Glossary of tuning terms

obi_waynne

obi_waynne

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I thought it would make sense to have a glossary of tuning terms and what they mean to help the newbies out so post up any additions to this as you see fit.

Add the term and a very short succinct definition.

Blowing an engine - adding forced induction either a supercharger or turbocharger (Known as supercharging in both cases.)
Turbo - Uses exhaust gases to compress the intake air allowing more fuel to be added.
Supercharger - Uses the crank on the engine to compress the intake air allowing more fuel to be added.
Balancing - Internal engine components are matched up to minimise the possibility of vibration whilst in motion allowing higher RPM to be achieved.
Reboring - Drilling out each cylinder to make it wider and increasing the capacity of the engine.
Cryo treating - Engines/Components are heated up and superchilled a few times to make them stronger and smoother.
Slamming - Lowering the cars ride height through suspension modifications.
 
Good idea this Waynne, I need to understand some more of the expressions used by our cousins across the pond as well! ;)
 
Blowing - also means breaking the engine.
Supercharging - this relates to both crank and exhaust forced induction methods, so ther is room for confusion here.

Are you going to update your initial post, Waynne, or start a sticky containing the moderated definitions? I think the latter would work best.
 
I agree with the latter option so keep the definitions coming and when we have a nice batch I'll draft a new glossary thread.
 
Slamming - Lowering the cars ride height through suspension modifications. Usually to an unpractical height and for the purpose of looks only.
 
Wire Tucking. Creating a minimal & tidy look to the engine bay by hiding wires, leads & pipes from view. Not to be confused with Tucking which has absolutely nothing to do with cars at all. :embarrest:
 
Drivetrain Swap - To Swap the Engine in the car with another engine which would change the Output horse power and possibly the driving wheels
 
Puntopimp said:
Drivetrain Swap - To Swap the Engine in the car with another engine which would change the Output horse power and possibly the driving wheels
Click to expand...
This would be an engine swap;)
Drivetrain would be converting what wheels put the power to the road;)
 
Indeed I thought as much so to double check i did look online an they for some reasons say its the same which is dodgy
Fixed!

Drivetrain Swap - To change the Wheels which Drive the car For E.G From FWD to AWD
 
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REMAP, when the ecu is altered/adjusted to work with any new additional items such as,Induction kits,Exhaust systems etc,anything that is not standard that effects the running of the engine!. A remap can be done on a standard engine which can bring out a bit more power etc.
FRONT MOUNT INTERCOOLER, this is usually a bigger intercooler which is fitted along the front of the car infront of the radiator,an intercoolers job is to cool the air which is forced into the engine by a turbo.
 
INDUCTION KIT, this is an airfilter which is made to enable more air to be drawn into the engine,usually noisier than a standard filter.
OIL COOLER, this is a small radiator which is usually fitted at the front of the car,the engine oil goes through it which cools it,a good addition if car is used for track days or if engine is tunned.
 
Catback exhaust- The whole rear section of the exhaust that joins to the cat including the main pipe, expansion box(es) and silencer(s).
 
OHV - Over Head Valve - the engine valves are higher than the camshaft. The camshaft is situated in the block and activates the valves via pushrods and rockers.

OHC - Over head Cam - The camshaft is on top of the head, usually acting directly onto the valves.
 
MPI multi point injection
WASTE SPARK when 2 plugs fire but only 1 is on a compression stroke.
SEQUENTIAL INJECTION the injectors are controlled individually.
EMS computer
WASTEGATE can be in the turbine housing or external and releases excess exhaust pressure to prevent overboosting.
BOOST positive pressure generated by a turbo or supercharger.
SPOOL is how fast the turbo responds.
DIRECT INJECTION the fuel injectors fire into the combustion chamber and not the intake ports
DUMP PIPE the pipe fixed to the turbo exhaust housing.
SCREAMER the exhaust from a wastegate that is not fed back into the exhaust system to reduce noise.
SPLIT PULSE TURBO when the exhaust manifold in for example a 4 cylinder are arranged so that no 1&4 and 2&3 are kept separated all the way till they reach the turbine wheel so the turbo will spool/respond faster than if they were not.
DIVIDED TURBINE see the above.
FMIC front mounted intercooler
INTERCOOLER gererally an air to air radiator that reduces the hot compressed air that comes out of a turbo/supercharger before it enters the throttle body
MERGE COLLECTOR the way a number of exhaust runners are joined where they meet to become say a single pipe.
 
