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4 Posts
Hey everyone! I have a 2016 2.0L mazda3 and am looking for any suggestions as to what can be done to give it a but more "pep" so to speak.
My main annoyance is that I regularly drive at highway speeds up a very steep, very long hill, and I usually have it floored. If I downshift to 5th, I still have it floored, running around 2500 rpms, but if I downshift again to 4th it jumps up to around 4500rpms. Over an extended period I'm a little worried about what sort of stress high rpms can have on the engine. It can also get pretty annoying trying to merge onto highways as it feels super sluggish except at those high RPMs. I have a basic understanding of engines and transmissions, and was wondering what potential fixes are out there for this, or if this is just a matter of "should have gotten the bigger engine."
I was considering CAI plus headers and a throttle body, but in my research I've come to see that most people think the stock headers are best given the Skyactiv engine's compression ratio.
I also know that in RWD cars you can adjust the gear ratios but don't know if that's something that can be done in a FWD car. Warranty isn't a problem as it'll be totally out of warranty within the next 8 months.
Lastly, I thought about tires with a shorter sidewall height...not sure if that would help anything at all.
Like I said, I have a very basic understanding of how this stuff works, and this is this first car I've ever had the opportunity to modify. Sorry if these are stupid questions!
My main annoyance is that I regularly drive at highway speeds up a very steep, very long hill, and I usually have it floored. If I downshift to 5th, I still have it floored, running around 2500 rpms, but if I downshift again to 4th it jumps up to around 4500rpms. Over an extended period I'm a little worried about what sort of stress high rpms can have on the engine. It can also get pretty annoying trying to merge onto highways as it feels super sluggish except at those high RPMs. I have a basic understanding of engines and transmissions, and was wondering what potential fixes are out there for this, or if this is just a matter of "should have gotten the bigger engine."
I was considering CAI plus headers and a throttle body, but in my research I've come to see that most people think the stock headers are best given the Skyactiv engine's compression ratio.
I also know that in RWD cars you can adjust the gear ratios but don't know if that's something that can be done in a FWD car. Warranty isn't a problem as it'll be totally out of warranty within the next 8 months.
Lastly, I thought about tires with a shorter sidewall height...not sure if that would help anything at all.
Like I said, I have a very basic understanding of how this stuff works, and this is this first car I've ever had the opportunity to modify. Sorry if these are stupid questions!