How To Increase Horsepower In A 4-Cylinder Car

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Last updated on August 1st, 2023 at 07:41 am

Most vehicles you see today are 4-cylinder engines. They are small, compact, and easily fit nearly in every engine bay. Interestingly, they are lightweight, with one cylinder head, a few moving parts, and one exhaust manifold than the multiple cylinder banks.

The 4-cylinder engines are among the most versatile vehicles in this modern time. However, you may be dissatisfied with the level of power your car produces. Since modern technology has come with advancements in automobile engineering, auto manufacturers have established ways to improve your vehicle.

There are several ways to pull more power out of the 4-cylinder motor in your vehicle. Carrying out this activity would void your warranty. Its success depends on your skill, budget, and the number of options.

So far, this guide write-up will bring answers to these specific queries ranging from; how to make a 4-cylinder faster than a v8, how to supercharge a 4-cylinder engine, turbocharger for a 4-cylinder engine, how much horsepower does a turbo add to a 4-cylinder, can you swap a 4-cylinder for a v8 and more.

Be patient; let’s get started right away!

How To Make A 4-Cylinder Faster Than A V8?

To make your 4-cylinder faster than a V8 engine is turbocharging or supercharging. You would do this through forced induction since the V8 engines are larger than inline 4. To produce greater horsepower needed to move the vehicle to a significant speed. 

It would be vital to increase the horsepower of the 4-cylinder engines to make them faster and give the V8 engine a run for its money. That said, taking off the vast chunks of its engine interior and replacing them with turbocharging or supercharge kits.

How To Increase Horsepower In A 4-Cylinder Car?

The procedures for increasing horsepower in a 4-cylinder car are as follows;

1.     Properly Maintain Your Vehicle

Most times, vehicle owners need to pay attention to proper maintenance procedures. Although, the best way you can increase horsepower is to perform your manufacturer’s recommended instructions. Such as changing the oil, alignment of wheels, brake checks, and a few others.

2.     Install A Cold Air Intake 

Remove the intake tube and air box surrounding the filter of the 4-cylinder. Then, install a new intake designed to increase the air that passes into your engine. Increasing the amount of airflow in your engine would improve its mileage. However, most aftermarket intakes produce more noise than the stock.

3.     Improve Your Vehicle’s Exhaust Flow

Replace the portions of your exhaust flow with larger diameter pipes. These larger pipes will reduce the backpressure that would limit the speed the exhaust may expel from the engine. You might replace the piping right from the catalytic converter’s back (cat-back). You could also remove all the piping that leads to your exhaust manifold. 

4.     Reprogram Your Vehicle’s Computer

The computer controls significant functions of most modern vehicles and how they run. Computer programs help balance efficiency, gas mileage, power output, emissions, and reliability. Reprogramming would be vital to increase horsepower. Get the right programming company for your vehicle online, or you could get to your dealership.

5.     Swap Out Ignition Components

For your engine to function correctly, it needs fuel, air, and a spark to ignite the mixture. It would help if you replaced worn-out spark plug wires and old spark plugs to increase the ignition of the air-fuel mixture.

6.     Install A New Throttle Body

It is where your intake meets with the engine as the air goes into the intake manifold. So, installing a larger diameter throttle body would allow more air to flow onto the engine. As a result, it causes an increase in engine power. For instance, swapping a 65 mm to 75 mm throttle body would increase airflow. Although replacing your throttle bodies would also require a new gasket between the body and the intake manifold. 

7.     Upgrade To More Aggressive Camshafts

The shafts or camshafts help to open and close the intake and exhaust valves. It also permits the air and fuel to enter the engine and the exhaust at the proper time. Remember that the stock camshafts in your engine are concerned with fuel economy, emission, power, and efficiency. It would be appropriate to replace them with more specialized ones to increase the engine’s output power. 

Note: Ensure that all components to be installed must be specific to your vehicle.

Highest Horsepower 4-Cylinder Non-Turbo?

The highest horsepower for a non-turbo-cylinder engine is 340 hp. The 4-cylinder engine with this figure is the BAC Mono R 2.4L inline 4 with 243 lb-ft. It has 0 – 62 mph in 2.5 seconds, a top speed of 170 mph, and the engine is Rear Mid-Engine.

How Much Horsepower Does A Cold Air Intake Add To A 4-Cylinder?

The level of horsepower a 4-cylinder has depends on the potential horsepower. The exact amount varies, but a car would have up to a 5% power increase with an excellent cold intake. However, a 4-cylinder engine would have a marginal horsepower due to its potential horsepower. For instance, a 4-cylinder engine with 200 hp would have about 10 hp when installing a cold air intake.

According to reports, the modding community had agreed that cold air intake would be insignificant for smaller naturally (4-cylinder) engines.

Max Hp For A 4-Cylinder

The maximum horsepower for a 4-cylinder engine is about 415 hp. The max horsepower value is from the German Luxury brand, Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S, M139 2.0-L inline 4-cylinder. This vehicle is the world’s most powerful 4-cylinder engine with 369 lbs-ft of torque. It also accelerated at 60 mph in 4 seconds as it made the CLAS45 S.

