Does the "performance chip" really increase gas mileage and power

[Banjovibe]

I saw an auction for a "chip" that increases both power and gas mileage on Ebay:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...oriesDoes this really work? I believe if it seems too good to be true that it probably is.

[Tonebalone]

I can't answer whether his works, but i have heard lots of tales of these things being "snake oil." They're typically empty $.99 Radio Shack project boxes with 2 wires coming out of them.This seller sets off my warning bells due to the relative short duration of his career, his twelve feedbacks, half of which are as a buyer of 99 cent items. The feedback as a seller are mostly from the past couple of days. I smell somebody about to make a quick killing in the internet auctions.But that's just my healthy paranoia at work.

[keithvibe]

Quote, originally posted by Banjovibe »I believe if it seems too good to be true that it probably is.you answered your own question.

[lovemyraffe]

I wonder what it really is...there is no picture of the actual "performance chip." It doesn't matter how cheap GM is, if they could increase HP and MPG for less than $10, don't you think they would include that in the stock vehicle? Also if this were true, the supplier couldn't keep it in-stock because of the demand for such a product that produces such results. Think of it as getting Tom Brady for the price of a can of Coke.

[star_deceiver]

To the best of my recolection, these chips plug into either the IAT or MAF sensor and trick the engine into putting more gas into the A/F mixture. I believe the rich mixture washes the oil off the cylinder walls and dramatically shortens engine life.I'd just stay away from them...

[joatmon]

The description on the ebay listing says "With performance in mind, our engineers noticed a common problem among all fuel injected vehicles. Many were running an unnecessary rich mixture of fuel and oxygen out of the factory, wasting fuel while making engines sluggish compared to their performance tuned counterparts."so it's probably a resistor that goes in line with one of the sensors to lean out the mixture. I find it completely implausible that such a device can meet the seller's claim of +50 hp and + 15 mph. Sure it's only $10, but I've got a bottle of dehydrated water I'll sell you for $10.

[Wolfman213]

I bought one of the resistors one time just because it totaled to like $1.49. Just wanted to see what the fuss was about and sure enough, it's just a bunch of nothing. I put it on my Grand Prix.Now that dehydrated water you speak of, are the O2 molecules split to double the oxygen or are they still joined molecules?

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by Wolfman213 »Now that dehydrated water you speak of, are the O2 molecules split to double the oxygen or are they still joined molecules?It's dehydrated, not dehydrogenated. The bottle will also contain some amount of atmosphere, used as a packing material, and this material typically contains a variety of oxygen compounds. However, this environmentally friendly packing material is typically replaced and discarded during the rehydration process. Some diffusion of the oxygen compounds in this packing material into the final rehydrated water product may occur, in amounts depending on several variables in the rehydration process, but the impact of this is inconsequential.

[Wolfman213]

Put me in for 5 units!! I may order more later once I spread the word.

[Kincaid]

Some chips are really chips, and recalibrate the engine computer. Other "chips" are just resistors as noted.Car and Drive modded a Subaru WRX or STi recently - testing it with a CAI alone, aftermarket exhaust alone, and finally adding in a performance chip. Both the CAI alone and the exhaust alone raised hp moderately, but when both were on the car together performance dropped from stock. C/D put a performance chip in that caused a whopping increase in hp. They theorized that with the improved airflow of the CAI and exhaust the engine was getting overwhelmed. The chip solved that issue.I can see why GM and other makers don't do these things from the factory - probably because there is no free lunch - you aren't going to get increased mpg and more power and if it was somehow possible, they don't do it because it probably strains something too much giving them warranty headaches.GM was offering a chip upgrade of its own on the Solstice GXP, Sky Redline and HHR SS that jumped the power from 260 hp to 290 hp and increased the torque as well. Not sure what the gas mileage dropped too, tho. Anyway, that "kit consists of a new engine calibration and MAP sensors that will push your turbo four to 290 horsepower and up to 340 lb-ft of torque with the six-speed manual transmission".The article:http://www.autoblog.com/2008/1...e-and/I know Dinan makes legit performance chips for BMWs. Unfortunately, I don't know how to tell which chips are legit and which are phony resistors (or worse).YMMV

[Kincaid]

Of course, there is a sticky note at the top of this subforum discussing performance chips, so you should find some good info there.

[Wolfman213]

legit chips or programmer like Hypertech, Bullydog, et al are the real deal. However, I'd be willing to bet that 99% of the "performance chips" on ebay are simply the resistor. The guy I bought mine off of was up front in stating the it was just a resistor. He claimed to have tested several makes and models to determine which particular resistor to use. But you'd be hard pressed, if not impossible, to find an ebay "performance chip" that lives up to any horsepower, torque, or mpg claim that they state. Most will just hide the resistor in a fancy box that has wires to give the illusion of something great.

[Banjovibe]

Thank you all for the sound education. I'm learning a lot from this thread and I really appreciate your input.

[dragon64]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »It's dehydrated, not dehydrogenated. The bottle will also contain some amount of atmosphere, used as a packing material, and this material typically contains a variety of oxygen compounds. However, this environmentally friendly packing material is typically replaced and discarded during the rehydration process. Some diffusion of the oxygen compounds in this packing material into the final rehydrated water product may occur, in amounts depending on several variables in the rehydration process, but the impact of this is inconsequential.You know I worked at a printing company about 27years ago where we really did print over 20000 dehydrated water 500ml bottle labels for a customer. Funny thing is that it wasn't even a one time run. As I remember the order repeated at least 3 times over a 9 month time span. Got to wonder what those bottle of dehydrated water sold for and who bought them ?????

[sharp_vibe]

as far as actual 'chips' go my only experience was abuddy bought one off ebay (first warning sign) and installed it in his camaro. There was no real noticabe difference except his gasmileage went down. I used a predator tuner for my TA though and it was awesome and completely customizable. Don't know if you want to splurge the 300 bucks for one though or if they even make one for a vibe.

[06pvibe]

These "eBay chips" are nothing but a resister w/2 wires. Sometimes they disguise them in a fancy package, others are just the "tuned" (10 cent) R.S. resister. As star-deceiver stated, all they do is make the fuel system rich and fry the engine. From what I have seen/heard, they often don't even come w/compliant instructions for installation. Snake oil? INDEED!!Also remember to stay away from +/-$40 "electric" super/turbo chargers and "gas saving/performance enhancing Tornado/Velocity tuner device. They will only separate you from your money and possibly do more harm than good.

[AKLGT]

this is a somewhat old thread. there are performance chips available for the Vibe. Do a search on e-greddy and also unichip.I had one of the original Unichip's for my 03 VGT. when I got rid of the car, it went to our 04 base Vibe. On these NA underpowered cars, they do help some with added power and torque, but they aren't going to get you a ton. I noticed a significant difference with mine in addition to my CAI. I'm a firm believer in engine management and the importance of it when it comes to slapping on bolt on parts to your car. Also, remember, a good engine management system is going to be $400+ if it's of any value.Remember, anytime you change something in your car, you take it out of factory spec. In particular, the exhaust or air intake to the engine. The stock factory ECM isn't set for those changes, so you will get minimal or worse performance. When you have engine management to tie it all together, that's when you will see a difference.