I just got a new S60 2.4 170hp and I would like a bit more power. I wanted the 2.4T but it wasnt in stock and I did not want to wait. I´ve heard of a adding a chip that adds 15 hp, but I don´t know if the difference would be noticeable. Any suggestions on how to increase performance without turning it into a sports car.
Performance enhance for S60 2.4 170hp
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On a non-turbo car you would probably gain a few HP with a free flowing exhaust and air filter. Maybe good for 10-15HP. Turbo cars can really benefit from an ECU upgrade as boost=HP but I'm not sure what could be done for a normally aspirated engine. Maybe another 10 or 15 if you used premium fuel??
Hopefully someone might make eventually a pair of cams which in my experience is the best way to get more HP out of an NA engine.
Have you looked at Nitrous
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Hopefully someone might make eventually a pair of cams which in my experience is the best way to get more HP out of an NA engine.
Have you looked at Nitrous
Trade your car in on a 2.4T.
If you want power getting a factory turbo and having a tuner reprogram it is the cheapest way to get power.
I doubt that higher octane fuel will give you 10 - 15 hp. Higher octane fuel can give you additional power if the software is programmed for it, otherwise it adds nothing. I don't think Volvo has programmed their ECU's to take advantage of higher octane than what they recommend in the owner's manual.
If you want power getting a factory turbo and having a tuner reprogram it is the cheapest way to get power.
I doubt that higher octane fuel will give you 10 - 15 hp. Higher octane fuel can give you additional power if the software is programmed for it, otherwise it adds nothing. I don't think Volvo has programmed their ECU's to take advantage of higher octane than what they recommend in the owner's manual.
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You took a 2.4 because they did not have a 2.4T in stock? Wow...that is some serious...impatience!
I am not ware of any chips available for a normally aspirated engine. Switch your air filter to a high flow one, get a custom exhaust, muffler, race catalytic converter, perhaps peformance cams (if you 've got the $$$) and PERHAPS you can gain 10 to 15HP.
You should have really bought the 2.4T; then you would be talking about some serious upgrades!
Yannis
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Spencer,
there is an S60 2.4 non-turbo and an S60 2.4T with a low pressure turbo. Same displacement but very different performances!
Yannis
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If he trades his just acquired 2.4, he will takea major bath...
Volvo's ECUs are programmed to provide optimum performance (power and mileage) with unleaded gasoline rating of at least 91 octane.
Yannis
Yannis I agree he'd take a major bath by trading it in. But if you want significantly more power that's really the best way to go. Of the suggestions posted, none of them will make much of a difference in power and are barely noticeable if at all. If you want a noticeable improvement in power forced induction is the only way to go. An aftermarket supercharger or turbo will likely run a minimum of $5k, if he's going to spend that much might as well get a factory turbo so the resale value is better.
What I meant about the octane is that if he goes higher than 91 it wouldn't provide more power than the 91 octane recommended in the owner's manual.
I know that some Audi tuners have special software programs that are octane specific. The APR Stage III kit is an example. It's rated at 280 hp on 93 octane, but if you put 100 octane gas in it you get 335 hp because the software is there to take advantage of it. In a stock Audi, 100 octane provides no additional power over 91 octane that's recommended in the owner's manual and I would be surprised if Volvo was any different.
My 2 cents and it's only an opinion
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What I meant about the octane is that if he goes higher than 91 it wouldn't provide more power than the 91 octane recommended in the owner's manual.
I know that some Audi tuners have special software programs that are octane specific. The APR Stage III kit is an example. It's rated at 280 hp on 93 octane, but if you put 100 octane gas in it you get 335 hp because the software is there to take advantage of it. In a stock Audi, 100 octane provides no additional power over 91 octane that's recommended in the owner's manual and I would be surprised if Volvo was any different.
My 2 cents and it's only an opinion
Does anyone reflash the Volvo ECU with switchable software? I didn't realize it was available. I was thinking of IPD, but to my knowledge they reflash the ECU and you're running only 1 octane specific program.
In the APR system the software is switchable through the cruise control system.
If you don't have the ability to switch between software programs you're either stuck with running the high octane program all the time (making gas costs quite expensive) or risk engine damage through knocking and pinging if you try to use lower octane fuel.
I believe the stock Volvo power ratings assume that one is using 91 octane fuel and that it can retard the timing to allow one to use 87 octane with reduced power and fuel economy, but I'm not positive. I bet Yannis knows.
Vetteguy did you have a specific tuner in mind when you assumed an upgraded ECU or did you just assume someone provided switchable software for Volvo ECU's. If you know of someone who does, I'd like to know who they are since I may buyout the lease on my friend's Volvo in a few years time and I'd want to upgrade the ECU.
Thanks
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You are correct in your assumption. You should not risk any damage to your engine by running lower octane gasoline since the ECU will compensate for that and will not let any premature detonation take place. Even if you have an upgraded ECU. In that case, you will just feel the loss of performance even more and your gas mileage will also suffer.
Yannis
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