I understand the utility of having power to pass “right now”—and have never had the pleasure of owing a vehicle capable of it. But I’m thinking, if you are buying used, then just buy a vehicle that already has the umph desired. Usually hot rodding something takes away from reliability and durability—some take to it better than others, but for a family hauler, usually reliability is what everyone wants.
Any engine upgrades available for the Buick Enclave?
- Thread starter Greyroom
- Start date
Yep those things made like an extra 10whp after $2000 of bolt ons and a tune. I don't think I've ever seen a consumer-vehicle naturally aspirated I4/v6 engine make more than like 10hp after a few thousand in bolt ons and tune.
Shell V Power
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When I was a newbie on the Maxima forum, they said K&N panel 2-5 HP gain. I bit, and about all I accomplished was for my mpgs to go down. No performance gain whatsoever....
One thing I never liked about the Enclave was the fuel economy. I always felt some sort of serious disgust, consuming (although 87 not 93/91) as much fuel as a full sized V8. But it did decline over the years. We easily got 14 mpg all day long when new. But at the end, 10-12? HUH? I suspect it needed the intake valves cleaned. I'm not sure if such a procedure exists for GM products. That's one thing I won't miss. Again, we loved the looks and the functionality, but all the repairs just was a sore thumb, and then it was a total loss in May. We're moving on to a truck SUV, I dunno if maybe when interested in a vehicle this size, just skip the crossover and go to the truck based? I was afraid to do so in 2011. I rarely regret decisions so I don't, but I feel I learned.
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it only needs 87, which is actually a plus. But it did consume a LOT of 87. Oh that's another thing, the fuel gauge was erratic, and was such even under warranty. Dealer claimed no issue, even when I showed them a video of the gauge going all over the place. We learned to always be cognizant of resetting the gallons consumed reading. So even if the gauge was empty, and we knew it consumed 8, the 8 was off, and we knew we had about 15 gal left. I mean this is crazy, isn't it, but we got used to it.
The sticker was 2-5hp, not the filter!
Based on post 31 I believe @Greyroom is genuinely looking for good advice here, and hes still in the game after a little lecturing. Respect because he’s still here looking for wisdom. We’ve all been young, and this is an enthusiast board, and of course power is appealing.
I think one of the things a younger generation fella didnt experience, is we used to drive around with far less power than today’s vehicles have, so interests in *more* power as we enter into minivan/diaper years seem foreign. Remember, we older folk are the ones that Honda and Chrysler especially nailed when they put the bigger 3.8 in the town and country … the minivan finally had some muscle, and these things sold.
From a practicality standpoint, most everything we had when I was a kid was beneath 100 hp, including the minivan. The sedans had around 80-95. In the 90s my family broke into the 120s with fuel injection. I was perfectly capable of merging into interstate traffic in a 64hp Volkswagen van, loaded with 5 people, luggage, and a manual transmission. I could easily scoff at anyone looking for more power… because I’m on the other side of it.
@Greyroom - props to you for asking. I know nothing about the enclave but it looks like you got good data here on reliability. Admittedly, some of the Buick SUVs really look sharp, but maybe it’s not the best one out there. WRT horsepower, theres a bunch of stuff you’re about to learn about being a dad. It’s hard and awesome and hard… and awesome. It will shape your priorities away from needing to pass a semi. Youll hopefully enjoy the journey so that you don’t need to. That, is power.
I think one of the things a younger generation fella didnt experience, is we used to drive around with far less power than today’s vehicles have, so interests in *more* power as we enter into minivan/diaper years seem foreign. Remember, we older folk are the ones that Honda and Chrysler especially nailed when they put the bigger 3.8 in the town and country … the minivan finally had some muscle, and these things sold.
From a practicality standpoint, most everything we had when I was a kid was beneath 100 hp, including the minivan. The sedans had around 80-95. In the 90s my family broke into the 120s with fuel injection. I was perfectly capable of merging into interstate traffic in a 64hp Volkswagen van, loaded with 5 people, luggage, and a manual transmission. I could easily scoff at anyone looking for more power… because I’m on the other side of it.
@Greyroom - props to you for asking. I know nothing about the enclave but it looks like you got good data here on reliability. Admittedly, some of the Buick SUVs really look sharp, but maybe it’s not the best one out there. WRT horsepower, theres a bunch of stuff you’re about to learn about being a dad. It’s hard and awesome and hard… and awesome. It will shape your priorities away from needing to pass a semi. Youll hopefully enjoy the journey so that you don’t need to. That, is power.
I'm seeing on K&N's website that on the Ram 1500 up to 25ish Horsepower * . Does K&N test their filters in real world driving?
