Everything You Need To Know About "B4164S2 B4164S3 Modifications"

How to modify and upgrade the Volvo B4164S2 B4164S3

"Comprehensive guide to performance parts and tuning the Volvo B4164S2 B4164S3 engine!"

Volvo B4164S2 and B4164S3 engines – powerplants that showcase Volvo's commitment to efficiency, performance, and environmental responsibility.

Volvo B4164S2 Engine: The B4164S2 is a four-cylinder engine that has found its place in various Volvo models, including the V40 and S40. Introduced in the mid-2000s, this engine is part of Volvo's efforts to provide compact, fuel-efficient powertrains without compromising on performance. With a 1.6-liter displacement, the B4164S2 incorporates features like Double Overhead Camshafts (DOHC) and variable valve timing to optimize power delivery and efficiency.

Volvo B4164S3 Engine: The B4164S3 is another member of Volvo's four-cylinder engine family, succeeding the B4164S2. This engine, introduced in the later 2000s, has been utilized in models such as the V40 and S60. With a 1.6-liter displacement, the B4164S3 continues Volvo's emphasis on compact yet powerful engines. It incorporates modern technologies, including direct fuel injection, for enhanced combustion efficiency and reduced emissions.

Both the B4164S2 and B4164S3 engines reflect Volvo's commitment to providing vehicles that offer a balance of performance and environmental consciousness. These engines showcase Volvo's dedication to smaller displacement powertrains that deliver on both driving enjoyment and fuel efficiency.

As we explore the intricacies of these engines, we witness Volvo's role in advancing compact engine technology to meet the evolving demands of modern driving. The B4164S2 and B4164S3 contribute to Volvo's legacy of creating vehicles that align with the brand's core values of safety, efficiency, and driving pleasure.

The Volvo B4164S2 and B4164S3 engines stand as examples of Volvo's pursuit of providing compact, efficient, and performance-oriented powerplants. Their role in various Volvo models reflects the brand's commitment to delivering a driving experience that encompasses both environmental responsibility and the joy of being behind the wheel.

Sites like TorqueCars often are seeing threads asking how to improve the B4164S2 B4164S3 from people inquiring about getting more power from the B4164S2 B4164S3 and wanting to know what are the greatest B4164S2 B4164S3 power upgrades. So let us look into Volvo B4164S2 B4164S3 modifications and outline the best modifications on this great engine and point out some frequent tuning mistakes along the way.

The Volvo B4164S2 B4164S3 are awesome to work on and with the right tuning parts like remaps, turbo improvements and camshafts you will definitely maximise your driving enjoyment.

Here we review B4164S2 B4164S3 tuning and report on the greatest mods that work.

When talking about the optimum parts for your B4164S2 B4164S3 engine, we are going to focus on the mods that give the best value for money.

Improving air intake on the B4164S2 B4164S3

You need air and fuel for an engine to work. If there is not enough fuel then it will run lean, if there is a lack of air it runs rich sapping power which risks damage to the B4164S2 B4164S3. We'll pick up on fuelling later in this article but for now we shall look at air supply.

So it's important to any performance tuning job to shove more air and fuel into the B4164S2 B4164S3 engine but this has a knock on effect with the air flow sensor.

It is not unusual that there is a restriction in the air flow sensor AFM/MAF on the B4164S2 B4164S3 when considerably more air is being drawn into the engine.

We note 4 bar air sensors coping with quite large power gains, whereas the OEM air sensor was restricting power at a much lower level.

The intake plenum carry the air during the suck phase from the filter and allow it to be sucked into the engine cylinders.

Structure and flow characteristics of the Plenum can make a big change to fuel atomisation on the B4164S2 B4164S3.

Most air intake manifolds are in dire need of a performance upgrade, although some OEM provide fairly well optimized air intake manifolds.

Big valve conversions on the B4164S2 B4164S3, carrying out port matching and head flowing will also boost bhp, and importantly will raise potential for raising the bhp increase on other parts.

B4164S2 B4164S3 performance cam tips.

Some B4164S2 B4164S3 engines respond better to extreme camshaft durations so set your engine up on a rolling road.

The engine timing and fuel pump and injectors also will say much on the power gains you'll hit.

A longer valve duration can alter the power band and on most engines the exhaust and intake durations do not need to match, although most cams and tuners use matched pairs there are some advantages to extending the intake or exhaust durations.

The camshaft profile plays a big part in the engines power output so camshaft upgrades make quite a large difference. The intake and exhaust durations will alter depending on the chosen camshaft profile, so large power band gains are on offer for camshaft upgrades.

NB: Fast road cams tend to raise the bhp and torque over the rpm range, you may lose a little low end bhp but your top end will improve.

Motorsport and race cams, raise the top end band but as a result the car will not idle smoothly and low end power nearly always suffers.

In a daily driver you must carefully try to match your engines power to your typical driving style.

I'd be amazed if you find a B4164S2 B4164S3 Motorsport camshaft is a pleasure to live with when on the daily commute.

Stage 1, 2 and 3 mods for the B4164S2 B4164S3

Before we break the best tuning upgrades down into stages of tune, let's list the most effective tuning upgrades for you.

