Power upgrades for V6

[ski_rush]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the site...and Ford too. I just got an '08 Fusion with the V6 and the sport package. I would like to get a bit more power out of the V6...I test drove a few Different GM cars and found that with their V6's, you get a bit more grunt off the line. The Ford 3.0 is rated at about 220 hp's, but it feels a tad sluggish to me.

 

What are some affordable upgrades that I can add that won't be too difficult to install? I was thinking of a cold air-intake. Does anyone have any information on those? Do they actually work? Also, what about exhaust upgrades?

 

 

Thanks,

sr

[enormus]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the site...and Ford too. I just got an '08 Fusion with the V6 and the sport package. I would like to get a bit more power out of the V6...I test drove a few Different GM cars and found that with their V6's, you get a bit more grunt off the line. The Ford 3.0 is rated at about 220 hp's, but it feels a tad sluggish to me.

 

What are some affordable upgrades that I can add that won't be too difficult to install? I was thinking of a cold air-intake. Does anyone have any information on those? Do they actually work? Also, what about exhaust upgrades?

 

Thanks,

sr

I haven't taken delivery on my '08 yet, by I am already looking at the Steeda Intake and Magnaflow cat-back kits. I've not installed an intake before, but the Steeda looks pretty easy. It is important to remember that if you are going to improve the intake, you need to improve the exhaust to get maximum benefit.

 

K&N also makes a drop-in filter replacement. I have used those before and always felt they improved acceleration.

 

I also ordered the Sport Appearance Package on my Black '08 SEL. Had to special order without sunroof due to head room issues. How do you like your Fusion so far (other than acceleration)?

[ski_rush]

Overall, I'd say it's a great car at a great price. I leased mine (that's why I don't want to spend a fortune on upgrades) and my fully loaded fusion with the sport package was still $100 cheaper than a new stripped down malibu.

 

I test drove an 07 fusion with a V6 and no sport package and I really think you can tell the difference. I think the tighter springs really make a noticeable difference in handling and cornering. Plus, the wheels look great and everyone I've shown the car to loves the two tone leather seats. And, I am not certain, but the 07 just sounded louder inside too, like too much engine noise...and the 08 seems much quiter.

 

I would have liked more aggressive fender flares and a bigger spoiler (really don't like the small "rear lip" spoiler).

 

I am excited to install the air intake, but how much is that exhaust?

[enormus]

Overall, I'd say it's a great car at a great price. I leased mine (that's why I don't want to spend a fortune on upgrades) and my fully loaded fusion with the sport package was still $100 cheaper than a new stripped down malibu.

 

I test drove an 07 fusion with a V6 and no sport package and I really think you can tell the difference. I think the tighter springs really make a noticeable difference in handling and cornering. Plus, the wheels look great and everyone I've shown the car to loves the two tone leather seats. And, I am not certain, but the 07 just sounded louder inside too, like too much engine noise...and the 08 seems much quiter.

 

I would have liked more aggressive fender flares and a bigger spoiler (really don't like the small "rear lip" spoiler).

 

I am excited to install the air intake, but how much is that exhaust?

$280 for the intake alone. The Magnaflow is $645. Since you are leasing, I would just go with the K&M drop-in ($43). Almost $1000 for intake and exhaust seems like too much to drop on a leased vehicle. I'm going to add the intake and exhaust first. I'll probably add the strut tower brace also. Once I get a little "bored" with the looks, I will add the 3D Carbon Euro kit. I actually prefer the subtler look of the lip spoiler to the wing.

 

I agree on the handling. I test drove a regular V6 SEL without and then with the Sport Package. Much less body roll on the latter. I never knew until my current vehicle (Acura TL) how much difference larger wheels make, but the 18" wheels and low profile tires improve handling as well. My wife fell in love with the red and black interior during the test drive. The brushed aluminum touches remind me so much of my TL, I feel right at home. The red stitching, black chrome and color matched fog light bezels just make for a cleaner, meaner appearance.