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For our American readers across the pond:

Bonnet = Hood
Hood = Roof
Boot = Trunk
Wing = Fender
Disc = Rotor
Damper = Shock
Brake Servo = Brake Booster
Tyre = Tire
1 UK gallon = 1.20095 US gallons
Estate = Station Wagon
Indicators = Turn Signals
Propshaft = Drive Shaft
Silencer = Muffler
Windscreen = Windshield
Aerial = Antenna
 
old-git said:
For our American readers across the pond:

Bonnet = Hood
Hood = Roof
Boot = Trunk
Wing = Fender
Disc = Rotor
Damper = Shock
Brake Servo = Brake Booster
Tyre = Tire
1 UK gallon = 1.20095 US gallons
Estate = Station Wagon
Indicators = Turn Signals
Propshaft = Drive Shaft
Silencer = Muffler
Windscreen = Windshield
Aerial = Antenna
Click to expand...

You forgot to mention Shooting Brake :eek:
 
Thanks Wayyne for your approval.

ICE BOX used in drag cars where dry ice is put into a container that also has the intercooler or IC pipes so the inlet temperature is as cold as possible to create more power.

WATER TO AIR INTERCOOLER a smaller than air to air intercooler core is built inside a sealed water filled container generally mounted within the engine bay and the water is pumped over the IC core/radiator to a small radiator mounted in front of the main radiator.
Pros more efficient in heavy/congested/ slow stop start conditions. Generally more responsive due to shorted pipework required .
Cons more complicated as it needs a pump to circulate the water and more expensive.
 
TCJBOLDIE said:
WATER TO AIR INTERCOOLER a smaller than air to air intercooler core is built inside a sealed water filled container generally mounted within the engine bay and the water is pumped over the IC core/radiator to a small radiator mounted in front of the main radiator.
Pros more efficient in heavy/congested/ slow stop start conditions. Generally more responsive due to shorted pipework required .
Cons more complicated as it needs a pump to circulate the water and more expensive.
Click to expand...

And HEAVY!!!! :)
 
old-git said:
For our American readers across the pond:

Bonnet = Hood
Hood = Roof
Boot = Trunk
Wing = Fender
Disc = Rotor
Damper = Shock
Brake Servo = Brake Booster
Tyre = Tire
1 UK gallon = 1.20095 US gallons
Estate = Station Wagon
Indicators = Turn Signals
Propshaft = Drive Shaft
Silencer = Muffler
Windscreen = Windshield
Aerial = Antenna
Click to expand...

Teaching them to spell aswell! :lol:
 
LSD a differential that has a mechanism generally a clutch pack that transfers some of the power but not 100% from the wheel/tyre that has lost traction to the other wheel.

1.5 & 2 Way LSD as above but they also operate the same way in power off situations and generally used by drifters.

TORSEN LSD this type has helical gears instead of a clutch pack so does not require servicing to restore the level of power transferred to the wheel without grip due to wear like the clutch pack type BUT unlike the clutch pack type both wheels must be in contact with the road to operate as a LSD.

DETROIT LOCKER acts like an open diff when no power is applied and as a 100% locked unit when power is applied . Can still be driven with one broken axle. With this type if power is applied too soon in a corner the car will understeer as there is no differential action as the diff is locked solid when power is applied and both wheels have the same amount power and drive and are pushing the car where it is pointing.

VISCOUS LSD has a special type of oil in the hemisphere that reacts to slip to make it act as an lsd

FULL SPOOL or MINI SPOOL is a gear that when installed locks the axles together so the power delivered to the wheels is the same and is mainly used in drag cars as it is totally illegal and dangerous for road driven cars and insurance will be void in the event of a crash ( In Australia don't know about other places).

CIG locker the cheap way to weld the diff so the axles become one and the tyres will chirp/squeal when turning as the inner wheel is rotating at the same rate as the outer wheel,The same as a spooled diff.
 
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FFE: Free flow exhaust
CAI: Cold air intake
VTVT: Variable train valve timing
DVT: Desmodromic valvetrain
BOV: Blow off valve
CHP: Cylinder head porting
RAI: Ram air intake
TIR: Tuned intake runner
RICING: Modification went absurd!


Mostly used in India..
 
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