How To Supercharge A 4-Cylinder Engine?

Supercharging a 4-cylinder engine is possible and can be done with forced induction. Although automobile makers prefer supercharging bigger engines, the result of a 4-cylinder would also be worth it. Supercharging forces compressed air into your engine, which is belt driven. Supercharging is more efficient than turbocharging for vehicle owners who value power at lower RPMs.

Here are steps for supercharging your 4-cylinder;

• Maintain your vehicle using your manufacturer’s guide.
• Improve your exhaust system as you use larger diameters of exhaust pipes.
• Replace your ignition components.
• Replace the supporting fuel modifications.
• Use a supercharger kit such as a bracket and larger serpentine belt to enhance support for the supercharger pulley.
• Use a dry/wet nitrous oxide kit. This kit contains more oxygen than air; injecting nitrous into your 4-cylinder engine would be possible. On the other hand, the wet nitrous kit injects a mixture of fuel and nitrous into your cylinder. The essence of the wet type is to create more power safer than the dry kit. 
• Tune your vehicle professionally as you have installed the nitrous oxide kit and have forced-induced it. Doing this would support the increase in power.

Turbocharger For 4-Cylinder Engine

A 4-cylinder engine consists of each cylinder lines accordingly, forming a straight line. It gives it the reason why 4-cylinder is also called an inline 4. 

Introducing a turbocharger for a 4-cylinder engine would make it have a displacement of fewer than 3 liters. As such, 4-cylinder becomes different since it is turbocharged. 

Hence, making the exhaust back into the cylinder would create a giant explosion as the pistons pump inside the cylinders. After turbocharging your 4-cylinder, the result will be more power and significant horsepower than some larger engines, such as the V8s. 

Getting the right turbocharger for your 4-cylinder would be essential.

How Much Horsepower Does A Turbo Add To A 4-Cylinder?

Significantly, a turbocharger can add about 30 to 40 % or 70 to 150 hp to a 4-cylinder engine. This horsepower range is typically the same that would add to the diesel engine. So far, the turbocharger enhances more horsepower on a 4-cylinder than what the cold air intake adds.

Can You Swap A 4-Cylinder For A V8?

Yes, you can swap a 4-cylinder for V8. Doing this would require you to weld in new motor mounts as you notch out metal and reinforce the areas. It depends if the 4-cylinder engine bay would fit into a V8 engine which is only possible for vehicles produced over the last 25 years. 

However, Caroll Shelby swapped a Ford V8 for an Alpine Sunbeam. As a result, it produced an incredibly overpowered and very fast roller skate Sunbeam Tiger. 

How To Increase Horsepower In A Naturally Aspirated Engine?

An internal combustion engine is a naturally aspirated engine. It is not a turbocharged or supercharged engine.

Here are the steps for increasing the horsepower of a naturally aspirated engine;

·      Remove Restrictions In The Cylinder Head

Remove the primary restriction found in the cylinder head. The process should be done by a professional.

·      Add A Larger Diameter Throttle Body

Since air is a vital component that affects the overall combustion process, allowing more air would not increase horsepower but will affect several parts of performance in the aspirated engine. Adding a larger throttle body will deliver more air at a higher rate to help horsepower.

·      Make Your Vehicle More Aerodynamic

Enhancing your vehicle’s aerodynamics, shape, and design would make a huge difference. You can make your vehicle aerodynamic and reduce the weight to avoid feeling slow.

·      Install High-Performance Exhaust

Installing a header-back exhaust will enhance the exhaust gases to leave the engine and out of the tailpipe much quicker. It is best left in the hand of a professional if you get a kit for your exhaust.

·      Switch To A High-Performance Camshaft 

Choosing the appropriate camshaft will help you get better header or exhaust results. So, install a new camshaft to increase your vehicle’s horsepower. Remember that your car might idle roughly.

·      Install New Water Injection Kit

Suppose you notice that your vehicle’s power has dipped for some time. Installing a water injection kit will help restore the previous level and maintain the naturally aspirated engine. It will also ensure that you get your vehicle back on track.

·      Reprogramming

Changing the vehicle’s programs as regards timing would help. It will also change the fuel-air mixture and necessary parameters. When dealing with a naturally aspirated engine, you might get a minor difference in the reprogramming.

Note: Please try to carry out other vital services such as oil change, cleaning the fuel system, and using proper fuel.

Conclusion

Finally, there is no doubt that anything is possible today in the automobile world. Increasing the horsepower of your naturally aspirated engine is more complex than it seems. The most significant enhancement is turbocharging or supercharging your vehicle with vital kits. Aside from that, any component added is marginal to its performance.

However, I have detailed to you the steps for increasing the horsepower of your 4-cylinder to higher horsepower. Ensure you employ the services of a professional when doing such a conversion. Do well to share this guide with others!

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