Chip Question.
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 664
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From: Northern California
Chip Question.
I know, you guys are totally bored to death about chips.
However, my question is a little different. I am pretty sure
Of which tuner's chip I will buy, my question is: How much
can a chip actually do? Not in power gains, I want to know the limitations of what a chip can do. How much of the engine can one affect with a chip? For example, can you tne at what RPM's the S/C comes on at, or is the blower controlled by a mechanical clutch? Can you tune for very good gas mileage? Things like that. Anybody have any idea what I am getting at?
However, my question is a little different. I am pretty sure
Of which tuner's chip I will buy, my question is: How much
can a chip actually do? Not in power gains, I want to know the limitations of what a chip can do. How much of the engine can one affect with a chip? For example, can you tne at what RPM's the S/C comes on at, or is the blower controlled by a mechanical clutch? Can you tune for very good gas mileage? Things like that. Anybody have any idea what I am getting at?
Last edited by thulsadoom; Oct 11, 2001 at 06:09 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,438
Likes: 1
From: Palm Coast, FL
I have a pretty good idea of what you want to know, and I have no problems answering it best I can. First of all, our computers are PCM (Powertrain Control Modules). They control more than just the engine. All electronic transmission functions are also controlled. There are over a thousand parameters that can be controlled by the PCM. The key is knowing which ones to use and how they affect the vehicle.
The obvious things that can be controlled are timing, fuel, limiters, shift points, trans pressure, etc. These are most of what gets mentioned on the boards, mainly because the average guy doesn't know about the other stuff. The blower itself cannot be controlled by the PCM. Nothing in the PCM can affect boost other than the PCM shutting boost down in case of a failsafe. A good chip tuner can improve mpg to a point; there's only so much you can do and still have the truck run good, but it can be done. There are so many things we can control, but also keep in mind the chip is limited by the software used to make it. Some brands of chips don't have a lot of parameters that other brands have. I'm not going to go into detail on that one to avoid a chip war, but I'll just say I use Autologic for a reason.
Just for an example, some of the things we can control are: timing, fuel, shift points shift firmness, upshift mph, downshift mph, torque converter lockup, torque converter duty cycle, MAF transfer curve shape, rpm limiters, speed limiter, torque limiters, when the I/C pump comes on and shuts off, idle rpm, injector size, rear and gear ratio, tire size, and much, much, much more.
The obvious things that can be controlled are timing, fuel, limiters, shift points, trans pressure, etc. These are most of what gets mentioned on the boards, mainly because the average guy doesn't know about the other stuff. The blower itself cannot be controlled by the PCM. Nothing in the PCM can affect boost other than the PCM shutting boost down in case of a failsafe. A good chip tuner can improve mpg to a point; there's only so much you can do and still have the truck run good, but it can be done. There are so many things we can control, but also keep in mind the chip is limited by the software used to make it. Some brands of chips don't have a lot of parameters that other brands have. I'm not going to go into detail on that one to avoid a chip war, but I'll just say I use Autologic for a reason.
Just for an example, some of the things we can control are: timing, fuel, shift points shift firmness, upshift mph, downshift mph, torque converter lockup, torque converter duty cycle, MAF transfer curve shape, rpm limiters, speed limiter, torque limiters, when the I/C pump comes on and shuts off, idle rpm, injector size, rear and gear ratio, tire size, and much, much, much more.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,939
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From: Warner Robins, Ga, CSA
Masterloggie has a 2000 L. He has PSP's 4 way chip with one position 'tuned' for 'economy' in mpg. Recently, he drove to Ohio from here in middle GA. He told me he got 20+ mpg. Now he also has larger tires than stock so that helped too. He keeps complete mileage data.
Dan
Dan