Monitoring Engine Vitals 101: Are You in the Data Loop?

Every vehicle on the road has gauges. From entry-level compact cars to ultra high performance vehicles, monitoring the most basic to the most complex engine and chassis vitals is essential. Typical gauges cover basic information such as fuel level, coolant temperature range, and engine and vehicle speed. High-performance vehicles go […]

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Engine Cooling System 101: Keepin it Cool

Enthusiasts purchase aftermarket performance products for two main reasons: 1) to make the vehicle perform better and/or 2) to improve the vehicle’s toughness and reliability. For some enthusiasts, it’s all about performance; for others, reliability is the key. However, the vast majority of tuners address both performance and reliability in […]

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Engine Lubrication 101: Controlling the Flow

The human body can’t live without blood. Blood delivers oxygen, nutrients and other essential substances to the body and its organs. Similarly, oil serves an essential role in the performance and operation of the engine. Oil is responsible for lubricating, cooling and removing contaminants for nearly all moving parts. However, […]

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Wraps, Coatings & Treatments | Getting the Extra Edge

Sometimes using the best parts made of the highest quality materials isn’t enough. Fortunately, specialized coatings and treatments can be used to increase performance and reliability from your engine and the components it contains. These new technologies not only allow additional power and torque to be produced but also increase […]

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Exhaust 101: Moving Up By Moving Out

Turbo exhaust manifolds, headers, downpipes and cat-back exhaust systems are all designed to increase performance by improving the exhaust flow out of the engine. On “all-motor” applications, the proper header and cat-back exhaust can reduce pumping loss, increase scavenging and improve cylinder filling to maximize volumetric efficiency, torque and power. […]

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The Automotive Valvetrain and How It Works

“Nobody gets in or out unless I say so,” said the camshaft to the valves. The valves represent the doors into and out of the cylinders of the engine. How wide these doors are opened, for how long they’re open and when they open and close are all dictated by […]

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Cylinder Head 101: Getting the Chambers and Ports In Shape

Like the cylinder block, the cylinder head is also responsible for holding a number of other components, namely the valvetrain. The valve guides, valve seats, valves, valve springs, valve retainers, valve locks, buckets, followers, lash caps and camshafts are all fitted to the cylinder head. In addition to this responsibility, […]

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Engine Fasteners 101: Keeping It All Together

The power potential of an engine platform increases as you increase the redline potential of the engine. However, one would assume that doubling the engine RPM doubles the load on all of the reciprocating components. In fact, the actual relationship between engine speed and load is as follows. The load […]

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Head Gasket 101: The Ultimate Matchmaker

Metal. liquid, or composite, the main function of any gasket is the same: seal the deal. Depending on the pressures to be contained, the flatness of the mating surfaces and the fluid being transferred there’s an ideal material and design for the gasket. Nearly all critical sealing surfaces on high-performance […]

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Engine Block Tech 101: Go Bigger or Go Stronger the Right Way

Bigger, stronger, or both bigger and stronger? When performance goals require increased engine displacement or projected cylinder pressures and power levels exceed factory block capabilities, the engine block will need to be addressed. The engine block serves as the foundation for the entire engine. Its primary purpose is to establish […]

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Camshaft Showcase: 4G63 EVO Build

Mitsubishi’s 4G63 engine is arguably one of the best four-cylinder engines ever built. While the early variants set records powering DSMs, later versions of the engine propelled the EVO VIII and EVO IX. In terms of strength, power potential and ease of service, the 4G63 engine simply has no equal. […]

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ENGINE 101 PART 2: Engine Basics for Dummies

Now that you know all of the basic parts of an engine and what they do, it’s time to understand how they work together in a system. Almost all cars use 4- stroke engines to turn the chemical energy of gasoline into power. Manipulation of the 4-stroke cycle is essential […]

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