--- eric <eric@erickson.on.net> wrote:
> More than likely they just MOVE the power band
> like a change in cam
I don't think so. For any given fuel type, there is
an ideal set of ignition advance and fuel mixture
settings for making maximum power out of any given
engine configuration.
The whole theory of aftermarket chips, and the whole
sales pitch of the companies, has always been:
"The manufacturer tunes the engine to run on 89 octane
fuel. We tune the car to run on 92 octane, so we have
an advantage. We can run more ignition advance and a
more carefully mapped fuel mixture curve than they
can, because with our chip, you HAVE to run 92 octane
fuel at all times."
And in the old days, it was true. Test an early
Porsche 944 and a chip can make as much as 12 honest
BHP on that engine. But technology marches on.
Engine management systems are so much more advanced
now, it's incredible. Now they have all the variable
timing maps and advanced knock-detection functions and
so forth that simply didn't exist back when Porsche
and Bosch designed the original 944.
Hey, I could be wrong. I'm not trying to convince
anyone of anything. If anyone out there just bought a
chip for their car and they're happy with it, more
power to you. But I know for a FACT that we tested
our chips very, very heavily, and we tbought and
tested evey one of our competitors chips too. After
about 1995, there just weren't any gains anymore.
Or at least, not on the cars we were concerned with.
Paul Misencik - 1971 MGB - www.sopwithracing.com
THE CAROLINA TROPHY - 2005
A vintage driving event in the spirit
of the Mille Miglia, Rallye des Alpes,
and Colorado Grand.
See www.carolinatrophy.com for details.
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