How do I get more power?
First off, unless you have a Civic Hybrid, you have to understand that all the power pushing you forward results from only the combustion of fuel. Basically, combustion is a chemical reaction where oxygen from the air and hydrocarbons from the fuel react to produce a lot of energy. The basic idea behind getting more power is getting more usable energy from the combustion taking place in each cylinder. There are three basic ways to accomplish this:


1. Add more fuel and air to each cylinder
2. Compress the air / fuel mixture even more
3. Ignite the mixture so it burns more efficiently (i.e. completely and at the correct time)


Needless to say, accomplishing this is much easier said than done. For example, as engine speed increases, it becomes harder and harder to get air in and exhaust out efficiently.

Fortunately, the aftermarket has done the research for us and has made it quite easy to add more power to your Civic. Civics (and Honda cars in general) are very well engineered and can accept a lot of power modifications without any decrease in reliability.

That said, there are some basic "bolt-on" parts that most people start with to gain power. Bolt-ons are parts that can be installed with just some simple tools (usually some wrenches and screwdrivers) and definitely don't require you to tear down your engine or weld anything. The most popular bolt-ons to start with for power are the air intake, headers, and exhaust, also known as I/H/E. These three parts will get your engine breathing better and produce a more aggressive engine sound.

Here's a quick chart that goes over all the part categories that relate to power:

Part Category & Example Parts Description
Air Induction (air intake, throttle body, intake manifold) Helps more air flow into your engine, causing your engine's computer to add more fuel, resulting in more power.
Forced Induction (turbocharger, supercharger, nitrous) Pressurized systems that force A LOT of air into the engine, requiring much more fuel, and resulting in some big power gains. Nitrous is a little different in that it is not normal air, but nitrous oxide, which actually serves two functions: 1. It cools down the incoming air, resulting in a denser air mixture and 2. The nitrous oxide splits into nitrogen and oxygen during combustion. The extra oxygen means more fuel can be used during combustion, which results in more power.
Fuel System (fuel injectors, fuel rail, fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator) Allows more fuel to flow into the engine, and at a faster rate. Necessary whenever you need to add more fuel than your stock system can supply. Also, performance fuel injectors help to "atomize" the fuel better, which results in more efficient combustion.
Exhaust (headers, cat-back exhaust system, high-flow catalytic converter) Each time fuel combusts, it results in high-pressure gases that need to escape. A well-tuned exhaust system allows them to escape quickly at all engine speeds. This allows your engine to run with less resistance, which results in more usable power to the wheels.
Engine Tuning (engine management system, cam gears) After a certain amount of modifications, it becomes necessary to re-tune your engine's computer to work optimally and reliably. Tuning can yield significant power gains and is a MUST for heavily modified cars. This is ideally done at a dyno shop, which can actually measure the power your engine is producing.
Ignition System (spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor) Provides more powerful and precisely timed sparks. This will cause the fuel / air mixture to be more completely and efficiently burned. Spark plugs also have the auxiliary function of helping remove heat from the combustion chamber.
Transmission (clutch, flywheel, limited slip differential) On modified cars, allows more power to be transferred to the wheels. A limited slip differential (LSD) can provide you with better traction to both tires. Automatic transmission owners can look into upgrading their torque converters.
Engine Head (camshafts, valves, valve springs, retainers) The "head", or cylinder head, is the top part of the engine that you see when you open your hood. This is where the most gains will be had for naturally aspirated (not forced induction) engines. Camshafts increase intake and exhaust airflow while valves, valve springs, and retainers support higher engine speeds and denser air mixtures.
Engine Block (connecting rods, bearings, head studs, pistons, sleeves) For those with a lot of upgrades, these parts will make sure that your engine can handle the extra power. Performance pistons serve more than just a structural purpose though; they can change your compression ratio (i.e. how much the fuel / air mixture is compressed).
Cooling System (radiator, fans, oil cooler) Keeps your modified engine running at optimum temperatures. If an engine runs too hot, performance suffers. Running too cold can hurt fuel economy and emissions, and lead to spark plug fouling. After some big upgrades, it's often a good idea to get a water temperature gauge to know how hot you're running.

To make all this power really work for you, lighten your car! A light car has better acceleration, cornering, and fuel economy. A lot of performance parts are lighter than your stock ones, but you can also buy body parts that will help save weight.