Question about replacing ECU with tuned chip

[robnitro]

Hi,
I was wondering if any of you had experience with having a tuned ECU on a gas car. My car is a 95 civic dx Auto (ARGH wish it were manual).
Anyhow I hear the chips might make it fail smog tests, but that can be reset to stock with a jumper. However:

How does the chip affect normal driving mileage?

Does it make it run too rich which will dilute the oil and screw up the cat eventually?

I wonder if the automatic trans will shift later, it shifts around 6000-6100 rpm, and my redline is 6750, but the tuned chip does 7000 rpm.. but what good is that if my trans is still shifting at 6k?

Any other comments, ideas or options are welcome.

I would love to have a TDI instead, but I cant afford it yet. Now thats probably a fun car to drive!

 

[johnicon]

If getting your car "chipped" causes it to fail emissions, run rich and clog the cats, or any other negative effect, then you should sue the tuner, because he doesn't know what he's doing.

BTW, your mileage may go down, but that's because you might have your foot in the tank more often to "test out" your new chip!

 

[MRC01]

quote:

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Originally posted by robnitro:
Hi,
I was wondering if any of you had experience with having a tuned ECU on a gas car.

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The effectiveness of a chip varies from car to car. Your best bet would be FIRST to make a dyno run with wideband A/F ratios. Since most aftermarket chips only vary A/F ratios and timing, this will give you an idea how much room for improvement there is. If you see a smooth torque curve with optimal A/F ratios, you probably won't get much out of a chip.

Another thing to consider is that with CA crappy 91 octane oxygenated fuel, there sometimes is no way to dial in more timing without getting detonation. Ask me how I know that

[ October 30, 2003, 10:46 AM: Message edited by: MRC01 ]

 

[Quattro Pete]

Chipping a normally-aspirated engine is not going to add a lot of power - a couple of HP maybe, by optimizing (or screwing up) the fuel map. It's probably not worth the price, especially if it's going to cause you other problems like failing the emissions test. You might as well look into an aftermarket exhaust system that will result in similar power gains - again, very little.

Now, a turbo-charged engine - here's where chipping becomes fun.

So, I say, don't bother with a chip for your Civic, save your money and get that TDI!

 

[robnitro]

Oh yeah I forgot that it may require premium. I would rather stick to regular anyhow.

I actually can change the timing mechanically (by rotating the distrubutor) anyhow, so what difference is a chip, heh.