Increasing horsepower of a car is a favorite and a much talked about topic by many car enthusiasts. Rarely do we find two enthusiasts agreeing on one method to increase or gain horsepower. Before dealing with the how to, let us first find out what is horsepower.

Horsepower is the actual strength of a car to run effectively. Technically it is the work done over a period of time. Smooth running along with good horsepower requires you to invest both your time and money. Changing certain parts definitely gives you an edge in increasing your car's horsepower.

If we ask a car enthusiast what horsepower his car gives, his replies may be arguable. He may not be able to give an accurate reply, but he definitely spends money to gain horsepower. We will discuss some of the methods here.

Before you think of the various things you can do to increase your car's horsepower, you should assess whether your car's engine can handle the increase in power. Performance modifications and horsepower increases often put more stress on the engine.

There are two very common methods employed by car enthusiasts to increase horsepower – using a cold air intake and an exhaust. Specially designed cold air intakes increase the flow of air and pull cold air from under the car or bumper. These intakes have larger filters that move the intake charge further away from the hot engine. With effect, dense cold air leads to more power.


Replacing exhaust systems with new ones with mediumer bends and larger diameters than standard ones, increases flow and allows the engine to breathe better.

Another efficient method in increasing horsepower would be in installing a performance chip in the Engine Control Unit (ECU). These units are like the brain of a car. Generally a performance chip will add horsepower with little to no change in your fuel consumption efficiency. Using a stronger ignition system and replacing stock spark plugs and wires would also be beneficial. A longer, stronger spark means you may save more fuel and get a better burn.

Adding a turbo charger or super charger also helps gain horsepower. Installing a turbo charger (or a larger turbo) is a step to be taken very cautiously. You should always check if your engine can take the load of a new turbocharger. All Turbochargers work on a forced induction method. Turbochargers compress air into the cylinder. A turbocharged engine lets more air into the cylinder thereby allowing the engine to give more power. A turbocharged engine has the potential to produce more power than one that does not have a turbocharger.

A more intricate, time and money consuming effort in gaining horsepower is an internal engine modification. This can make a lot of difference in horsepower. A port and polish on your cylinder head can reduce the turbulence in the air flow. There is a wide range of products available at Eastwood that can be ordered online for a port and polish on the cylinder. Eastwood's Porting Kit and Polishing Kit can contribute a good value to the cylinder. Stronger valve springs or an increase in valve size can contribute to an increase in horsepower. Valves contribute to the amount of air that can be filled inside the cylinder. Most times the more valves, the more power the engine could produce. More valves use more cross sectional area in a cylinder and this increases the volumetric efficiency of the engine. However, more than five valves in the cylinder may lead to mechanical complexities.