Performance Chips

Performance Chips: Installation, Performance, and Efficiency Expectations

As aftermarket upgrading has transcended its former niche market limitations and expanded to become a popular pastime amongst automotive enthusiasts, items like the performance chip have become prevalent in automobile upgrading projects. Drivers typically use them for a variety of efficiency and performance improvements, though not every car will have the same results with one installed. There are both benefits and disadvantages to performance chip use, and each needs to be weighed out before a driver chooses to go ahead with completing chip installation. If you’re possibly interested in installing a chip, read below and discover the different facets to expect in terms of installation, performance, and efficiency results.

Installation

Before deciding to install a chip, you first need to know how it will work on your car. Performance chips rely on vehicular ECUs and air intake sensors in order to operate. If your vehicle was built prior to the early 1980s, it’s unlikely that it contains these standard components, and therefore you’ll be unable to install a chip. Almost all later models should be chip-ready, however. Beyond figuring out whether your car can receive chip signals, installation is actually rather easy. So long as you have 15-30 minutes to spare, some basic automotive tools, and a willingness to follow simple directions, you’ll have the chip installed in no-time. Plus, without the need for ECU rebooting with most current chip models, you won’t have to waste unnecessary time.

Performance

The primary reason most people prefer using chips is because you can dramatically increase power with performance chips for cars. If you’re looking to substantially increase power with performance chips for cars, you’ll want to pair a chip with a turbocharger. When paired together, these two add-ons can work to provide you with the higher end-range of horsepower increases. Horsepower gains without the turbocharger will likely fall anywhere from the high single digits up to 60 extra horsepower, though results will vary depending on your car’s age, model-year, etc.

Efficiency

It’s not always directly clear how efficiency improvements will turn out using a performance chip, but considering the typical chip costs well under a hundred dollars, it’s a small investment for the chance to wipe away a portion of every upcoming gasoline bill. After all, in optimal situations, an ECU chip can provide for up to 4-7 miles per gallon in conventional fuel expenditure savings. Those may not be hybrid-level improvements, but they’re certainly noteworthy in their own right. On some vehicles, it is true that efficiency won’t be affected more than negligibly. But combined with easy installation, significant horsepower gains, and a low price point, the chance for some minor efficiency improvements is more than enough for many upgrade participants.