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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 04:54 AM
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Default Performance chip

I was looking for a performance package for my 2004 on the internet and came across a performance chip that plugs into the ECU that manufacturer says it will increase my horsepower and also my miles per gallon. Has anyone tried one of these chips, just curious how they work and if anyone has tried one what do they think of it. Just seems too good to be true.
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 07:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Kenjimenez
I was looking for a performance package for my 2004 on the internet and came across a performance chip that plugs into the ECU that manufacturer says it will increase my horsepower and also my miles per gallon. Has anyone tried one of these chips, just curious how they work and if anyone has tried one what do they think of it. Just seems too good to be true.

The old adage, remains true in this case.

You need a legitimate tuner. Either someone local, or remove your ECU and send it to ECS.
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 08:06 AM
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for 150 bucks the ECS mail tune is worth every penny.
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by ArtClassShank
The old adage, remains true in this case.

You need a legitimate tuner. Either someone local, or remove your ECU and send it to ECS.
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 09:58 AM
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Leave the stock tune alone, too many get theirselves in trouble searching for power the easy way. Start searching for guys with blown motors that just got a tune looking for a little more.
Do some real mods then have it retuned. Lots of "tuners" that cant. Its literally like learning a different language, someone who is really good isnt cheap.

Last edited by cv67; Jul 3, 2018 at 09:59 AM.
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 11:07 AM
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Ken - IMO, performance chips really do not work on the C5. Please don’t waste your money by purchasing one. Your best bet would be to figure out what mods you want to do to your car, get them installed and then get a tune from a reputable tuner.

There are forum vendors that do mail in tunes as well as other tunes where you do not have to take your car to the tuner’s shop. These tunes can offer improved performance for your car, even on a stock platform.

And I agree with cuisinartvette - do a lot of research on who you want to do the tune to make sure you know their reputation for delivering a safe and reliable tune.
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 11:18 AM
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Default Performance chip

Thank you will do
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 11:20 AM
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Ken, I agree with the others and with your perception of "too good to be true."
Not sure what all you were thinking about with the "performance package" (cam, heads, long tube exhaust or???), but you'll definitely want a tune after parts installation so if you're doing this anytime soon, I would suggest waiting and doing the tune to support your new parts. This will save on the price of two tunes, too.
Best wishes with your mods!
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 11:34 AM
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Default Performance chip

That's the performance package I was looking at doing something along that line can anyone recommend a shop that does that type of work on the East Coast
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Kenjimenez
That's the performance package I was looking at doing something along that line can anyone recommend a shop that does that type of work on the East Coast
https://www.eastcoastsupercharging.com Put a blower on it and get your extra HP
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 02:16 PM
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Snake oil. A friend fell for the gimmick. 1/4 times were exactly the same and so was his fuel mileage.
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 02:23 PM
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I don't know if C5s are anything like motorcycles when it comes to tunes, but I know with bikes, they come factory tuned way too lean. They can get a bump in power just by changing the tune, without installing any mods...seems like the factory tune would be the same way for the C5...
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Leave the stock tune alone, too many get theirselves in trouble searching for power the easy way. Start searching for guys with blown motors that just got a tune looking for a little more.
Do some real mods then have it retuned. Lots of "tuners" that cant. Its literally like learning a different language, someone who is really good isnt cheap.
We literally do thousands of mail order tunes so we pass the volume off to the customer, win-win. I am very efficient at them and have a tuning library that can rival most any tuner. I truly feel our mail order tuning is the best "bang for the buck" item we offer, referring to dollar per HP. That said, the gains are low and so is the cost, auto's really benefit!

Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
Ken - IMO, performance chips really do not work on the C5. Please don’t waste your money by purchasing one. Your best bet would be to figure out what mods you want to do to your car, get them installed and then get a tune from a reputable tuner.

There are forum vendors that do mail in tunes as well as other tunes where you do not have to take your car to the tuner’s shop. These tunes can offer improved performance for your car, even on a stock platform.

And I agree with cuisinartvette - do a lot of research on who you want to do the tune to make sure you know their reputation for delivering a safe and reliable tune.
Vetteman, just an FYI, there have not been "performance chips" since the early 90's. Everything is direct downloads since then.
Originally Posted by fivelitrecobra
Snake oil. A friend fell for the gimmick. 1/4 times were exactly the same and so was his fuel mileage.
I have had several claim this to me and my response was "meet me at an ECS corvette Challenge and with an auto I'll guarantee 3 tenths or your money back". (cant do that with a manual, driver too inconsistent) Never had to give anyone back their money yet, but if you are doing this on your own you must make sure variables are the same. weather station, same DA etc etc.
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Old Jul 3, 2018 | 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by grampi50
I don't know if C5s are anything like motorcycles when it comes to tunes, but I know with bikes, they come factory tuned way too lean. They can get a bump in power just by changing the tune, without installing any mods...seems like the factory tune would be the same way for the C5...
Same thing just opposite, too rich.
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Old Jul 4, 2018 | 07:40 AM
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Originally Posted by DOUG @ ECS
Same thing just opposite, too rich.
That's odd. You'd think they'd go lean, considering everything they did to the C5 to make it fuel efficient, I.E., CAGS, tall gearing, supreme aerodynamics, meeting EPA regs, etc...So would you say a tune with no mods will result in gains?

Last edited by grampi50; Jul 4, 2018 at 07:44 AM.
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Old Jul 4, 2018 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by grampi50
That's odd. You'd think they'd go lean, considering everything they did to the C5 to make it fuel efficient, I.E., CAGS, tall gearing, supreme aerodynamics, meeting EPA regs, etc...So would you say a tune with no mods will result in gains?
yes a tune will make power. Leaner makes power not richer to a point then bad things happen

Last edited by feeder82; Jul 4, 2018 at 09:19 AM.
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Old Jul 4, 2018 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by grampi50
That's odd. You'd think they'd go lean, considering everything they did to the C5 to make it fuel efficient, I.E., CAGS, tall gearing, supreme aerodynamics, meeting EPA regs, etc...So would you say a tune with no mods will result in gains?

A lean mix is worse for the engine.
If you think about a gas powered engine, you are mixing fuel and air in a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio (relating to or denoting quantities of reactants in simple integral ratios, as prescribed by an equation or formula is the fancy definition). This means you have to have the right amount of fuel for the right amount of air.
If the fuel-air ratio gets to rich (too much fuel), the engine combustion will get worse which causes inefficient burning of the fuel. This causes added hydrocarbon emissions, and excessive carbon build up, and lower engine performance.
If the fuel-air ratio gets to lean (not enough fuel), the engine has too much heated oxygen hitting the engine parts. The leads to excessively hot metal which is not good for the metal compounds. Also, since there is more oxygen, you have a quicker flame velocity which leads to knock or possibly engine stall.
You are hurting your engine either way, but the potential for engine damage is more significant with a lean burn which is why manufacturers will err on the side of rich instead of lean.
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