient engine operation, which is why you should expect to shell out a hefty fee for this.
For a ballpark figure, Dyno tuning a car should cost you from as low as $400 to anywhere between $700 and $900. It depends on the modification specifics and the model of your car.
However, the cost for a standard tune-up is between $50-400 depending on where you take it.
Other factors that determine the cost of car tuning include, but are not limited to, the purchase of any parts required to complement the outcome of the change, as previously explained.
On second thought, tuning your car yourself is a viable option, only that you will need software to make the configurations and then the required hardware for modifying the ECU.
Some car owners might not be confident to rely on their tuning knowledge to make the changes, which is entirely OK and why you could take it to the garage to get the hassle off your shoulder at the expense of the cash charged.
Which vehicles can be tuned?
Modern vehicles featuring ECU can go through modification, likewise cars with an internal combustion engine. However, the latter, commonly found in older vehicles, will require a hideous approach compared to the former.
Also, on the grades of engine type, cars with diesel and petrol engines are both tuner-friendly for better performance, but I notice there are more modification cases for gasoline engines than gas.
Does Tuning Your Car hurt it?
The discussion around tuning a car is not complete without touching on how it can affect the vehicle in the long run – either positively (obviously) or otherwise.
As I pointed out at the beginning of this article, tuning a car could be potentially detrimental to the car’s functionality, especially in areas like emissions, reliability, and comfortability.
While a good tuning can maximize your car’s fuel economy and peak its overall performance, keep in mind that modifying your car engine or any part now means that you will have to maintain as often as before.
This could be translated into the need to spend more on maintenance over time. In addition, when a tuning process is not done right, especially when it is done at the extreme, a considerable risk is placed on the engine’s longevity.
Conclusion on What Does Tuning a Car Mean
Tuning your car is encouraged, especially if you wish for better overall performance or you need a plush up for your vehicle to be easily singled out from the crowd.
It is similar to tuning a musical instrument where you tweak some screws, then listen to check if it gives the perfect sound you want.
In the article above, we’ve been able to see how tuning a car involves trying to get the right mix of variables for your vehicle’s peak performance.
We’ve also looked at how it works, its cost, and also examples of tuner-friendly cars. Now that you know, you might want to consider turning your car anytime soon. Thanks for reading.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_tuning
Robert Anderson is a world class motorhead who rebuilt his first carb at age 10, his first engine at age 15, and completed his first full hotrod build when he was just 18! Previously, he has ran a part warehouse, delivered pizzas, and managed the service department for a $20 million/year revenue dealership. Robert knows cars like few others and he is passionate about sharing his knowledge.