Pros and cons of engine chip-tuning. Chip-tuning: what is it, features, reviews

Previously, in order to somehow improve the characteristics of the car, a car enthusiast should sell it or give it to scrap metal, and in return buy what interests. Today, in terms of improvements, the situation is more interesting. Thanks to the technology on any car equipped with ECU, you can change any characteristics. Also, many try to improve the car's performance, without investing in this process. For this, chip tuning is used. What is it and what are its pros and cons? These issues are of interest to many car owners today.

Chip-tuning - what is it?

The newest form of changing the characteristics of the engines, which is now called chip-tuning, is not so new as it is customary to say. The technology appeared around the middle of the 90s. At that time, the main advantage of this modification was the possibility of improving the characteristics of the engine without the need for interventions in its mechanics.

These manipulations with the technical parameters of the power units became possible due to the appearance of electronic units that control the operation of the car and its engine. ECU, to speak in general, is nothing more than a special computer that controls the operation of all systems of the car. If this is a computer, then it is based on a chip, or a chip. It is the microcircuit - the carrier of the programs that were written and installed at the plant where the vehicle was assembled.

This way of tuning - in fact changing the various settings of the program and the ECU block. To do this, there are many different software tools. As a result, after the introduction of changes, the characteristics of power units improve, and some car owners claim that they can fully open up the full potential of the engine.

Who performs the chip engine tuning

Engaged in this are not auto mechanics, but programmers who can understand the essence of the work and in the algorithms of the ECU of different brands and models of cars and are able to make in them the necessary changes aimed at improving the characteristics.

Pros and cons of the engine's chip-tuning in many ways depend on who performs it. The result of the procedure depends not on the capabilities of the technology, but on the person who is engaged in editing the firmware. If he does not understand the nuances of the work of a particular engine, then there will be no pluses for such a procedure, and the car owner will get solid minuses.

How to make a software modification of the computer

First of all, it is necessary to prepare special software products that can make changes in the operation of the hardware / software complex or the computer. After the necessary tools are selected, on the computer monitor you can see the data tables. For the convenience and comfort of working with them, they are reduced to a familiar graphic appearance.

Then the parameters are changed and the chip is reflashed. Pros and cons of chip-tuning engine and other systems can be seen after real tests. To make changes it is possible in the system of the control of toxic emissions during the movement, into the ignition work, also it is possible to change the algorithms of fuel supply. It is allowed to limit the engine speed.

Chip-tuning engine: the pros and cons

Experts who deal with such modifications say that among the advantages of the procedure for interference in the firmware is the possibility of increasing the power, ridding drivers of the need to frequently switch gears, the possibility of making safe overtaking. For cars with automatic transmission, you can make the switching more smooth. Of course, this is a plus.

However, attentive readers will notice that if the motor will work at high power, then the fuel consumption will increase and there will be no savings. Experts say that the increase in fuel consumption should not be feared. The increase in power does not increase the "appetites" of the engine.

The thing is that, according to experts, thanks to the introduction of changes, the engine will be able to accelerate the car from any speed without the need for their recruitment. That's what the chip engine tuning is capable of. Pros and cons (VAZ-2170 is no exception) - increase in productivity at the usual fuel consumption.

According to the reviews, the chip-tuning procedure, performed correctly, reduces the amount of fuel that enters the engine, and the power of the power unit is increasing due to an increase in the efficiency from the combustion of fuel.

Types of chip tuning: software tuning

Interfere with the firmware of the computer in two different ways. The first option is software intervention. It has been said enough about him - he is the most effective. Pros and cons of the engine's chip-tuning are already understandable. Its essence lies in the fact that the calibrations that are made at the plant for the fuel delivery system change to the required parameters. I must say that there are three types of these calibrations. Standard chip tuning, the pros and cons of which are interesting to many motorists, allows you to keep a balance between the efficient operation of the engine and its appetites. This calibration is set at the factory. Dynamic chip-tuning makes it possible to significantly increase the power and overclocking dynamics. But without increasing the efficiency, the unit's costs will also increase significantly. Here, car owners have to think through everything that the chip engine tuning gives, pluses and minuses of it. Here the choice is simple: either the machine will be fast, or economical. There are also calibrations aimed at economy. This method is completely opposite to the second one. Its essence is to reduce the "appetites" of the engine.

Mechanical interference

This species is older. It is used by amateurs. If you believe the reviews, it is suitable for old cars where there is no fuel injection system. In this case, the work is done manually, without the use of electronics. During the process, individual parts and systems change, which can affect the efficiency (ignition timing).

Pros and cons of the engine's chip-tuning by this technology is a real opportunity to increase power, reduce performance, but from the minuses, the reviews note the fact that you need a lot of experience in repairing cars and a serious amount of money.

Interference in the operation of diesel engines

For diesel engines on new cars, such modifications are also very relevant. First of all, software intervention can improve the speed and traction characteristics of the car. In addition, there are new opportunities for overtaking. If the owner of a diesel car wants to turn on the air conditioner, then the power of the motor is almost not affected. One more thing: if the settings are no longer satisfactory, the computer can always be restored to its original state.

That's what gives the modern driver the chip-tuning of the diesel engine. Pros and cons of this technology in general are the same as for gasoline atmospheric. As pluses - increase of efficiency, a minus - the increased expense at an aggressive manner of driving.

Chip-tuning and life of diesel engines

Qualitative chip-tuning is created on the basis of firmware. The process itself only recalibrates the program that controls the operation of the motor. Characteristics increase to 40% - this is a good chip-tuning. Plus - productivity growth, there are no minuses. All nodes are used in the form regulated by the car manufacturer , nothing wears out before the due date.

Consequences of chip tuning

All this sounds more than attractive. To resist the temptation to make a chip-tuning engine, the pros and cons of which are described in our article, you can not. But increasing capacity is a serious risk. The increase in power for an example of a turbocharged diesel engine is obtained because of the greater amount of air that is supplied to the power system. The turbine should work with high pressure and high speed - the impeller simply can not stand this.

But the power is not just the air. Additional fuel passes through the nozzles that the manufacturer installed. These are serial solutions that are not designed for such operation. The burning torch in this case will fall on the piston, which at this moment goes down. Auto mechanics see a lot of such melted pistons and soot filters, catalysts, compressor blades and cracked engine blocks. So, when deciding on such an operation, it is worth considering this.

So, we found out what chip-tuning is and what are its pros and cons.