|
An accelerating car is less fuel efficient than when it is at cruising speed. The sooner you get your acceleration done is the sooner you get to a more fuel efficient operating mode.
|
Makes sense;
One thing, though, doesn't chipping the engine (ytpically turbo's) increase the stress on the engine ?
What is the trade/off - will the engine (injectors, etc) wear quicker ? Does the engine need more frequent oil changes/fully-synthetic oil ?
Upsolute, for instance, offer a 25% power increase for the VW 130 BHP TDi engine - quite a hike !
|
|
|
When you chip a TD engine, the boost pressure is increased. Higher boost = higher thermal efficiency, hence in normal driving the car will running more efficiently and use less fuel. Of course if you boot it all the time and use all the extra power, mpg still likely to do down!
--
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
|
The increased torque, if fully utilised, will eventually place considerable stress on the entire transmission system and premature failure.
With the increasing number of company cars, particularly BMWs and VAG, that are now being chipped and thrashed, I would take close heed of any transmission whines when buying second hand.
|
|
It also alters the fuel air ratio. On the Alfaowner site one lad had his 147 GTA (thats a 3.2V6)on a dyno, where the huy told him at higher revs it is fuel rich at a ratio of 10:1 whereas he reckoned it should be more like 13:1, so this would make it more efficient and more powerful, which begs the question why it isnt like this as a factory setting!!
|
|
I think the torque issue is the one thing that concerns me - taking a 130bhp engine to 150-160 is one thing, but going from just over 200 to nearly 300 lb/ft of torque must surely put a strain on the clutch, apart from anything ?
|
Torque is the problem especially on turbo-diesels where full torque is present at around 2k.
However, your example is a little extreme.
Upsolute who have a good reputation increase the output on the
VAG 130 PD unit by 33bhp (+30%) and 70nm (+32%), I would steer clear of huge increases precisely for the reasons you mention.
It's not just the power and torque increase either, if it's well set up the car responds far better to throttle input.
|
|
|
|
|
