Auto Performance Chips & Programmers
Aftermarket auto performance chips and programmers are the key to unlocking the potential in your engine by tuning various attributes of the engines performance. In the automotive parts and modification community vernacular, they are commonly known as control modules, tuners, and performance chips, and they are available for many gas and diesel consumer car and truck engines.
How do you choose the right performance chip?These electronic modules change and fine-tune factory settings to improve torque, horsepower, and fuel economy, reduce emissions, or enhance other qualities of the engine, so choosing a trusted manufacturer will help in finding a good fit for your needs. Some of the more common manufactured chips on the market include Hypertech, Bully Dog, DiabloSport, Superchips, and the Jet Performance Programmer.
The first step in finding an automotive performance chip is knowing your vehicles current equipment. It is recommended to filter results by fuel type and, where applicable, search for make and model as well to ensure proper fit and adjustments.
Next, it is important to consider what you expect from the modification. The various chips are designed to tweak specific factory settings, and sometimes optimizing one ability of your car or trucks performance will mean sacrificing less valuable facets. For example, substantial increases in horsepower may greatly reduce fuel economy. By knowing what you want your vehicle to do, and what you are willing to sacrifice for it, you can easily choose the right performance chip for your application.
Finally, consider your level of mechanical ability. Do you want a simple plug-and-play application, a more in-depth dashboard disassembly project, or something that requires the skills of a certified mechanic? Performance chips are available at all of these levels, with varying features.
How do you install a performance chip?Installing performance chips on your vehicle is dependent upon the chip style. For some control modules, the user simply connects them to the OBDII diagnostic port, and the chip programs itself based on driving habits and engine performance. Others require opening the dashboard and making a direct connection to the ECU box. For more advanced tuning or reprogramming chips, a qualified mechanic is the recommended option for installing and adjusting the settings.
Can a performance chip really improve performance of the engine?The short answer to this common question is a definitive yes. These performance modules can unlock the vehicle manufacturer settings of the car and truck engines they are made for and fine-tune these settings to optimize fuel economy, emissions, torque, and horsepower, as well as overall performance and power.