other

The Intercooler
Besides chip tuning and air filters their aren't many other possibilities to tune a diesel engine. But as we know every TDI has a turbo, which can be optimized or even replaced.
                                                                      The german tuner
                                                                      Wendland-tuning
                                                                      offers a bigger
                                                                      intercooler, that
                                                                      is mounted in
                                                                      the middle.
                                                                      Through its
                                                                      bigger capacity
                                                                      more air can be
                                                                      cooled down to a
                                                                      lower temperature
so that the engine becomes more
air and therefore more diesel, which
results in a better combustion and
higher performance. The real effect
of an intercooler can only be
measured during driving. Wendland
does not mention how much more
horse power can be expected. I think
it gains up to 10hp more.
The Intercooler needs also a special
front spoiler which can also be ordered at Wendland as well.
A new intercooler costs around Euro 1000,- to 1.500,-.

The Turbo
Quit commen with combustion engines, is to replace the turbo
                                              for a bigger one with more
                                              capacity when more power is
                                              required. So far I am aware
                                              I haven't seen any tuner replacing
                                              Turbo chargers of TDI engines.
                                              Two possible tuners that have the
                                               know how for this, but it isn't
                                               really mentioned on the site are:
                                               Wendland and Oberscheider
Oberscheider is in the January 2002 edition of the V-Maxx magazine with a 200 hp Audi A3 TDI.


Weight reduction
As the peformance of a car depends on the Kilogram per Horsepower ratio (Kg/hp), another possbility to make your car faster is reducing it's weight. This means stripping it down. Remove carpets, rear seats, spare tyre, belts, etc. till it looks like a race car or Lotus Elise from the inside. When possible take the 3 door version instead of the 5 door, which is 50kg heavier. Reducing the weight for example from 1300 to 1200Kg, has the same effect has increasing the horse power from 150 to 162 !

December 2001