Want to put your own stamp on your car and make it your own? If you’re not content driving a bog-standard car, there’s a whole lot you can do to modify it and make it one of a kind. From installing aero add-ons to fitting new wheels, tyres and suspension, the possibilities are endless: you’re only really limited by your imagination (and your bank account, of course).

Car modifications are nothing new. Today, the UK’s aftermarket automotive industry turns over more than £20 billion each year, with much of that revenue coming from tuning and modification specialists (like ourselves). And there’s far more to it than just changing up the look of your car - you can transform the way it drives too.

That brings us onto the subject of today’s blog: engine tuning. If you’ve never modified your car before and want to learn all about the benefits and pitfalls of engine mods - as well as how to get started - you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’re going to bring you up to speed on everything you need to know.

What is engine tuning all about?

First off, what is the purpose of engine tuning? Why do people spend thousands of pounds upgrading their cars’ powerplants? The main reason is because they want more power. Primarily, engine tuning is all about improving the performance of an engine, allowing it to produce more horsepower and more torque across the rev range.

More horsepower and torque means faster acceleration and, potentially, a higher top speed (if your car’s gearing allows for it). On the road, this means more excitement, more thrills - and on track, the added power can see lap times tumble.

Engine tuning isn’t always about power, though: some engine mods can actually improve the fuel efficiency and reliability of your car. A remapped ECU can deliver a power boost and improved fuel economy at the same time, while upgraded cooling components help keep your engine cool, potentially lengthening its lifespan.

What to consider when upgrading your engine

Of course, engine tuning is just one part of modifying a car - and it’s not the only thing you should focus on if you want to make your car perform better. Let’s say you spend all your money on the engine, taking your car’s power output from 200 to 400hp. That’s a big increase. If you don’t upgrade your suspension, tyres and brakes as well, your car will struggle to cope with the additional power, potentially resulting in unpredictable (and downright scary) driving characteristics.

The faster your car is in a straight line, the better its brakes will need to be - and the more grip it will need to put that additional power to the ground. So, although engine tuning is a worthwhile pursuit, it shouldn’t be carried out in isolation: a well-built car will feature a raft of handling upgrades to help put all that power down.

Plus, additional power and torque will place more strain on the car’s drivetrain - components like the gearbox, clutch, differential and driveshafts. In many cases, these components will need to be swapped out for reinforced alternatives in order to maintain the car’s reliability. Adding a boatload of power without improving the drivetrain will eventually lead to a failure of some description, so planning ahead is key.

Pros and cons of car engine tuning

Trying to decide whether it’s worth upgrading your car’s engine? Here are a few of the pros and cons to help you work out if it’s right for you.

Pros

• It can improve the performance of your car significantly
• Provided it’s done correctly, it can add value to your car or make it easier to sell
• It can enhance the sound of your engine and make the driving experience more engaging
• It can be used to improve the fuel efficiency of your car - it’s not always just about performance

Cons

• If it’s not done correctly, it can impact your car’s reliability
• …and harm its value on the second-hand market
• You’ll need to upgrade your car’s brakes, tyres and suspension if you’re aiming for a significant power increase

How to tune an engine the right way

The world of engine tuning is an incredibly complex one. Not only do best practices vary from car to car, they vary depending on your goals. For instance, a loud exhaust and an aggressive cam might work well on a track-only car, but they won’t suit a daily driver. 

We could quite literally write a book on the subject - and plenty of other people already have! So, instead of taking a deep dive into the science behind engine mods (we’ll save that for another blog), we’ve instead put together a list of popular upgrades and what they do. Let’s dive into it.

Cooling upgrades

Let’s kick things off with an often overlooked engine upgrade: cooling components. They might not sound exciting, and they might not add power to your engine, but they are essential if you’re planning to boost performance and don’t want to sacrifice reliability.

It’s one thing having a powerful engine, but it’s no use if it constantly overheats. By switching out the stock radiator for a larger, more efficient aftermarket one, you’ll be able to keep your engine’s coolant temperature down - even when it’s producing more power than it left the factory with. The net result is improved reliability in all driving conditions, from track days to traffic jams.

Air filters and induction kits

Now, onto the power-adders. Aftermarket air filters and induction kits are among the most popular car mods out there, simply because they’re affordable and easy to install. The principle behind them is simple: they allow your engine to draw in more air than a standard airbox would.

