What are the top performance, economy, or do-it-yourself (freebie) mods to do on this car? Chips? Cold air intakes? Better trans fluid? Anything like that I'm interested in.

 

Not too much to speak of/worth doing. The X type is just not a performance car. Poke around the forums and do some searches and you will find some things that others have done but nothing that is going to set you back in the seat. All of the fluids in the car are/should already be synthetics.

 

Yes I'm aware it's not a performance car so to speak. I was just curious if there is that "one thing" that really sets these cars off. From the factory all the fluids are synthetic though? There shouldn't be an issue putting aftermarket synthetics then. Is there an optimal brand?

 

Best free mod is here and then have a look at some of his other tips!
http://jagmotorproject.blogspot.com/...breathing.html

 

Thanks very much, great writeup!

 

So the consensus on this board is that performance chips won't really do anything to the x-type? I've been looking at them, all with grand claims of improved performance, but I'm pretty skeptical. Has anyone here experienced decent increases in HP or MPG with the installation of a performance chip? If so, which type?

 

Most people here have not used the performance chips due to the lack of availablility and due to the price and minimal gains from the ones that are available. Not sure if you know of any others out there, but the only reputable one ive heard of is the Arden which only gives 23-26hp gian if i remember correct

 

85, there are not many options out there for the DIY'ers out there. You can upgrade the exhaust to something a bit more free flowing, but that is going to only net probably 10-15 hp gain for about $600+. You can remove the baffles in the air box and then install a K&N filter, but you are only looking at maybe 2 hp there. They do make an aftermarket intake, but I think you will get the same gains by simply installing a K&N filter and removing the baffles.

As for the chips, I am not putting my money on them. Where most chips get the gains is in stepping up to the premium fuel, therefore they can advance the timing and get a few more hp out. But, our cars are already set up for that. So, any gains that the chip can give you is only in taking out the error margin the factory puts in.

If you are really looking for power gains, then you are going to end up cracking into the engine and getting your gains there. Probably the easiest for the DIY'er is porting/polishing the intake. Not major gains, but for the dollar investment, you get a lot of power out (about 10-15 hp gain). But note, you will be spending a lot of hours on the car doing it all right. So, pay me with money, pay me with time. Either way, it is going to cost you.

I know there was some talk about pulling the motor from out of the 2010 Taurus SHO and then sliding that into our cars. But, with limited info out there, hard to say what all would be involved in making that all work. But, that would give you AWD along with 365 HP. OH YEAH!!!!!!!

 

Quick-Cheap Mods: Alter airbox as per Karl Wolf's method and add K&N air filter (see Steve Hannes X-Type blog mentioned above). Forget about "Cold Air Intakes. Sucking in hot engine heat will decrease oxygen density of intake charge, resulting in decreased performance. Karl Wolf measured a 7 h.p. gain on his engine performance calculator.

Send your intake manifold to Karl Wolf. He will port it for a reasonable fee. Combined with airbox mod you are looking at an approx. 20 h.p and 10 lb/ft torque gain. 227 stock h.p. + 20 h.p = 247 h.p. @ 217 lb./ft. Are you becoming a little happier for just a little bit of money?

Big Powerful and Beneficial to Engine Mod (combine with above): Replace stock exhaust manifolds with 1999 Ford Taurus 3.0 DOHC exhaust manifolds, after the stock upstream O2 sensors, each manifold dumps into an inlet on a single (eliminates a cat) late model Dodge Truck V-8 catalytic converter (has two 2" inlets and a single 2 1/2" outlet). Single 2 1/2" pipe leaves cat to two inline stock downstream O2 sensors, onward and over rear axle where it splits to each MagnaFlow mufflers.

I just performed the above on my 2002 X-Type 3.0 (Topaz) and estimate a 40 h.p. and 20 lb/ft gain. Acceleration is noticeably quicker. The underhood temp. and oiltemp is much less due to placing cat away from engine. The engine breaths like no tomorrow and the sound is a deep authoritive rumble. I took pics and will post them as soon as I learn how.

 

Wow that's an awesome writep! Do u think the hp and tq gains would be the same on the 2.5 ?

 

Having seen the '10 Taurus SHO motor out of the vehicle, I don't think there's any way that would package in an X-Type...there isn't room for the dual turbos and all the plumbing on top of the engine. The heat issue would also come into play, not to mention the fact it would tear up all the other incidentals involved...transmission, transfer case and probably rear diff to boot. Too bad, because it would be one heck of a ride!

bfsgross is on the right track, as there are significant restrictions on both the intake and exhaust sides.. one of my Jaguar cohorts told me that whomever designed the X-Type exhaust system had no knowledge of any of the principles of thermodynamics...it's not designed to flow freely at all. As a side note, the same engineer once tested the output of the 3.0L on the dyno 1) with the stock air filter 2) with the K&N filter and 3) with no air filter at all...there was no difference of any significance. He said that the airbox was too restrictive, but because of the exhaust side of things, if you didn't fix both sides, any gains you'd get from fiddling with the intake are minor.

 

If that arden chip is 23 WHEEL HP that's pretty impressive

 

Absolutely the 2.5 can be dealt with in the same fashion. The only physical difference is a smaller cylinder bore. I would suggest the same 1999 Ford Taurus 3.0 DOHC exhaust manifolds exiting with 2 1/4" pipe to a single cat, then 2 1/2" pipe after the catalytic converter to the mufflers. Avoid straight through mufflers as I did. Use a higher flowing multiple perforated tube muffler to maintain adequate backpressure (maintain torque) and a acceptable interior noise level. Port intake manifold and modify airbox w/K&N air filter. In addition to not developing very high engine and oil temp., the 2.5 (190 h.p.) may then be in the 230 h.p. range. Remap the ECU ($$$) while on an AWD dyno for more power. You can swap in a 3.0 engine too and possibly produce 270 h.p before a remap of ECU (300 h.p.?).