Do the "performance chips" really work?
Do the "performance chips" really work?
(OP)
I am a regular poster in other fora, and I know the rules about personal projects, but please indulge me for a bit before red flagging this thread.
I am getting a new company vehicle, a Dodge Charger with a 2.7L V6, the smallest engine option (corporate edict). I have this engine now in a Magnum, it's a dog and I am afraid of being rear-ended trying to get on to freeways. I know the Charger is a little lighter than the Magnum and that should help acceleration. But I want to see if these performance chips I see advertised all over really do change the timing and fuel mixture enough to make a difference, and if there are any pitfalls I want to avoid in using them.
I am getting a new company vehicle, a Dodge Charger with a 2.7L V6, the smallest engine option (corporate edict). I have this engine now in a Magnum, it's a dog and I am afraid of being rear-ended trying to get on to freeways. I know the Charger is a little lighter than the Magnum and that should help acceleration. But I want to see if these performance chips I see advertised all over really do change the timing and fuel mixture enough to make a difference, and if there are any pitfalls I want to avoid in using them.





RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
It's someone else's car; do anything that voids the warranty, and any problem becomes your problem.
Aftermarket chips may become obsolete as ECUs get smarter ... which has an upside. If you got one that's adaptive, it may respond to higher octane fuel with better performance.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
Usually, they have to compromise between performance, emissions and economy, but they are not far off re performance, and a change to improve performance generally results in an unnacceptable trade off and the only real value in aftermarket chips is to retune if other changes have been done to the engine.
Regards
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
I find it difficult to believe it could be that simple. But then again, I had a Dodge shop tech just tell me that he tried one (of the $400 variety) to see and put it on their dyno. They observed that it did add about 15HP (stock rating on this engine is 190HP, they got 204-206HP). I'm also dubious that 15HP is going to make much of a difference in acceleration, but for $6, maybe it's worth a try eh?
What could go wrong with tweaking the temperature input though? Loss of fuel economy? Overheating the engine? Fouling the electronic ignition? I'm so far behind all the new engine controls I have no clue (I was shocked to discover there are no spark plugs any longer, or at least whatever is on the head no longer looks like a spark plug).
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
The "chips" I thought you were talking about are plug-in modules that actually reprogram the fuel/air maps on the stock ECU (usually around the $300-$400 mark). These will show some impressive gains, depending upon your vehicle.
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
The $6 one is a "plug in module" as well, but he probably just knows the pin-outs for a connector and inserts the resistor. So if I understand you, there is a risk in doing this, but it may indeed provide a boost. Maybe I should buy one to get the correct pin-out and modify it to put a bypass relay around the resistor so that I could flip a switch only when I wanted the boost eh? Kinda like the Batmobile's afterburner button!
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
The risk is there, but it's not very high. If the signal value is dropped too much, the ECU is going to notice something is off and probably throw a code. If your ECU has half a brain, it will also have ping sensors and cut back timing if you start to get detonation. Not really worth putting in a bypass relay as the power boost is not great enough to be butt dyno noticeable by any but the best of butts... autocrossers and racers may notice the difference in power, but the average driver isn't going to have a clue. Expect 5-10 hp, if you're lucky.
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
It also doesn't necessarily consume more fuel than a smaller engine would, especially if you're buying the tires.
So far, I've owned six Camaros, with 2.8, 5.0, and 5.7l engines. They all weighed about the same, and had similar aerodynamics. Within the error of my measurements, they all got about the same mileage when driven over the same route among the same bunch of idiots.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Do the "performance chips" really work?
You need to run the 5.7 with Displacement on Demand (Active Fuel Management) You can run it on 4 cylinders just about all the time except when you punch it. This can be done mechanically if you realize that the intake manifold is split between alt.cylinders.
The correct answer to this is " Don't let the EPA catch you doing this". When Smog stations are empowered to check you every year, the LAW already defines the penalty ($) fine. The real reason the mileage is lower is because the converters need fuel to do their thing so some has to be passed onto it. When you adjust the mixture, the nitrogen oxides climb and you are in violation of Federal Clean Air Act mandates. Don't blame the manufacturer, blame an ignorant Congress.