There are many ways to increase the horsepower of a car engine, such as changing the turbo, changing the boost pressure, replacing the exhaust system or management unit. The latest fashion is to drive with a low oil level.
A widespread but dangerous practice
Increasing the power of your car is a common practice among some drivers. The possibilities are numerous:
A rumor has been circulating for some time that an engine with less oil than normal would gain horsepower because there would be less fluid to churn in the crankcase.
GM V8 test shows 10% power gain
This theory was tested by Lake Speed โโJr, an automotive engineer specializing in engine lubrication, on his YouTube channel โThe Motor Oil Geekโ. Together with Ben Strader, founder of the online technical school EFI University, they ran a General Motors V8 LS on a test bench with different quantities of oil.
Normally filled with 11 liters of 15W-40 oil, the engine was tested with 5, 7 and 9 liters of a GP-1 high-performance synthetic oil from Driven Racing Oil. The results are edifying:
Finding the right balance
Although it depends on each case, engine power increases when the oil level drops. The key is to find the precise point where you extract the maximum performance without depleting the lubricant.
But be careful, this practice is absolutely not recommended for your car. The safest and most reliable thing for mechanics is to always maintain the oil level between the maximum and the minimum recommended by the manufacturer.
Sacrificing lubrication and engine longevity for a few more horsepower is a very risky gamble. It is better to prioritize rigorous maintenance and proven optimization methods if you want to improve the performance of your vehicle with complete peace of mind.
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