Whether you drive one for daily errands or for your job, there are plenty of pros and cons of owning a pickup truck. One advantage is their power and durability for hauling heavy loads, pulling trailers, or simply trying to get from point A to point B. Diesel pickup trucks get the job done.
Ready to improve your ride? With a few basic and generally inexpensive upgrades, you can boost your truck’s fuel efficiency, speed, and power. Here are the top six ways to boost your diesel truck’s performance. Explore these tips to get the most out of your vehicle!
Upgrade Your Turbocharger
Most modern vehicles have a factory-installed turbocharger that does a decent job. But if you want even better performance, install a higher-quality model. A new turbocharger will provide an immediate boost of horsepower while getting more mileage out of every gallon of fuel. Better turbocharges also make your truck “greener” by curbing emissions. Plus, they’re easy to install! Explore the common types of turbochargers, and upgrade your pickup.
Improve Your Fuel System
Your fuel system largely determines how well your truck performs—so subject it to an inspection and upgrade. Switch to high-flow fuel injectors, and install a high-performance fuel pump to improve throttle and goose up your truck’s torque and horsepower. Keeping your fuel supply flowing freely ensures your engine is never left wanting.
Install a Tuner (or Tuners)
Getting a periodic tune-up is smart, but it’s not the same thing as tuning your vehicle. Almost all modern vehicles have onboard computers that measure and adjust fuel delivery, horsepower, torque, and other functions. Tuning adjusts factory presets, letting you customize your vehicle to make it run faster and stronger.
Upgrade the Exhaust System
Installing a high-performance exhaust system significantly improves a truck’s horsepower and torque by reducing back pressure and allowing more efficient airflow. Additionally, the right system enhances your truck’s sound, giving it a more aggressive tone or keeping it quieter when used with a larger muffler.
Install a Cold-Air Intake
Diesel engines run hotter than gas-powered ones, but that’s not what installing a cold-air intake is all about. Cold-air intake systems increase the amount of oxygen your engine takes in. More oxygen helps fuel burn better, bolstering fuel efficiency and overall power. Cold-air intakes, like turbochargers, are also easy to install yourself. They improve performance, and they’re relatively inexpensive as well.
Maintain Your Engine
Here’s something you should already be doing every few months: maintaining your engine and truck with periodic oil and filter changes to keep it running clean. New oil and filters keep gunk out of the engine, allowing it to run unimpeded. Stay on top of air filter changes as well. Air filters remove airborne particulates from the exhaust system, letting your engine “breathe” easily and perform better. A well-maintained engine works hand in hand with every other upgrade in this list.
Those are the top six ways to boost your diesel truck’s performance. Explore these upgrades today, and get more out of your truck!
