SuperChip Check ?
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Slammed,
Yes, it's very easy to determine if the Superchip is working; as long as the vehicle starts normally with the Superchip installed, it's working. If there is anything "wrong" with the Superchip or that has failed mechanically within the Superchip, your vehicle is not going to start or run normally, and usually won't start at all, so as long as the motor starts and runs with the Superchip installed, it's working.
All you have to do to get the benefit of the Superchip is simply install it properly, and then "feed" it the required high-quality premium gasoline, 91 octane or higher, 92+ for best results. Also, make sure to use the best quality gasolines in your local area, as the fuel used can certainly make a difference in the performance & mileage you get. Low-energy fuels like Exxon and any of the off-brands or no-names will generally give you less performance & mileage due to their lower energy content, which is why we make some loose general recommendations about which fuels to use with the Superchip for best performance. In most areas of the country (though not all, there can be exceptions) fuels like Texaco, Amoco, & in many areas Citgo, will give among the best results you'll see, in that order of preference. I notice that you are in Hawaii, and we don't have a lot of good data on which fuels seem to offer the higher energy contents out there, but we can tell you that in general, steer clear of Exxon & any off-brands for the best consistent results. In other words, it's not just a matter of the octane number on the pump, fuel *quality* is affected by much more than just it's octane rating, the actual *energy* content is very important.
It's also important to have a reasonable expectation of what the Superchip can do; it's not going to suddenly make a 2-3 ton vehicle feel like a rocket of course. In round numbers, think of it as a 10%-12% power gainer, as that is basically what it can do with the better premium fuels.
One other thing to consider is whether the ECU (your powertrain computer) was fully cleared after installing the Superchip, as if that is not done, then it can take several hundred miles for the effects of the Superchip to come in gradually. This is why we go over that procedure in our additional Performance Products documentation about how to fully clear the ECU so you can feel the results sooner. It's possible to miss that, as somtimes people will read the manufacturers installation instructions, but not read our much more highly detailed additional Performance Products documentation that covers this and many other aspects. I'm not saying that is what has happened of course, just mentioning it as a possibility that we see happening to others sometimes that we hear about. Just to give you an idea, as long as the ECU is properly cleared after installation of the Superchip, you'll get about 75%-80% or so roughly of what the Superchip can ultimately do right away, within the first 20-50 miles or so, and then the rest will come in gradually, as the long-term fuel trim does it's adjustments, which happens at around 350-500 miles after a re-set of the ECU, generally speaking, in these vehicles.
You do not need to take it up to 95+ mph to determine if the Superchip is working (that is simply a test of the top speed limiter function, and is not required), nor do we recommend doing that especially out there in Hawaii, due to the obvious risks inherent in going at that rate of speed on public streets, especially there on the Hawaiian Islands. During the 4 years I lived in Hawaii (back before it even became a state back in 1959), the highest speed limit on any of the Hawaiian islands was only 45 mph (I have no idea what it is now), you don't have near the number of places you can do that as we here on the mainland have. Again, you know the Superchip is working simply by virtue of the fact that the vehicle starts and runs normally with it installed, you don'thave to do a top-speed run.
There was an excellent comment that svtoby150 made in his response that is right on the money; drive with the Superchip installed for a period of time, we suggest a month, and then take it back out, remembering to clear the ECU and go back to 87 octane immediately upon its removal.
Doing that will show you just what the Superchip has been doing all along for you. This can be an excellent technique, as sometimes if the ECU is not cleared and the Superchip program comes in gradually as a result, it can be hard to feel it coming in gradually over several hundred miles, and this is one great way of showing you that difference if you do a "back-to-back" type of companison. So I'd suggest using it for a month on your best premium fuels, and then remove it, clear the ECU & run on 87, and you'll feel what is was doing.
These are of course just some general suggestions and things that can affect your perception of your results in the short-term, any or all of them may or may not be at work in your particular case, of course, we simply mention them as they are the most likely reasons for wondering if the Superchip is working after installation.
If you'd like to go over any of this in more detail, please feel free to give us a call, we're here Mon.-Fri. from 10a, to 7pm Eastern time & we're happy to speak with you!
Yes, it's very easy to determine if the Superchip is working; as long as the vehicle starts normally with the Superchip installed, it's working. If there is anything "wrong" with the Superchip or that has failed mechanically within the Superchip, your vehicle is not going to start or run normally, and usually won't start at all, so as long as the motor starts and runs with the Superchip installed, it's working.
