Limitless TiresLimitless Tires

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Wheel Alignment
    • Maintenance & Repair
    • Vehicle Inspection
    • ECU Tuning
    • Parts & Installation
    • Wheels & Tires
  • Blog
  • Contact
(403) 404-9404

Read This Article before Installing That Engine Chip

Shane
Thursday, 17 March 2022 / Published in Uncategorized

Read This Article before Installing That Engine Chip

engine

Engine tuning is one of the least understood processes in amateur car performance. It’s easy to be suckered into believing that your engine can be improved by installing simple car parts, which will drastically change how the engine performs. In reality, even the most sophisticated changes to your handling and power outputs cannot be made without modifying other car systems.

Truth be told, many companies advertise “engine chips” that are sold to give your car more horsepower. However, most of these companies sell car parts equivalent to junk. On the flip side, engine control unit (ECU) tuning is a legitimate method to get more horsepower out of your car, but it must be done correctly. If you are shopping for engine chips, here are four things you should know before purchasing one:

Does It Follow Your Car’s Warranty?

If your car is still under factory warranty or some other kind of extended warranty, you should be wary of installing an engine chip that requires you to open the ECU case. If you open the ECU case, you will void the warranty immediately. Also, remember that your car’s engine computer was designed to perform specific functions, so it would be unwise to alter it frequently or drastically. 

If certain car parts or upgrades go against factory-setting guidelines, it may not be a wise investment. Consult with an automotive specialist before you make a significant alteration to your car’s ECU.

Car parts that claim to be able to change the output of your car’s engine by tearing open the computer box are probably not a good investment. An exception to this rule is if it’s one of those car parts that come with an extensive warranty in the event of any direct or indirect malfunction.

Does It Make Your Car Driveable?

While you can make a chip more powerful by increasing the width of the power curve and the area under the curve, not all areas of the curve are equally important. Recalculating the area under the curve with a broader filter allows you to increase torque at wide-open throttle and high RPM while sacrificing low-RPM and low-throttle torque. 

Therefore, you’ll be sacrificing overall performance mega wattage for slightly increased torque and RPM during a specific fraction of the time.

Does it Make Your Car Efficient?

“Engine chip” modifications can reduce the fuel efficiency of a vehicle, particularly those car parts that alter the car’s emissions control systems in any way. These components compromise the fuel efficiency of your vehicle’s engine because adding new systems to a car will always make it more complex, so it will require more energy to run.

Lost energy efficiency can be costly and probably isn’t compensating you with any horsepower advantage.

Does it Make Your Car’s Emissions Better?

One of the more essential functions your car’s computer performs is regulating the emissions systems. If a so-called “engine chip” disables these systems, your vehicle won’t pass an emissions test, and the “check engine” light will come on. 

The light is like a fire alarm for your car. Always stop by a mechanic or auto parts store and have the problem diagnosed when it comes on. Most likely, it will be something simple like a loose gas cap.

You don’t want this to happen, so make sure that any car parts you install don’t alter the computer’s regulation of the emissions controls.

Conclusion

If you consider modifying your car, do your homework before you do any work. Read reviews from reputable sources like Top Gear or Automobile Magazine. Remember that although “engine chips” might seem like a cost-effective means to boost horsepower, it’s probably best to invest your money in a more effective modification like an aftermarket air controller, fuel controller, or a piggyback ECU.

Or, you could contact Limitless Tires and get more info on the right car parts in Calgary! We are a high-volume tire shop focusing on fast and friendly service! Get a quote from us on our website!

  • Tweet

What you can read next

Car Safety
What Should a Car Safety Inspection Cover?
fast car
Vehicle Maintenance 101: The Beginner’s Guide to ECU Tuning
roadtrip
How to Prep Your Car For a Weekend Road Trip

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • 4 Signs That Your Vehicle’s Brakes Need to Be Replaced
  • What are the Pros and Cons of Lowering Suspension for Your Car?
  • How to Prep Your Car For a Weekend Road Trip
  • What You Should Know About Checking Your Tire Pressure
  • 5 Things That Cause Wheel and Tire Alignment Problems

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Recent Posts

  • brakes

    4 Signs That Your Vehicle’s Brakes Need to Be Replaced

    How often should you replace your car’s b...
  • Car Suspension

    What are the Pros and Cons of Lowering Suspension for Your Car?

    Lowering your car or truck so it’s closer to th...
  • roadtrip

    How to Prep Your Car For a Weekend Road Trip

    Everyone deserves to go on vacation or even jus...
  • tire pressure

    What You Should Know About Checking Your Tire Pressure

    Tire pressure is one of the most talked-about t...
  • tires

    5 Things That Cause Wheel and Tire Alignment Problems

    Have you ever noticed that your car is pulling ...

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021

    Categories

    • Car Suspension
    • Uncategorized
    • Vehicle Brakes

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    Sign Up To Our Newsletter For Discounts

    Copyright 2022 Limitless Tires | Website Designed By HighPoint Media

    TOP