On its own, this additional air won’t have an appreciable effect on your car’s performance. But combined with other modifications (like a better fuel pump, freer-flowing exhaust and a remap), induction kits can really make a difference, particularly on turbocharged cars.

They won’t add much power to most normally aspirated cars, but they can improve the sound of your engine, giving it a more aggressive induction roar.

Exhausts

Another tremendously popular upgrade, aftermarket exhaust systems are often fitted to cars simply to alter the way they sound. And it’s true - a new exhaust can dramatically change the sound of your car, making it louder and more aggressive.

But the benefits of exhausts don’t end there. While air filters and induction kits allow your engine to breathe in more air, aftermarket exhaust systems allow your engine to ‘breathe out’ that air more efficiently, potentially leading to a power increase.

Again, an aftermarket exhaust on its own is unlikely to generate a noticeable power increase. But combine it with a handful of other mods and the jump in power can be significant, particularly on modern turbocharged engines.

There are other benefits to switching out your stock exhaust, too. Aftermarket replacements tend to be significantly lighter than their stock counterparts, giving your car a little added agility in corners. They’re often manufactured from stainless steel too, meaning they’ll comfortably outlast standard mild steel exhausts. 

Fuel system upgrades

Although an engine needs more air to produce more power, it also needs more fuel. That’s where fuel system upgrades (like larger injectors and higher-flowing fuel pumps) come in. 

One of the first steps to tuning most turbocharged engines is switching out the stock fuel pump for an aftermarket one. A better fuel pump (combined with a remap) allows the boost pressure to be increased safely without throwing off the air-fuel ratio (AFR) and causing damage to the engine.

Ignition upgrades

So, we’ve made sure our engine can breathe more efficiently, and we’ve upgraded the fuel system to make sure there’s enough fuel available to maintain the correct AFR. What’s next?

If you know how engines work, you’ll know that there are three main components to the combustion cycle: air, fuel and ignition. Upgrading your engine’s spark plugs and ignition coils will allow your engine to ignite fuel in the cylinders more efficiently, resulting in a bigger bang and more power.

ECU remaps

Any time you install an engine mod, be it a fuel pump, an induction kit or even a bigger turbo, you’ll need to tweak your car’s engine control unit (ECU) in order to take advantage of them and maintain the reliability of your engine.

Your ECU is, in effect, the brain of your engine - so if you don’t tell it that it now has more air and fuel to play with, it won’t allow the engine to produce more power. ECU remaps allow you to unlock the true potential of your engine, optimising the AFR and ignition timing (among other things) to produce as much power and torque as possible throughout the rev range.

Forced induction

If your car already comes with a turbocharger or a supercharger from the factory, you’ll find it much easier to improve its performance. Tuning a forced induction car is often relatively simple; install the correct supporting mods (like an induction kit, exhaust, intercooler and fuel pump), turn up the boost, remap the ECU and you’re away. Following this process can result in a significant power increase, often up to 50 bhp or more over stock.

If your car is normally aspirated, you can still add a turbocharger or a supercharger to it, although this is quite a complex process and often requires internal engine mods too (like strengthened pistons, conrods and so on).

Internal engine modifications

This is where things get serious (and expensive). If you reach the safe power limit of your stock engine, you can tear it apart and fit stronger, forged components that can handle additional power and torque without failing.

Rebuilt, forged engines can handle significantly more power than their stock counterparts, but this extra durability comes at a cost. It’s not uncommon for quality engine builds to cost five figures!

Engine swaps

The ultimate engine upgrade doesn’t involve upgrading your current engine at all, but casting it aside and fitting a larger, more powerful engine instead. Engine swaps are uncommon and not for beginners, but they’re worth mentioning here nonetheless. We’ve seen all kinds of crazy engine swaps over the years, from V8s stuffed into MX-5s through to Honda K-series engines shoehorned into classic Minis. If you have the money and the engineering know-how, practically anything is possible.

Discover our complete range of car engine tuning parts

Ready to start shopping for engine mods? LK Performance is one UK’s leading suppliers of aftermarket parts, stocking quality components for everything from Ford Fiestas to Porsche 911s and everything in between.

Browse our complete range of engine tuning parts online today to get started, or get in touch with our team of experts for advice.