Performance Chips

[Blackie]

Ebay is selling "Performance Chips" that are supposed to boost the HP by 20 to 25h.

In my case for my 2002 Denali. The manufacturer says that t is supposed to fool the computer in the car by having it tell the engine that it needs more air. Is this alot of crap or what?

[lrymal]

It isn't a performance chip. And wise are you for challenging the thing.

 

It is a bypass of the IAT (Intake Air Temperature) sensor using a resistor, making the computer think the air is cooler than what it really is. If you know what the two wires are by the critter, you can do the job yourself using a certain value resistor connected to the IAT's wires. I did this on my 3.4 L GrandAm. Actually helped it for low-end throttle acceleration in town. Couldn't tell any difference on the freeway.

 

Arguments against this thing is that for a daily driver, it isn't desireable. Secondly, it thows the sample table that feeds the computer off. Finally, it might result is more of a change for small sized motors than our large V8s, although the Camaro/Firebird guys might disagree.

 

For our trucks, I wouldn't do it, or if you do, make the resistor easy to remove. If the eBay kit is only $5.00, then sure...., but don't make it a permanent mount.

[dcalex]

I'm just learning about the performance modifications myself. What conclusions I've come to (for me personally) is it's the whole shebang (intake air, exhaust air, tune) or nothing. Many of the guys here know their engines from the inside out and they probably have a good feel for what they can get away with without taking it out of design spec's., but I don't. Throwing chips at it without knowing or considering the temperture and other ramifications to the design is courting disaster in my opinion.