Before you buy a car, it is important to know if it is a diesel-powered vehicle or a petrol-powered vehicle. This will enable you to know the price differences, the individual specifications and the maintenance needs for both types. Also, it would help you know what is required in terms of tuning the vehicle. As a result, you know what to expect beforehand, and also decide which is easier and more suitable for your use. Cranbrook Cars, which does car diagnostics in Cranbrook, has shared some of the key things to know about car tuning.
What Is Vehicle Tuning?
When we talk about vehicle tuning, it basically means the process of modifying the performance or appearance of a vehicle. This involves working on the internal combustion engine of the vehicle. That is, the part of a vehicle known as the Engine Control Unit (ECU) gets adjusted to perform better or improve in some functions. Of course, it is a job done by qualified engineers, or skilled mechanics who are very versed in the technical adjustments involved in the whole tuning process. Tuning a vehicle mostly results in increased speed or output. Sometimes it basically involves some specific calibration for some specific purpose required by the owner. In fact, the results attainable from vehicle tuning are endless and can do interesting things to a car.
In order to understand the difference between tuning a diesel-powered car and petrol-powered car, you need to be aware that the engines for these two types are very different. Diesel engines are sometimes tuned in order to enhance their performance
What Does Tuning a Diesel Engine Entail?
Most diesel engines that are old models need adjustments to their engine parts to suit today’s demands. The vehicle’s power might then need a boost or a higher fuel charge into the cylinder. These modifications to a diesel engine require an expert who understands how a diesel engine works and what is needed to upgrade the individual one. Although it might cost quite a lot to tune, you get to expend less fuel and enhance power output by at least 30%. So, while you might have better power output and a better driving experience for even less fuel, some other aspects of the vehicle might enjoy less efficiency.
Also, tuning a diesel engine in these modern times has a lot to do with the electronics system, by adjusting the Engine Control Unit (ECU) chip. The ECU chip controls basically everything in the electronic system. And this in turn makes it possible to tune a diesel engine vehicle.
What Does Tuning a Petrol Engine Entail?
A petrol engine is mostly regarded as a more regular alternative, and thus tuning it for better performance is more common. However, this doesn’t mean tuning a petrol engine is easier. It also requires the services of an expert. It mainly entails adjusting the amount of air and fuel to improve its performance. It mostly requires resetting the ignition, as well as more boost from the turbo, in order to achieve a more powerful combustion, thus creating more power output.
As we can see, tuning the engine of both diesel and petrol-powered engines are aimed towards the same result: better performance. However, the differences between the two can help you make a choice before buying either. It would also help you to decide which vehicle to tune, based on what modification you require at the time. Here are some specific differences between a tuned petrol vehicle and a tuned diesel vehicle;
- Tuned diesel vehicles mostly require less fuel when it is modified. Tuned petrol vehicles, on the other hand, might require more fuel for better performance.
- Tuned diesel vehicles become less rugged in the kind of fuel that can be put into it. Poor quality fuel, even just in slight amounts, would have an adverse effect on the vehicle. Tuned petrol vehicles usually don’t have such demands.
- Because a tuned diesel vehicle requires less fuel, it usually requires more frequent servicing for better performance.
- Diesel tuning involves igniting the vehicle by pressure and not by spark.
- The diesel tuned engines are regarded as stronger than petrol tuned vehicles, but are sometimes more expensive to maintain.
- The diesel engine is tuned mostly to improve the performance of commercial vehicles or trucks.
Lastly, petrol cars are usually considered smoother to handle when they are tuned well and more air is added. If airflow is increased through different and the right amount of fuel is added, extra power would be created, thereby giving it a noticeable improvement. This is on the basic level of tuning. The main procedure is usually more in-depth than this. However, for diesel engines which originally expend more fuel for greater performance, the basic tuning procedure is to lessen the fuel intake and still improve performance.
Finally, note that tuning your vehicle affects its warranty cover, so you need to ensure it is the best choice to embark on before doing so. Sometimes it might be better to take it to the manufacturer to get some expert advice before resorting to tuning, which is usually a nearly permanent and very serious process.
