Who wouldn't want improved performance from their car if the price were right? With automotive costs on the rise across the board most notably fuel here are ways to boost horsepower without taking out a small loan to do it.

Upgrade your lubricants

Friction and heat from engine components and the drive train rob horsepower and performance. Minimizing this power loss can be as easy as upgrading to a high-performance lubricant.

Replace and/or upgrade your air filter

During the life of your engine, thousands of cubic feet of air will pass through the engine cylinders. Dust and other material that flows in with that air can cause excessive wear and operating problems to the engine. It's imperative that you keep air filters clean by regularly replacing them. To further enhance filtration and power, upgrade to a performance air filter, which can free up an additional two to three horsepower. While not a tremendous power gain, the relatively low cost of a filter and ease of installation (about five minutes) more than make up for it.

Use higher-octane gas or an octane booster

Go for the good stuff the next time you're at the pump. Depending on your vehicle, high-octane gasoline can provide an increase in horsepower. Even a marginal gain by switching from the lowest octane gasoline to the highest octane is worth a few extra bucks at the pump.

Upgrading your gas, lubricants and air filter are cheap and easy ways to increase your engine's horsepower. They'll also extend the life of your engine and help prevent expensive repairs.