Performance Chips A Good Way To Wear Out Your Engine

mespock

mespock

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Comments from the LvC experts....

December 5, 2007
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By Tom and Ray Magliozzi
Dear Tom and Ray:

I have a 2003 4Runner V-6 that easily pulled my boat. So I bought a bigger boat. I would like to buy one of those super-heavy-duty Dodge Ram Crew Cabs with an enormous diesel engine to pull the new boat, but my wife won't let me trade in our house so I can afford it. So, I found ads for "performance modules" that claim an 18 percent increase in torque in my 4Runner, for about a grand.
I'm hoping you'll tell me that one of these things really will work, and more importantly, that it will ruin my engine after only 2,000 miles, so I'll have an iron-clad excuse to buy a new, overpriced monster truck. — Phillip
RAY: I think your plan will work, Phillip. I don't know if you can toast your '03 4Runner in only 2,000 miles, but it's worth a try.
TOM: All modern engines have something called an engine control unit, or ECU. It's basically a computer that keeps track of data from various sensors all over the engine, and then crunches the numbers and determines how much fuel to send into the cylinders and when the spark plugs should fire. The ECU's goal is to provide the best balance of power, economy and clean exhaust.
RAY: What most performance chips do is they replace the database that the ECU uses to calculate fuel and spark settings. For example, instead of telling the ECU that for a given set of conditions, send in X amount of fuel, the database on the performance chip tells it to send in 2X and advance the timing so that the spark fires earlier. That's how it creates more performance.

TOM: But the guys who make performance chips aren't concerned about things like reliability, longevity, fuel economy or emissions. RAY: Oh, and those chips automatically void your warranty, too.
TOM: So, if your goal is to wear out the engine in your 4Runner, and do some damage to the environment in the process, I think this is an excellent plan, Phillip. Bon voyage!
 
Well, they are right ya know. But I think they are making is a bit more dramatic. First they are talking about a 4Runner. What kind of idiot would tow anything with a Toyota is beyond me! Second, some tuners really dont care. Those are the ones who make chips for anything out there. This is why I got my chip from someone who KNOWS Mark VIIIs.
 
As long as your aftermarket program isn't set up to run too lean it's probably harmless.

Aftermarket programs advance spark but usually also advance fuel, the guys who wrote that article were likely exaggerating everything beyond the comment about trading in his house for a truck.

At the same time race engines aren't built for longevity and vise verse, so.. but, also believing that the factory set up the best tune for your car is a bit absurd anyways. Especially since they set it up for mass production and not the individual vehicle.

Pro's and cons I guess. I say if it's not a dyno tune and if it's not also performed by someone who's familiar with tuning your general application it's probably not the most efficient tune you can get. If you have an automatic 90% of the time an aftermarket tune will only add life to your tranny, generally speaking.
 
I don't know much about chips... but I did see once on a commercial a toyota tundra come flyin out of a dinosaur that's pretty tough :D... and my friend has a yota truck... it's pretty strong and I have to say it's pretty impressing... and I come from ND where it's all chevy dodge and ford... if you don't get one of those you jump to a sterling or mack... you'd be suprised how many people have mack's for regular everyday running...
 
My mother likes to cut out the Tom and Ray articles from the newspaper and send them to me... They give good advice to the average Joe who knows nothing about cars other than they run when you fill them with gas.

Fact is, aftermarket tunes can be dangerous, or advantageous to engine health and liability. It all depends on the tune, and thus all depends on who made the tune (and what you tell them you want the tune to do...)
 
There we go... People we trust... I guess there really isn't any argument on the topic. Most important thing is get the chip and tune from someone reputable. Advice from Unity and MediumD two people I trust with good quality information.

I guess that this would be a good plug for Geno's LMS Chip .... I guess there are other good options out there also .... I know there are some other guys who will work close with you to make sure your tune is Matched to your Car.
 
Chips when done right are BETTER for MPG and longevity. We have a Police and Special Service vehicle division and have had overwhelming success with chips in Cop cars, they reported 10,000 more miles between trans rebuilds because the shift recal in the chip actually made the shifts occur qucker with less slippage therefore giving the trans more life, they reported MUCH better MPG and faster response in the passing gear Dept. etc.... Chips/tunes ROCK period.
 
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... if done right. Geno, you know what you are doing but you and I also know there are these "eBay" guys, etc. who could care less. They also sell 20+HP gain kits (a $0.02 resistor).

So one must know who they are buying from. Its like Chinese buffet, everyone loves it and wants it but I know what places NOT to go to! :D
 
man, I wish I wouldn't have put a chip in my 95 mark 8..Then maybe the engine and transmission would have lasted longer than 360,000 miles..dammit!

Dear Tom & Ray, (Mr Dip and Mr Sh*t)

Please stick to things you know about, such as oil changes and antifog window treatments in which the vendors PAY you for advertising their products.
Sincerly
XLRVIII

P.S. My Mark 8 probably backed up further than either of Tom & Rays cars has driven fowards.
 
my bad, I really wasn't trying to crinkle the moguls.

I have to hand it to them..
They got a JOB spouting off crap, when we sit here and do it for free.
*shakes head*
 
Go with a good local tuner who is highly recomended. Do not ever get a mail order chip. Every vehicle is different & should be tuned/chiped on an independent basis.

A chip or tune can be dangerous for a engine, it can also add life if tuned for that reason. Most people want a more aggresive tune though.
 
When Jerry did my mail order chip I had him put the transmission functions on "KILL"... the shifts were quick and solid.

He went pretty aggressive on the engine management portion of the tune as well.

In the end, the engine and trans lasted far longer than I ever thought they would.

Since I got the SCT PRP Package I have manged to EEC a little more performance out of the car.
1/4 MPH is up from 97MPH up to 100.99MPH
 
OK, that last comments was a little uncalled for. We all know they hug each other, not trees.
 
Let me take the time to appoligize, I was in a self destructive mood this morning. I'm sorry tree's.
 
Have you ever listened to thier radio show on NPR and understood thier audience. 90% of the people that call in are women and they have the stupidist questions. I don't catch it very often, but when I do, I get a good laugh.

Besides, those guys haven't turned a wrench since moses was a private. All they know is what they have read in the most recent issue of Popular Mechanics.
 
chriswells78 said:
Have you ever listened to thier radio show on NPR and understood thier audience. 90% of the people that call in are women and they have the stupidist questions. I don't catch it very often, but when I do, I get a good laugh.

Besides, those guys haven't turned a wrench since moses was a private. All they know is what they have read in the most recent issue of Popular Mechanics.
Click to expand...

Yes, yes, yes.... there you go...this is what we need. Call a Spade a Spade..

Oh Good Luck OSU on National Championship.
 
Lol. I say Tom-R-tur, Wife says Tom-A-doe. I say Herb, she says Erb. Consequently, we dont talk to each other too much... :)
 
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