[sthursby]

After all these years, nobody has modified their Pilot in an effort to increase torque or horsepower low to midrange? I would think plenty would benefit from extra power while towing.

No performance chip installations?

 

[Rocky]

You won't find anything specific for the Pilot. Guess we're too boring for that crowd

 

[sthursby]

It's a shame. I know its a Pilot, and many don't care about 1/4 mile times but who wouldn't love some extra torque?

I love Pilots (traded my 07 EX-L years ago) and I'm in the market for a preowned. I'm not a huge fan of the MDX, but I wish the Pilot had the same engine.

My Mustang has so many options to improve performance. I feel limited here. I don't want an Explorer or Durango, but the v8 sounds like fun!

 

[cofetym]

4 hours of waxing will get you all the gain you need.:29:

 

[sthursby]

4 hours of waxing will get you all the gain you need.:29:

LOL So the wax reduces drag at high speeds? Nice!

 

[UdubBadger]

After all these years, nobody has modified their Pilot in an effort to increase torque or horsepower low to midrange? I would think plenty would benefit from extra power while towing.

No performance chip installations?

Doesn't sound like many manufacturers feel its worth the R&D. Been searching all morning for tuning for my 2015 with 0 results.

I do media stuff for a tuning company that works with European cars, might ask them what possibilities there might be for this but not sure they have the platforms to even start.

 

[jamesgarner83]

In my opinion "bolt-on" performance mods stuff like intakes, exhausts, chips etc. are not worth the cardboard box they came in. They usually over promise and under deliver. I think most people who own Pilots are mature enough to understand this. Short of some form of forced induction(turbo, supercharger,NOS) you are really just wasting your money, and in many cases actually decreasing the vehicles performance.

Many of these modifications may provide some peak hp improvement but often at the cost of power somewhere else in the rpm range. i.e. you gained 2hp at 6000rpm but lost 10 at 3000rpms. So the net effect is a slower vehicle. Honda engines put out relatively high amounts of power for their displacement, lots and lots of engineering went into getting these smaller engines to the power levels they are at. This means there is not much room left to open these engines up more then they already are from the factory,without major modifications. One is better served saving their money for maintenance costs.

 

[zillafreak]

In my opinion "bolt-on" performance mods stuff like intakes, exhausts, chips etc. are not worth the cardboard box they came in. They usually over promise and under deliver. I think most people who own Pilots are mature enough to understand this. Short of some form of forced induction(turbo, supercharger,NOS) you are really just wasting your money, and in many cases actually decreasing the vehicles performance.

Many of these modifications may provide some peak hp improvement but often at the cost of power somewhere else in the rpm range. i.e. you gained 2hp at 6000rpm but lost 10 at 3000rpms. So the net effect is a slower vehicle. Honda engines put out relatively high amounts of power for their displacement, lots and lots of engineering went into getting these smaller engines to the power levels they are at. This means there is not much room left to open these engines up more then they already are from the factory,without major modifications. One is better served saving their money for maintenance costs.

So far from true this is funny.
The issue with honda or any car company is they are limited on what they can do.
For exhaust, they can't make something like the pilot loud. So they choke the exhaust with cats and resonators.
Same with intakes. Honda will do what they can to keep the intake sound down.
Then chips. Yes the basic "chip" is normally useless. But one where you tune things such as fuel and timing can add lots of power and are great when you combine them with exhaust and intake mods. Again, honda is limited on what they legally can do with tuning and what they will do. Usually they aim for better MPG (to please EPA) and one that will make the engine last. Guess what, I don't have to worry about emission and if I worry just about power, then I know I can make more power everywhere.

 

[sthursby]

In my opinion "bolt-on" performance mods stuff like intakes, exhausts, chips etc. are not worth the cardboard box they came in. They usually over promise and under deliver. I think most people who own Pilots are mature enough to understand this. Short of some form of forced induction(turbo, supercharger,NOS) you are really just wasting your money, and in many cases actually decreasing the vehicles performance.

Many of these modifications may provide some peak hp improvement but often at the cost of power somewhere else in the rpm range. i.e. you gained 2hp at 6000rpm but lost 10 at 3000rpms. So the net effect is a slower vehicle. Honda engines put out relatively high amounts of power for their displacement, lots and lots of engineering went into getting these smaller engines to the power levels they are at. This means there is not much room left to open these engines up more then they already are from the factory,without major modifications. One is better served saving their money for maintenance costs.

I agree that certain mods have modest gains and that different mods move the power (hp & torque) up or down the power band, but most vehicles from the factory are tuned for emissions and fuel economy. I believe there's ALWAYS room for improvement! Guaranteed, if you put a Pilot on a dyno for tuning, you can find ways to increase top end power. Swap out the gears and you can increase low end torque. Agreed, a cold air intake (CAI) offers modest gains but a stock factory intake could be restrictive as compared to MANY aftermarket options. I don't think you'll find the vehicle slower though, unless you're thinking the first 100-feet. Yes, if the power is moved further up in the RPM band, it'll take a little longer to get there, but once you do, then performance improves over stock. I know, I know. Nobody will be racing the Honda Pilot down the 1/4 mile strip, and we're thinking acceleration from a stop light or on ramps, but I would be interested in having better acceleration off the line, getting up to highway speed (3K RPMs+) and more torque would be great.

