It is unlikely that you are going to know the ins and outs of a vehicle unless you are a mechanic. Rumors spread easily like wildfire, and some of these rumors would include modifications that can help to make your car faster. While qualified mechanics will know that these rumors are just rumors, it is unlikely that they will actually inform you of the rumors because if they do, that’s a loss of business for them. However, an honest mechanic will advise you against certain modifications. But knowledge is power, and it’s sometimes good to have your own knowledge.
While there are many things rumored to boost a car’s performance, few actually work as well as a fuel injector cleaner, which is essentially a very basic car part. Believe it or not, there is no need to add extra vents, large mufflers or even bigger tires to get your car to work faster. This article will explore modifications that people think make cars faster, but they actually don’t. It will also help you to prevent you from spending unnecessary cash without receiving any substantial benefits. This list is in no way exhaustive, and there are definitely some more that can be added.
19 Tornado Vortex Generator
Tornado vortex generators cause more harm than they do good. In fact, the generator was intended to improve fuel efficiency, causing the owner of the vehicle to spend less on gas.
Rather than increasing airflow, the generator actually slows airflow and does nothing to help the fuel mixing.
If you think this will economize your fuel, you will be sorely disappointed. It also is not going to help improve the speed of your vehicle. This is one modification that you should avoid. Popular Mechanics is on record stating, "Tornado vortex generators are a prime example of something likely to cause more harm than good."
18 Fuel Line Magnets
Magnet clips applied to fuel likes are in no way cosmetic. However, people add magnets to the line because they believe that it is going to increase their fuel efficiency. These salespersons will claim that magnets increase oxygen, reduces waste, thus improving efficiency. However, this is just hearsay, and engine performance is not improved in any way as fuel has no magnetic particles or metal components. So, at all cost, you should avoid purchasing fuel line magnets because it adds no befit to your vehicle’s performance. How Stuff Works states, "fuel-line magnets serve little purpose other than to separate uninformed drivers from their money."
17 Rolling Coal
Eco-friendly vehicles are being marketed, but few have embraced the trend. Some drivers though, despite having gas eating drinking machines will further modify their vehicles to make them more polluting to the environment.
Using rolling coal is not a pretty sight as it increases the fuel intake of the engine (why would anyone want to spend more on gas) and the excess diesel is belched out in a black cloud.
Exhaust is in no way equivalent to speed, so you should avoid this modification. Some states have banned this practice with Washington Post stating, "Maryland has banned the practice of “rolling coal” in which drivers of diesel pickup trucks intentionally spew black exhaust at pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists."
16 Large Wing
One modification drivers like to put on their cars is a rear spoiler, also known as a large wing. If you hope the car is going to catch the wind as you drive, just as a sail catches wind and momentum, you are wrong. Adding a wing to your car only adds weight to the car and cause it to drag. The purpose of it is to really keep your car grounded, despite giving it the illusion of a sporty look and an illusion of speed. If you install this hardware, you will be left disappointed, and wasted a good bit of your cash on this unnecessary accessory.
15 Big Rims
Sometimes, bigger is not always better. Especially in terms of rims. Yea, it may look good, but it doesn’t actually help your car to run faster. This modification not only decreases your car’s acceleration rate and speed, but it tends to make a ride uncomfortable.
In some cases, it may increase the grip. However, if you want a faster car, this modification would not make sense.
If you want to enter a car show, then you can consider larger rims over standard manufacture as it makes your car look good. However, you should not overdo it with the rims if you're looking for increased performance.
14 Huge Mufflers
A huge muffler is nothing more than a noise making decoration. If you want to truly increase the speed of your vehicle, then it will require a complete upgrade of your car’s mechanical parts. So, while the engine breathes freely and easily, you are going to annoy other drivers and persons in your neighborhood as you will produce a lot of smoke and make a lot of noise. But if you just want it to stylize your car and make it look badass, then you can consider getting it but don’t expect an increase in speed, just an increase in noise and public annoyance.
13 Performance Chips
So, nothing is wrong with getting a performance chip. The problem lies with getting a cheap performance chip. If you want your car to be faster, knockoffs from eBay are not going to work especially if they cost $15.
If you install cheap chips, they won’t improve the speed or performance of your car, but they will only probably do more harm than good, and what you may have to spend will be a lot more than $15 to get a significant increase in the speed of your vehicle.
Hotrod says these chips "[accelerate] the ignition advance curve to begin the charge burn sooner for increased cylinder pressure."
12 Test Pipe
So, if you don’t care about how much emission your car produces, but you want performance, you will probably modify your car to include a test pipe. These are widely accepted, though intended for off-road use only. No respectable shop will install this on your everyday car, and even if it is installed, your engine light will come on. The flow of the test pipe is supposed to increase power to your engine. But it is not worth screwing up your manufacturer’s emission system or the environment. Modifying your car’s emission system will more than likely void your car’s warranty.
11 Race Fuel
Race fuel, like premium fuel, is not a modification per say, but it is intended to crank up the timing. However, despite its best intentions, the fuel only works well with cars that have been mechanically modified.
So, if your car hasn’t undergone any mechanical modifications, it is a waste of money to spend on race fuel.
Using the fuel on an unmodified mechanical system could cause problems as most race fuels have a lead component that will clog up your catalytic converter. Your sedan or coupe may not have the mechanism to accommodate such fuel. Stick to regular fuel, it's much better.
