What adjustments does a performance chip actually make?
Sure, a control module, power programmer or EMS unleashes huge gains in horsepower, torque and efficiency. But you might be scratching your head wondering how it actually works. For most performance parts, their purpose is obvious-more power. You can visualize and hear a hotrod exhaust system hard at work, and you can hold the pipes and headers right in your hands. A performance chip, on the other hand, exists in the invisible world of electrical pulses and binary codes buzzing around in your vehicle's computer system. Most performance chips work to compliment other modifications you may have bolted to your auto: the Edge Trail Jammer is a great example as you get a performance chip, a new throttle body, and a cold air intake as part of the upgrade package for maximum performance.
While you cannot see or touch the programs that your performance chip is running, you will definitely feel the response surging through your vehicle. That's because your control module, power programmer or EMS is sending signals to all the unseen, internal components of your power train. Here's a brief explanation of all the different systems that your performance chip controls.
Your engine generates power through a process called combustion, which is basically a controlled explosion inside your cylinders. Besides a spark to ignite the fire, the two essential ingredients in combustion are oxygen and fuel. This ratio of air to fuel is controlled by the vehicle's onboard computer, but the factory settings are not tuned to the optimal level. A performance chip mixes your oxygen and fuel into a potent cocktail, so you get fierce performance across the RPM range, as well as decreased detonation problems.
What do comedy and combustion have in common? For both, timing is everything. If a punch line is delivered too early or too late, the laugh is lost. Similarly, if your spark plugs do not ignite at just the right second, precious horsepower is lost. Finding the correct ignition timing is critical for boosting your engine's power output and efficiency. A control module or power programmer sets your ignition timing to its optimal levels, improving your onboard computer's controls.
If you have made the switch from your stock tire size to a larger, better-gripping set of rubbers, your onboard computer must be reprogrammed to account for the changes in speedometer and odometer readings, as well as shift points. If you have pushed the performance of your vehicle even further by modifying your rear end's gear ratio, you also need to relay that information to your computer, so it can properly adjust for the changes. All of the power programmers and some of the control modules give you the power to make these recalibrations.
You might think that horsepower alone determines your vehicle's top speed, but the true governing factor in maximum momentum is tires. As counter intuitive as it may seem, your vehicle is only as fast as the tires it's riding on. That's because different tires are crafted to handle different top speeds, and your vehicle's onboard computer is pre-programmed to limit how fast it will go based on the stock tires. However, if you have upgraded to a set of performance slicks, your vehicle's computer does not have telepathic powers to sense the change. With all of the power programmers and a few of the control modules, you can quickly re-tune your onboard computer to raise or lower the speed limiter for your new tires.
Aside from being powered by million dollar motors built by NASA trained engineers, Formula One racecars accelerate so rapidly because their RPM range does not red line until around 19,000 instead of the usual 7,000 for stock automobiles. When your vehicle uses the full RPM range, rather than just quickly up-shifting once it hits 3,500, it draws more horsepower and accelerates faster. You lose power during shifting because your transmission has to disengage from the motor before it can switch gears. However, performance chips safely push the limits of your rev limiter, extending your power range and keeping you right in the horsepower sweet spots.
We hope you have found our Performance Chips Research Guide Center a good guide in helping you choose the best Performance Chips for your vehicle. It is AutoAnything's goal to provide the most information on the Internet and through our Auto Accessory Specialists on every product we sell. If you have any information that you think could help improve this section, please email us at researchcenter@autoanything.com.