Accessory Crazy: The Latest Gadgets For Your Car

Posted on: 19 July 2023

There's a lot that goes on beneath the hood of a vehicle that can impact its efficiency and performance. The ability to measure the rate of production of these systems and parts can enable adjustments that improve a vehicle's capabilities.

Dyno tuning, or tuning a vehicle with a dynamometer, helps to measure such things as torque, engine horsepower, and the combination of fuel and air in the engine. As adjustments are made, it's clear how they affect an engine's power.

A car dyno falls into one of two categories: chassis and engine dynos. Chassis dynos allow full testing of a wheel's full power, while an engine dyno measures the engine numbers.

Why dyno tuning?

The ability to measure a car's output and performance helps you to tune a vehicle, which gives it increased torque and horsepower.

It's wise to get dyno tuning done prior to adding upgrades and performance work. This allows you to not only maximise power but also to balance it out while maintaining efficiency. Once you've made your car modification, your car can then go back on the dyno to determine what's been gained.

Dyno tuning also allows for the possible prevention of repairs and maintenance. When your engine has undergone dyno tuning and has been optimised for performance, it will have stronger and faster acceleration. It can achieve the same level of performance with less work, which will help it last longer. 

Dyno tuning checklist

Make sure to prep your vehicle before your car undergoes a dyno tuning session. This means parts and systems need to be in the best possible condition so that the dyno pulls can give more accurate readings.

And mechanical issues or leaks can impact the results from the dyno, which is why you need to tune up your car. It can help to prepare a checklist.

• Tires. As your tires are on rollers directly during the dyno pull, they'll need to have proper traction and be in good condition.
• Hoses and belts. As a dyno tuning session can be rough on your engine, any old or weak hoses and belts have the potential to burst or tear, so they should also be in good condition.
• Fluids. Having fresh oil and differential and transmission fluids can help the dyno tuning go smoothly.
• Plugs and filters. Check that the plugs are in good condition and clean. That also goes for the fuel, oil, and air filters.

Having spare tools and parts the ready just before dyno tuning begins can be helpful. An ignition coil or spark plugs, for example, are worth having in case you need them.

For more information, contact a dyno tuning service near you.