@Danspan -
Watch out for expectation bias...
Similar to the placebo effect, if you replace a part that you think will improve performance, you may observe improvement that is more a result of what you expect than an actual difference. Your comments like "seem to start quicker" and "smoother" are hard to quantify, but easy to imagine.
If a car has a problem that's corrected, there will likely be a difference that could be measured.
If you make a change that you think will improve mileage, your mileage may improve, but very minor changes in how you drive can dwarf any effects of changes from one functional component to another.
The point is that you can easily fool yourself into believing that something you did made a difference, where the actual difference is you.
It's all part of being a human, and there is a reason that sugar pills can cure an illness.... and they do.
In many medical studies, a sugar pill can improve the condition of 20% of the people who think they are given a new and effective drug.
It's the belief and what follows is self fulfilling prophesy.
Watch out for expectation bias...
Similar to the placebo effect, if you replace a part that you think will improve performance, you may observe improvement that is more a result of what you expect than an actual difference. Your comments like "seem to start quicker" and "smoother" are hard to quantify, but easy to imagine.
If a car has a problem that's corrected, there will likely be a difference that could be measured.
If you make a change that you think will improve mileage, your mileage may improve, but very minor changes in how you drive can dwarf any effects of changes from one functional component to another.
The point is that you can easily fool yourself into believing that something you did made a difference, where the actual difference is you.
It's all part of being a human, and there is a reason that sugar pills can cure an illness.... and they do.
In many medical studies, a sugar pill can improve the condition of 20% of the people who think they are given a new and effective drug.
It's the belief and what follows is self fulfilling prophesy.