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How Turbochargers Work
When people talk about race cars or high-performance sports cars, the topic of turbochargers usually comes up. A turbo can significantly boost an engine's horsepower without increasing its weight.
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ENGINE PERFORMANCE
In the Engine Performance section, learn about horsepower, carburetors, the difference between turbochargers and superchargers and even how nitrous oxide boosts engine performance.
Be Your Own Mechanic
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How much horsepower is enough?Modern car engines can create massive amounts of horsepower -- and everyone wants more power, right? But how much is too much? And how much is just enough? See more »
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How Superchargers Work
Since the invention of the internal combustion engine, automotive engineers, speed junkies and race car designers have been searching for ways to boost its power. And they did, of course -- creating superchargers that make an engine more efficient by forcing air into the combustion chamber. See more »
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How the Engine Control Module Works
Your car's engine control module (ECM) continually monitors a vast network of sensors to ensure operating conditions are within normal range. Do you know what the ECM actually controls? See more »
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How to Choose the Right Oil for Your Car or Truck
Despite a bewildering array of oils on the market -- with various additive packages and performance standards -- finding the right oil for your car is relatively easy. But finding the best oil out of the array is a little more difficult. See more »
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How to Do an Engine Oil Analysis
Did you know that the condition of your car's engine oil can actually provide clues to its health? It helps if you think of it like a blood test for humans. See more »
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How to Dynamically Time an Engine
If you own a car with a distributor, you might be able to improve your engine's performance with dynamic timing. How can you make sure everything's running at peak efficiency? See more »
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How to Find Engine Oil Capacities
When used correctly, oil provides a number of benefits for the way your engine functions. Wouldn't it be nice to know exactly how much oil your car's engine needs to be filled to its capacity? See more »
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How to Prevent Soot Buildup in Your Car's Engine
Soot buildup is common in diesel engines; however, it's a frequent misconception that soot doesn't occur in gasoline engines. It does. Excessive soot could simply signal the need for an oil change, or it could indicate other underlying problems. See more »
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How to Remove Engine Deposits
It's unfortunate that the same thing that makes an internal combustion engine work so well (combustion) can eventually hurt the engine. Over time, engine deposits build up and cause your engine to lose power and efficiency. Do you know your options? See more »
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How to Static Time an Engine
Does static timing your engine sound a little too intimidating? Well, if you can pop the hood and easily identify your engine's distributor and timing belt, you're probably up to the challenge. See more »