All you have to do to get the benefit of the Superchip is simply install it properly, and then "feed" it the required high-quality premium gasoline, 91 octane or higher, 92+ for best results. Also, make sure to use the best quality gasolines in your local area, as the fuel used can certainly make a difference in the performance & mileage you get. Low-energy fuels like Exxon and any of the off-brands or no-names will generally give you less performance & mileage due to their lower energy content, which is why we make some loose general recommendations about which fuels to use with the Superchip for best performance. In most areas of the country (though not all, there can be exceptions) fuels like Texaco, Amoco, & in many areas Citgo, will give among the best results you'll see, in that order of preference. I notice that you are in Hawaii, and we don't have a lot of good data on which fuels seem to offer the higher energy contents out there, but we can tell you that in general, steer clear of Exxon & any off-brands for the best consistent results. In other words, it's not just a matter of the octane number on the pump, fuel *quality* is affected by much more than just it's octane rating, the actual *energy* content is very important.
It's also important to have a reasonable expectation of what the Superchip can do; it's not going to suddenly make a 2-3 ton vehicle feel like a rocket of course. In round numbers, think of it as a 10%-12% power gainer, as that is basically what it can do with the better premium fuels.
One other thing to consider is whether the ECU (your powertrain computer) was fully cleared after installing the Superchip, as if that is not done, then it can take several hundred miles for the effects of the Superchip to come in gradually. This is why we go over that procedure in our additional Performance Products documentation about how to fully clear the ECU so you can feel the results sooner. It's possible to miss that, as somtimes people will read the manufacturers installation instructions, but not read our much more highly detailed additional Performance Products documentation that covers this and many other aspects. I'm not saying that is what has happened of course, just mentioning it as a possibility that we see happening to others sometimes that we hear about. Just to give you an idea, as long as the ECU is properly cleared after installation of the Superchip, you'll get about 75%-80% or so roughly of what the Superchip can ultimately do right away, within the first 20-50 miles or so, and then the rest will come in gradually, as the long-term fuel trim does it's adjustments, which happens at around 350-500 miles after a re-set of the ECU, generally speaking, in these vehicles.
You do not need to take it up to 95+ mph to determine if the Superchip is working (that is simply a test of the top speed limiter function, and is not required), nor do we recommend doing that especially out there in Hawaii, due to the obvious risks inherent in going at that rate of speed on public streets, especially there on the Hawaiian Islands. During the 4 years I lived in Hawaii (back before it even became a state back in 1959), the highest speed limit on any of the Hawaiian islands was only 45 mph (I have no idea what it is now), you don't have near the number of places you can do that as we here on the mainland have. Again, you know the Superchip is working simply by virtue of the fact that the vehicle starts and runs normally with it installed, you don'thave to do a top-speed run.
There was an excellent comment that svtoby150 made in his response that is right on the money; drive with the Superchip installed for a period of time, we suggest a month, and then take it back out, remembering to clear the ECU and go back to 87 octane immediately upon its removal.
Doing that will show you just what the Superchip has been doing all along for you. This can be an excellent technique, as sometimes if the ECU is not cleared and the Superchip program comes in gradually as a result, it can be hard to feel it coming in gradually over several hundred miles, and this is one great way of showing you that difference if you do a "back-to-back" type of companison. So I'd suggest using it for a month on your best premium fuels, and then remove it, clear the ECU & run on 87, and you'll feel what is was doing.
These are of course just some general suggestions and things that can affect your perception of your results in the short-term, any or all of them may or may not be at work in your particular case, of course, we simply mention them as they are the most likely reasons for wondering if the Superchip is working after installation.
If you'd like to go over any of this in more detail, please feel free to give us a call, we're here Mon.-Fri. from 10a, to 7pm Eastern time & we're happy to speak with you!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Henry County, GA
Originally posted by Superchips_Distributor
... SNIP... During the 4 years I lived in Hawaii (back before it even became a state back in 1959), ...SNIP...
... SNIP... During the 4 years I lived in Hawaii (back before it even became a state back in 1959), ...SNIP...
LOL, I'm just kidding Mike...a little ribbing...
('course, I will be very careful, don't need your ribs to crack or anything)
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Murfster,
Uh-oh, you caught that, eh? Silly me, I guess that is more than a little "tell-tale".
Yep, I'm *that* old, we were there for the last 4 years that it was not a state, and left just after Hawaii gained statehood in 1959. Of course, I was a child at the time........
Uh-oh, you caught that, eh? Silly me, I guess that is more than a little "tell-tale".
Yep, I'm *that* old, we were there for the last 4 years that it was not a state, and left just after Hawaii gained statehood in 1959. Of course, I was a child at the time........
