Chiptuning

Basic Introduction into chiptuning.

Each internal combustion engine in a modern car is controlled by a engine control unit (ECU). The ECU controls the parameters of the engine for all variables in real time. The control is based on so called maps or tables stored in flash memory inside the ECU. By altering the contents of this memory the manufacturer can change the power and torque output to match the requirements of the final product.



There is a need for an engine with different characteristics for different markets and applications and now the manufacturer can meet the need by tuning the ECU instead of altering the engine. Many engines are tuned way below their capabilities. A perfect example would be 2.7L Biturbo Audi engine with Motronic ME 7.1 system used in A6 and S4 models.



A6 engine achieves 169 kW (227 HP) at 5800 rpm with max torque of 310 Nm (229 Ft/lbs) but
S4 engine achieves 195 kW (261 HP) at 5800 rpm with max torque of 400 Nm (295 Ft/lbs).

S4 with Upsolute chip achieves 233 kW (312 HP) and 485 Nm (358 Ft/lbs) of torque.


Why such a difference? A6 required "comfort, conservative" tuning while S4 needed a "sport" tuning to match the character of the car. Both cars use the same engine and achieve their goal by modifying the software.
In addition to tuning to match the character of the car, manufacturers include safety margin in the software offsetting the lack of maintenance and low quality of fuel. This safety margin ranges from 10% to 50% for cars with turbo (GM/Opel data). There are also many other factors going into consideration when designing the engine software that have little or nothing to do with engine performance. Chip-tuning, on the other hand, focuses on performance and is the most effective way to improve the power and torque output of any car.


Very popular in Europe, where many governments tax car sales based on power output or size of the engine, chip-tuning became very advanced and gradually developed into an automotive art.
Chip-tuning consists of reading a file from the ECU, modifying it and writing it back. Reading and writing, that is the easy part, modifying it to come up with a good tuned file takes a lot of experience and knowledge. It is always a good idea to buy a file from a reputable tuner with long track record.

We are using files from Upsolute,  well established, global company from Austria with years of experience and literally thousands of tuned cars all over the world. They have developed software that maximizes the power and torque gain while maintaining the reliability of the power-train. Visit their web site of facebook page to learn more.