Also, "maturity" has nothing to due with knowledge. Knowledge comes from experience and education (based on another's experience). However, it's my immaturity that drives my need for a Pilot aftermarket.

So color me an immature 40-something Honda Pilot owner (also a Ford Mustang owner).

 

[mirkz]

I installed the axion intake - they claim it gives Hp 10 -15 whp and Tq 7 - 15. It's hard to say without a dyno but its definitely quicker.

The only problem is that every other pilot owner in so cal apparently wants to race or just speed up and cut me off at random so I drove a bit looney with it so it's in a box next to my bench.

They claim it gives better mpg but mine stayed at 21.8 on 91 shell, so no change there.

I tried to do some 0-60 and 1/4 mile runs but the traction of the fwd model I have was inconsistent, it's quicker. On my Ridgeline with a custom exhaust and jet tune I was able to make 240 awhp which means 35 to the wheels 50 to the crankish on 91 octane shell.

For people running 87 octane the easiest thing is to switch to 91 like shell. Honda engines run off the knock sensor and can advance timing to utilize higher octane fuels.

If you are running 87 in a FWD pilot your power to weight ratio is 17.5 : 1 - if you switch to 91 octane @ sea level with an intake and see the gains I saw it goes to like 15.9:1 - you will feel that.

The new model has a 9 speed option that shortens the gearing and chops .5 off 0-60 - you can do the same with tire sizing.

You can also shed some serious weight from the pilot - you can use the tire goo kits like Ferrari does and drop the spare, a lighter odyssey battery added to that is worth like 100 pounds. Now you are at 15.4 : 1 - a custom exhaust could trim 75+ pounds - there is massive weight to cut from the wheel and tire combo, especially for the steel OEM people, the brake discs could give up another 50 total swapped out for 2 piece disks etc.

Total easy is probably 300 pounds and 300 hp is likely possible with an exhaust, intake , jet tune - an actual reflash would be so much better though.

Now you are looking at 13:1 with a reduction in tire sizing and super human shifting a 14 1/4 is possible. Maybe ditch the 3rd row too?

 

[dirt addict]

Did u guys see the post about switching out the cams to a higher/longer duration one? I think they quoted $250 plus labor. Bumps up the hp 25 ponies. Then plug in the vcmuzzler to provide fuel to all cylinders.
I'm not an engine guy so take this with a grain of salt. But it sounds like the way to go as far as $ to hp gains. Then add in the pulley kit and ur done. If I had the know how to do it all myself, this would be the direction I'd head....

 

[zillafreak]

Did u guys see the post about switching out the cams to a higher/longer duration one? I think they quoted $250 plus labor. Bumps up the hp 25 ponies. Then plug in the vcmuzzler to provide fuel to all cylinders.
I'm not an engine guy so take this with a grain of salt. But it sounds like the way to go as far as $ to hp gains. Then add in the pulley kit and ur done. If I had the know how to do it all myself, this would be the direction I'd head....

If you are going to do cams, then you need to also do exhaust.

 

[sthursby]

Has anyone swapped cams, gears or tuned their Pilot? I'm wondering if shorter gears would be a good option for low-end torque. I'm not drag-racing the Pilot.

 

[Damianz1718]

J37a1 cams intakemanifold precat deletes and praying for a k tuner

 

[decy]

i had browsed a site called"yourhotcar.com". they have a few chips that fit the pilot- from oxygen sensors to full turbo kits! was wondering if the O2 chip along with the VCM bypass module would release a few cheapish ponies.

 

[zillafreak]

None, they wouldn't do anything.
The chip for the 02 sensor most likely is just to bypass it so it wont through a code, it doesn't increase performance.
VCM bypass will also not increase performance.

 

[TDI77]

Hey guys I have a 2007 pilot with 69k miles on it, I’m new to the performance world so don’t bash? just recently I’ve been wanting to amp up the performance on her. So far Ive put a cold air intake in it sounds nice and throttle response became better.

If anyone has any suggestions that they have to increase performance I’d apretiate the help.

I’ve been looking into performance chips but I haven’t been able to come across one for the 07 pilot. Maybe one to change the shift times. I don’t want one that changes the air/fuel ratio cause i heard it could blow up the engine/ cause engine damage. Is this true?

If anyone has any info about the following topics feel free to discuss.
Thanks

Performance pullies
changing cams
Injectors
Spark plugs
Turbo charging her has been on my mind.

 

[Rocky]

You pilot’s factory built in CAI sources intake air from the wheelarch area. Your may sound nicer to you and that’s it.

 

[Tahoefever]

Most of the stuff I have seen for Pilots are cosmetic after market body kits ..suspension lower kits... nothing much more than that ... on the other hand My Gm truck has everything from PCM mods to tuners to gear ratio changes , intake mods to open that V8 roar...to ordering you pizza from your onstar system. The Pilot..will always will be a grocery getter..nothing more just with some of these fancy make up jobs .. Would I love to see some real MODS available.... OMG YES...

 

[Anthony Boaen]

I think most of us Piloteers are satisfied with the acceleration and torque of the Pilot.



Any performance parts I'd be interested in would be things to increase ride quality, ground clearance, fuel mileage, towing capacity and overall ruggedness.