Having a diesel engine in your truck already provides plenty of oomph, whether for driving or towing and hauling. But the beautiful thing about diesel engines is that they can always reach greater heights of power and efficiency. Sometimes, the alterations that improve your engines require a mechanic’s expertise, but you can add just as many from the comfort of your own garage. If you want to add strength and torque to your engine while improving mileage and emissions, here are four ways to upgrade your diesel engine’s performance.
Add a Cold Air Intake System
Your engine needs to breathe. The more oxygen-rich air the engine takes in, the better it will run. Stock air intake systems are beneficial but limiting since they’re partly intended to keep the engine quieter. They do this by limiting how much air your engine takes in. There are pros and cons to adding a cold air intake system to your engine, but you can see an immediate uptick in power and torque. Cold air intake systems bring in cooler and more oxygen-rich air, which works even better in your engine. Cold air intake systems are easy to install, too!
Add Fuel Additives
For immediate improvement in engine performance, investigate fuel additives. There are several kinds of fuel additives out there, and as their name implies, you add them to the gas tank before your next fill-up. Additives can prevent clogging and sluggishness, combat high and low temperatures, keep your engine and other parts clean, and more. Check the manual or speak to your mechanic first to find the right additive for your engine.
Turbocharge It!
A turbocharger is another device that brings more air into the engine, thereby boosting performance. More air means more oxygen, which means more oxygen to mix with the fuel, increasing power. Installing a turbocharger isn’t a terribly difficult process if you have the know-how and tools, but it will still require an investment of money and time. Regardless, the results will speak for themselves.
Stay on Schedule
The last of our four ways to upgrade your diesel engine’s performance is the most obvious one for any vehicle. If you want higher performance, stick to a regular maintenance schedule for your vehicle. Change the oil and other fluids as needed; a good rule of thumb is to change regular oil every 3,000 miles or every 6,000 miles for synthetic oil. Help the engine reach its full potential by keeping the tires inflated to the proper pressure and making regular visits to the car wash—a clean car runs better!