 

Wahtever you do, I hope you enjoy your new ride.

[blue-oval]

Hey SR

I have a 2006 SEL V6 with a Steeda cold air intake/intake spacer plus a Steeda SCT tuner The car is a blast to drive when set up for 93 octane. when I put the spacer in it changed the power band. It lost some of the low end but pulls very hard mid range thru full throttle. I am in the process of selling the 06' for a new SEL and plan to install same upgrades. I do wonder if anyone has tried the Gforce chips that are a advertised on forum I can't believe the claimed HP for $69.00 if anyone has used one let me know

 

Thanks Blue-Oval

[xmech2k]

I do wonder if anyone has tried the Gforce chips that are a advertised on forum I can't believe the claimed HP for $69.00

 

First, if it sounds too good to be true.....

 

Second, if it were really this easy and safe to get 4-7 MPG and up to 60 HP increase, you think the car car mfgr's, who were biting and scratching at every bit of MPG and HP to claim top dog in the battle of the best sedan, would miss something this easy?

 

If you're going to get this, don't forget to get the Tornado Fuel Saver, which will also give "7-15%" better MPG, as well as better HP, torque, etc.

 

Don't forget the Hydroxygen Generator, which can give a (GASP!!!) 60% mileage increase!!!!!

 

So if that hydrogen generator really worked, don't you think our Fusions would already have them and be getting what, (My I4 hwy mpg is rated 33 I think) 52.8MPG!!!!! Without all that hybrid crap!

 

Of course, maybe the great oil company conspiracy with George W have been suppressing this technology, and these people are risking life & limb to sell them.

 

Sorry to present it this way. I just really hate to see people get robbed by modern snake oil salesmen...

 

BTW, someone here will know and hopefully explain the trickery behind the $68 Gforce resistor which just tricks your O2 sensor, I believe.

[akirby]

G-force is nothing more than a variable resistor for the IAT sensor which tricks the engine into thinking the air temp is higher or lower than it really is. It may be a very smart variable resistor but as far as the engine knows that's all it is.

 

Get a tuner, advance the timing and run premium fuel along with a more open intake and exhaust - that's about all you can safely do that really works (and that's not going to result in a huge increase in mpg or hp either).

[JohnE]

First thing I would do to increase the HP is to buy a Tuner. With a custom tune you will add 20+ HP overall. And the more you can get at the wheels the better. Then I would add a cold air intake. The Steeda is nice, but way too expensive. Same with the K&N, although a bit cheaper. (It always surprises me how expensive they make this product to be, there's not that much to it and I don't believe for a second it costs even a 1/4 of the retail price to manufacture. In fact with a bit of ingenuity and access to a machine shop you could build one yourself for a fraction of the cost.) Anyway, that's the second thing I'd do for more HP. Now the third thing starts getting expensive as there's a few third things you can do. One being to change the main pulley. A gain of almost 10+ HP can be had by doing this, but (again) they are expensive. (Reason being they are made of a better material and are harmonically balanced, etc.)

Then there's the super charger, turbo charger and/or nitrous. But with this comes new injectors and (not sure, but I would) make the exhaust better by either adding headers, or better cat's and mufflers to make the exhaust more open, but you could do this without those items and probably add a few HP by just upgrading the exhaust.

 

Unfortunately there isn't much out there for me yet as I recently got a 2011 Fusion w/V6 3.0 engine. It has picked up 20 more HP from the factory for a 240HP rating. Yes, they make a tune for mine, but not much else. Not even a drop in K&N air filter, which by itself with give you 2 or 3 HP more. But these things will come out and if I can get into a shop I'd mind my own words and build one myself. But I am in agreement that it needs some suspension help. so I'm going with a tower brace first, then the springs and shocks. Which can also be an expensive layout, but if you want to run, you have to pay the bucks. Good luck with the HP raise.