10 Short Ram Air Intake
It is believed that using the “short ram” will use the car’s momentum, take advantage of its airflow and take the air to the engine, thus creating more power. This doesn’t really happen because you will need to be driving at illegal speeds for it to work. Don’t waste your hard-earned cash on this modification as you will probably be fined for going above the speed limit. It is not going to make your car go any faster than it already does unless you break the law. Car Throttle states, "A short ram eliminates the resonator and filter box, giving the air a short travel distance and hopefully increasing power. "
9 Spark Plugs
Spark plugs don’t increase your vehicle’s horsepower contrary to popular belief. The role of spark plugs is to start your engine’s combustion cycle. You can only benefit from replacing worn spark plugs that are no longer effective or efficient.
You may need to replace your spark plugs if your car lacks power. However, replacing them is not going to increase your engine’s power significantly.
Hopefully, this tip saved you some cash and made you more knowledgeable about using spark plugs to increase your vehicle’s speed. If anything, it will just improve the performance. Additionally, make sure you fit the right Spark plugs for your car type.
8 Spinner Hubcaps
This is not only useless, but it is annoying. These spinners are supposed to turn independently of the wheel. These serve no purpose and several states in the U.S. have actually made it illegal to have spinner hubcaps on your tires, mainly because it can be a distraction to other drivers. Just in case you were hoping that they created momentum when they spun and contributed to the speed of your car, just like a sail does with a ship, you are absolutely mistaken and should buy something more useful. Unless you're looking to become cooler than your peers, then go for it.
7 Body Kits
Real body kits actually serve a purpose besides modifying the look and feel of your car. They help to make your car lighter and make it more aerodynamic and fuel efficient.
However, unless your car is a professional, custom-made car designed for NASCAR, a body kit is most likely going to serve no purpose, especially since it’s going to be added aftermarket.
It increases the weight of your car and makes it too low to the ground, thus more susceptible to scratches. You will find yourself spending more on underbody work. They are also quite expensive. Do It Yourself states, "A complete kit can cost several hundred dollars which is sometimes more than the car is worth"
6 Engine Sounds
Even more annoying than a big muffler is fake engine sounds. When some people upgrade their car’s engines, they tend to want to add fake engine sounds to the mix. This means that they may choose to add a set of speakers under the hood. These engine sounds in no way makes the car fast, it just gives the illusion that the vehicle’s owner has a fast car. Owners of these vehicles can also easily annoy fellow drivers and their neighborhood with the sounds. Washington Post states, "The engine growl in some of America’s best-selling cars and trucks is actually a finely tuned bit of lip-syncing, boosted through special pipes or digitally faked altogether."
5 Big Wheels
Like big rims, big wheels add nothing of value to your car. They just look out of place (ridiculous), but at least they help to expose rusting brakes and other parts so that you can get them changed and repaired.
Thankfully, there are laws to regulate how big your tires can be. Big tires are obviously unsafe for the person driving the car, and other drivers on the road.
Smart drivers will maintain the recommended wheel size rather than switching them out. No, these bigger wheels do not cover a larger distance in a shorter space of time. Do not be fooled!
4 Badges
Some drivers think that they can fool others by sticking badges and decals on their vehicles to give the impression that they are driving a better model car than they really are. While people may not be so bold to stick a Ferrari badge on their Toyota car, it is likely that they may stick the word turbo on their car. You should not believe every badge you see on a car. Further, before buying a car, you should inspect under the hood as a car labeled “Turbo” may actually be a basic model. Many have been fooled.
3 High/Low Suspension
Owners of cars and automobiles alike can either go really high or really low with their vehicle suspension. There are advantages and disadvantages to each modification but neither helps to improve speed.
If your suspension is too high, handling the vehicle becomes difficult. If it is too low, handling is improved but you risk damaging your chassis in potholes and on speed bumps.
These modifications may only be suitable for drivers that want to drive over, or under for that matter, other vehicles in traffic. Lowering your suspension can also lead to uneven tire wear. Meineke states, "In some instances, lowering the suspension can have ill effects on the tire wear patterns. This is definitely something to ask about before you have the suspension lowered."
2 Premium Fluid
There is a myth that premium fuel will help to better enhance the performance of vehicles, especially older vehicles because it is a cleaner and lighter fuel. Putting premium oil in an older vehicle is similar to putting new wine in old wineskin. While we agree that it is a cleaner fuel and will help your engine to run smoothly and will ultimately reduce friction, it is not going to help increase the speed of your car. So rather than spending a premium price, stick to the regular fluid and consider using a gas treatment. You will have higher performance that way.
1 Stick-On Hood Vents
Maybe the purpose of stick-on vents is to add some swagger to your ride because outside of adding swagger the car, the vents are useless and fake. Yea, it makes your car look like a race car, but real hood vents actually help to improve airflow to your engine.
The stuck-on ones are actually just glued to your car and don’t take air anywhere.
Some cars still don’t even look like authentic race cars even with the hood vents glued to them. Again, this can damage the surface of your car’s hood. If you're going to have hood vents, then have the real ones instead of these fake ones.
Sources: carfromjapan.com, jalopnik.com, goliath.com, popularmechanics.com