Published: October 03, 2006 11:17 am      

Horsepower on the Cheap: Get More Horsepower for Less Than $100

Who wouldn't want improved performance from their car if the price was right? With automotive costs on the rise across the board - most notably fuel - here are ways to boost horsepower without taking out a small loan to do it.



Upgrade your lubricants - Friction and heat from engine components and the drive train rob horsepower and performance. Minimizing this power loss can be as easy as upgrading to one of the newer high-performance lubricants that are available. For instance, in a test by Horsepower TV, upgrading to Royal Purple on a Camaro freed up 9 horsepower. While there are a number of high-performance lubricants on the market, only Royal Purple has been endorsed by "Hot Rod" magazine. More information on their lubes can be found at www.royalpurple.com.



Replace and/or upgrade your air filter - During the life of your engine, thousands of cubic feet of air will pass through the engine cylinders. Dust and other material that flows in with that air can cause excessive wear and operating problems to the engine. It's imperative that you keep air filters clean by regularly replacing them. To further enhance filtration and power, upgrade to a performance air filter, which can free up an additional 2 to 3 horsepower. While not a tremendous power gain, the relatively low cost of a filter and ease of installation (about 5 minutes) more than make up for it.

Use higher octane gas or an octane booster - Go for the good stuff the next time you're at the pump. Depending on your vehicle, high- octane gasoline can provide an increase in horsepower. Even a marginal gain by switching from the lowest octane gasoline to the highest octane is worth a few extra pennies at the pump. For those who want to see a more measurable increase in power, a racing blend of gasoline will work well for those willing to put the time and effort into finding and purchasing it.



Upgrading your gas, lubricants and air filter are cheap and easy ways to see increase horsepower. They'll also extend the life of your engine and help prevent expensive repairs.