motor

thepest · 11-17-2006, 06:04 AM

Could you guys please tell me the downsides of chip tunning. I am sure there are some.
I read some pretty encouraging things on some official chip tunning websites, but I would like to make sure before taking a car under the knife

thanks

dingo · 11-17-2006, 08:19 AM

I've had the ECU/chip in my car retuned/reflashed, and will do so again soon after my next round of modifications.

Downsides? You void your warranty (to a certain extent) if you still have it, which is the case with me. Obviously whenever you increase power you will stress the stock engine more than normal, so things can go wrong.

The most important thing is to get the right tuner to do it, who has the correct equipment and knows EXACTLY what he is doing. I use a guy who is widely regarded the best tuner in town, he is very safe and will never push the car too far for the sake of a few more kilowatts.

Skaala · 11-17-2006, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by thepest

Could you guys please tell me the downsides of chip tunning. I am sure there are some.
I read some pretty encouraging things on some official chip tunning websites, but I would like to make sure before taking a car under the knife

thanks

first of all what car are you going to chip? Non turbo gasoline is not very rewarding, but turbo engines, and especially TDi's are great. I chipped my mothers Seat Alahambra 1,9TDi (110hp) when it was at 140k km. It got 150hp with a K&N and is still going strong after 210.000km. It's hilarious to drive now. No problems so far. Sometimes it's a bit more diesel smoke if you punch it when cold, but that's it. it is a 1999mod, and I chipped it in 2004 (warranty of engine and trans is only 2 years)

I also have a B&B chip level 2 with delimiter in the A8, and it too has performed flawlessly. can run it on highway at 0.86/100km now. manual says minimum of 0,95/100km. Besides from the improved milage "level 1" doesn't return very much horsepower alone, but combined with a open K&N= chip gives 375hp and open filter 5-12% increase.

check superchips.co.uk - they have a lifetime warranty of "chip tuned related problems) that's why I chose it for my mother's car

AND, avoid so called "power boxes", choose someone who does a proper recoding of the ECU or install a new recoded chip in the ECU

like this:

.

thepest · 11-17-2006, 09:11 AM

Thanks for the heads-up guys!

I had in mind Opel Corca 1.7 dti 75hp

Skaala · 11-17-2006, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by thepest

Thanks for the heads-up guys!

I had in mind Opel Corca 1.7 dti 75hp

http://www.superchips.co.uk/curves/ast17dti.pdf

TS-tuning in norway uses another one that gives:
1,7 DTI
org hp:75
new hp:110
org nm:165
new nm:224

thepest · 11-17-2006, 10:00 AM

I certainly would like the TS-tunning one.

Thanks skaala, I will give it a thought!

TNT · 11-17-2006, 03:29 PM

the thing with chip tunning is you can take it off if you need to for some reason. and with you car, you should have a good response. now the only thing that chip tunning (at least in the US) is that you have to use higher octane unless you can get a custom tune for a lower octane. but they are normally the best bang for the buck (no pun intended)

Skaala · 11-17-2006, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by TNT

the only thing that chip tunning (at least in the US) is that you have to use higher octane unless you can get a custom tune for a lower octane. but they are normally the best bang for the buck (no pun intended)

no problem when it's a diesel

also, I still run the A8 on 95 unleaded. I sometimes fill it with 98, but I cant feel a difference.

oh... 95 is the lowest we get in norway.

thepest · 11-17-2006, 06:13 PM

I knew about the higher octane number when tuned, but as skaala said it's not the case when diesel engine.

There is 93 in bulgaria, but I won't be needing that. :>

p.s. the car is not mine, I am still without a vehicle

:cry:

tuffguy · 11-17-2006, 06:26 PM

Depends on the car. Some cars simply require a reflash. Like on mine, I can use EcuFlash to flash it back to stock any time I choose. It takes 1 min. Dealer will never know.

That said, there's a night & day difference between having my car flashed and unflashed. It's even more drastic on VW's 1.8t and 2.0t.

Skaala · 11-17-2006, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by tuffguy

That said, there's a night & day difference between having my car flashed and unflashed. It's even more drastic on VW's 1.8t and 2.0t.

yep, one of the most chip-friendly, is the 1,8 turbo VAG engine. It can give anything from 140 stock horsepower in the A4 or VW to 265 chipped hp in the "old" S3. it is one of VAG's best ever.