1. Suspension Upgrades - always improve your cars handling
2. Brake Upgrades - Even before adding power improve those brakes
3. Intake - make sure the intake is not restricted, use filters and intake upgrades to improve this
4. Exhaust - as with 3 ensure there is not restriction in the exhaust, cats are the usual bottleneck
5. Tunes - remapping, piggyback ECU's and aftermarket ECU's can all make decent gains
6. Fuelling - when you've increased power you'll need to match this with more fuel
7. Turbo upgrades - Improving the intake with a large turbo and better flowing intercooler will be the biggest power gain you'll see (but one of the most complex).

This video guide to tuning cars is a great starting point to work from in your project.

Stage 1 B4164S2 B4164S3 parts:

Remaps/piggy back ECU, Fast road camshaft, Panel air filters, Intake headers, Drilled & smoothed airbox, Sports exhaust manifold.

Stage 2 B4164S2 B4164S3 parts:

Fast road cam, Sports catalyst & performance exhaust, induction kit, Ported and polished head, fuel pump upgrades, high flow fuel injectors.

Stage 3 B4164S2 B4164S3 parts:

Engine balancing & blueprinting, Internal engine upgrades (head flowing porting/bigger valves), Twin charging conversions, Crank and Piston upgrades to alter compression, Adding or Upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger), Competition cam.

ECU flashing will help to establish the full potential of all the upgrades you've done to your B4164S2 B4164S3.

You will typically expect to see gains of approximately 20-30% more power on turbocharged vehicles and you can expect to see around 15% on NASP engines, but your mileage will rely on the upgrades you've fitted and the condition of your engine.

Turbo modifications on the B4164S2 B4164S3

To get a turbo working on a NASP engine there is a lot involved, from lowering compression ratio to improved fuel supply and mapping, so we have found a great guide to helpavoid the common pitfalls or end up with an unfinished project because you were not told what you were getting into by doing this on the B4164S2 B4164S3.

The more air you can get into an engine, the more fuel it can burn and uprating the induction with a turbocharger upgrade makes major power gains.

If the engine is fitted with a turbocharger mods are relatively easy and you will discover turbocharged engines already contain stronger components.

There are tuning limits for every engine, with some being very over engineered and some only able to handle stock power

It is important to find these limits and fit higher quality crank and pistons to survive the power.

We see many tuners spending a lots of money on turbo charger upgrades on the B4164S2 B4164S3 only to suffer the indignity of watching the engine block literally blow up when it's finished.

Big upgraded turbos often experience a bottom end lag, and small turbos spool up really quickly but don't have the top end torque gains.

In recent times the selection of turbo chargers is always improving and we now see variable vane turbo chargers, permitting the vane profile is altered according to speed to lower lag and increase top end power.

Twin scroll turbo chargers divert the exhaust gases into a couple of channels and direct these at differently designed vanes in the turbocharger. They also improve the scavenging effect of the engine.

Beefing up the air intake by adding a supercharger or additional turbo will help you achieve very large performance gains, although harder to configure. We have this article covering twinchargers if you want to read more.

Tips about fuel supply on the B4164S2 B4164S3

When you raise the bhp and torque you will need to ramp up to the fuel system.

More bhp and torque needs more fuel. We strongly recommend you to be generous with your injector capacity.

The accepted safe increase is to add 20% capacity when buying an injector, helps cope with injector deterioration and allows a bit of spare capacity should the engine require more fuel.

Don't forget that different fuel grades will usually require different settings, a high octane fuel will burn more efficiently than lower octane fuel for example. A car will trim fuel supply to keep within the ideal air fuel mix but at the extreme ends you may need to adjust your injector capacity, or the mapping or you'll get flat spots and potential lean or rich fuel issues..

Recommended B4164S2 B4164S3 performance exhaust upgrades

We'd only recommend you look to improve your exhaust system with an upgraded one is if the current exhaust is actually causing a restriction in flow.

On most factory exhausts you'll see the flow rate is ok even on modest power gains, but on a serious tuning project with a big boost in power you will certainly need to get a better flowing exhaust.

Sports exhausts generally help improve air flow from the engine but do not go too big or you may end up will reduce the flow rate. Stick to one and a half to two and half inches as a rule of thumb.

Usual exhaust restrictions are traced to the catalyst installed, so adding a better flowing race alternative will help avoid this restriction.

Decats (NB:catalysts reduce harmful engine emissions) is illegal in most countries and regions.

Faults issues and things to look out for on the B4164S2 B4164S3

Like most engines an B4164S2 B4164S3, should have few issues if it gets properly serviced and looked after.

We cannot stress enough the need for oil changes with the correct grade of oil on the B4164S2 B4164S3, failure to do this will exacerbate engine wear, on a tuned B4164S2 B4164S3 this is more important than ever and close attention should be paid to your maintenance schedule.

If you are interested in learning more or getting impartial tuning advice for your B4164S2 B4164S3 why not pop over to the forums at TorqueCars where you can chat about B4164S2 B4164S3 tuning options and read about others projects who may be planning to do similar modifications on their B4164S2 B4164S3.

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