Industry Articles

How To Maximize Pickup Truck Performance - 5 Tips

Written by the Brant Jones Team

If you own a pickup truck, you're probably used to having a lot of power. But, hey, a little extra power never hurts, right? And if you're anything like us... you probably enjoy the sound of a loud engine and the sensation of a forceful ride. Fortunately, we've gathered a list of several efficient methods to increase the horsepower and economy of your pickup truck. Various things can add power to your truck, ranging from regular maintenance to substantial modifications.

1. Get an aftermarket exhaust installed 

Aftermarket exhaust systems are an excellent, fast, and simple option to boost your truck's horsepower. Stock mufflers are often intended to be quiet rather than efficient. So, much like an air intake, replacing your factory muffler with a quality aftermarket system, such as a tuned cat-back exhaust, will make a difference, but you will almost surely experience a 20 horsepower improvement, depending on the size of your truck's engine. You may boost your horsepower even more by replacing the factory exhaust manifold with a pair of aftermarket headers.

2. Have a cold air intake installed 

While changing the cold-air intake may not significantly improve power, it will undoubtedly enhance your truck's efficiency. A cold-air intake cools the heated air from the exterior of the engine compartment before sucking it back into the engine for combustion. Cooler air is denser, indicating more oxygen per unit of air volume, and more oxygen allows more fuel to be burnt, resulting in a little increase in power and a significant increase in efficiency.

Another benefit of a cold-air intake is eliminating the sound baffling included within the factory intake. The sound baffling is designed to decrease engine noise when the throttle is wide open, although it may be highly restricting. If you don't mind engine noise, removing this and replacing your stock airbox might be a remarkable alteration.

A premium cold-air intake could be the way to go if you want to add a little more torque, perhaps 5-10 more horsepower, increased throttle response, and a modest gain in fuel efficiency.

3. Get an engine tuner 

Chips, modules, and programmers are all examples of engine tuners that may help you boost your truck’s performance. While some manufacturers claim that their tuners may enhance engine performance by up to five miles per gallon, efficiency is highly dependent on how and where you drive. Drivers who increase their vehicle's horsepower often push the pedal to the metal, causing engine wear and extra stress on the gearbox and drivetrain.

Tuners are great for giving you that additional push-off line, but if not used properly, they may decrease the life of your vehicle. On the other hand, an engine tuner may be just what you need if you often tow, drive long miles, or climb high terrain. The fantastic thing about tuners is that they enable you to customize your truck for, off-roading, or towing. Tuners will allow you to modify horsepower, ft-lbs,torque and miles per gallon by simply flipping a switch or touching a screen. Each tuner will do different things. However, they will result in marginally improved performance, efficiency, and fuel economy.

4. Invest in turbochargers and superchargers 

Both superchargers and turbochargers boost power, but knowing the distinctions between the two might help you make a better choice if you're considering installing one. They will both deal with power, regardless of which one you select.

Forced induction devices, such as superchargers and turbochargers compress the air flowing into the engine, giving a significant boost. However, the fundamental distinction between the two is where they get their strength. The exhaust steam is used to power a turbocharger, and the exhaust passes via a turbine that spins the compressor. The turbocharger will enable the turbine to rotate at a considerably higher rate, allowing for boosted production.

Unlike turbochargers, superchargers get power from the crankshaft linked to the engine through a belt. A supercharger allows more fuel to be fed to the combustion charge by compressing air and pushing more air into the engine, resulting in a significant gain in power.

While they will both increase your vehicle's power, each has certain benefits over the other. There is no "lag" with superchargers, which means there is no delay between the application of the throttle and the increased intake pressure. Superchargers are also more dependable than turbochargers, probably because they are directly linked to the engine through a belt. 

However, it should be noted that turbochargers normally come with pollution-reducing devices, but a supercharger does not have a wastegate and will release smog. On the other hand, Turbos are fuel-efficient because they use waste heat from the exhaust to increase the air intake pressure. They're also more durable and less expensive, making larger engines more responsive.

5. Do an engine tune-up 

When it comes to taking care of your truck, regular maintenance is one of the most crucial factors. While routine maintenance won't always enhance your horsepower, it may help you get more out of your vehicle. It's very straightforward: your truck will suffer if your vehicle's systems aren't functioning correctly. If your air and fuel filters are unclean, your truck will be deprived of the gasoline and air it needs to function correctly. Transmission drains and fills and regular oil changes are essential for keeping your vehicle running efficiently. The more often you replace your oil and maintain your engine, the better your truck will run and the longer it will survive.

Final words 

There are a lot of different options when it comes to increasing the performance of your pickup truck!. While basic preventative maintenance is important, there are also many opportunities to add performance enhancements.  Many truck owners find enjoyment in adding these performance modificaitons to their rides. After all, you often get out precisely what you put in.

Contact Brant Jones Auto & Diesel Today!

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