Chip facts 1kz. will it shorten the life of my engine??

[nigelh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nigelh]

hi all i have read a few posts on here and it seems there is a lot of information regarding power chips but nothing regarding the longevitiy of the engine onced chipped. i have a question and im hoping someone can give me an opinion. i have a 1kz in my prado 120 which has only 135k on the odo. im looking at doing a 3' exhaust and DP chip for the extra torque needed to pull a caravan 16ft. i do want to keep the prado for atleast 5 years or 150k more kms (which ever comes first). was wondering on real world pros and cons of the chip. i know all the benefits of the exhaust and possibly upgrading the intercooler but im uncertain if the chip will be a waste of money, or will shorten the life of the motor. i went for the 1kz for the reliability and ease of maintainence and dont want to ruin it? thanks for your time. regards nigel.

[baggs71 Inactive member. Find all posts View Profile Close baggs71]

Good question
Im looking at the same situation..next month doing the same thing

From what my research (limited) DP chip very holistic in all regards and does not void engine warranty. ..

Hope this.helps

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

What can I say, Our DP Chip has been in for over 6 years (no exhaust upgrade) We tow a Jayco Eagle Otback, around 1500 loaded and we do 2 big trips normally east coast, and a few weekends every year.... and I swear this engine just gets sweeter with every kilometer travelled. You certianly know you are towing, but it is only the long steep hills that slow you down..... It is certianly the best combination I have owned, and why I am hanging onto this some 5 years past when I planned on upgrading.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Hi

I was against chips for a long time but finally bit the bullet and put in a dtronic with gauges to monitor EGT's. Had to eat my words. Very happy with it and no discernible issues.

Heat is the killer with overfuelling so stick with a reputable chip, fit an egt and you will have years of happy driving.

It TRANSFORMS the 1kz!

[mackayvx Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close mackayvx]

It would be common sense to think the more you stress a motor- the shorter its life will be.
But lets face it the 1kzte has a very strong bottom end. The head well not so strong.
At 250 happy chipped kms I cracked my head from too much heat red lining the revvs in soft sand when i was up the cape.
Testiment to its tuffness, it didnt over heat and i still towed the camper home nearly 2000 kms. It was just lacking a heap of power.
I personally will not rechip my motor as i am looking to see how good it runs once its clicked over 500 thou on the clock...
By then i will be expecting to have cracks on the inner guards thou..

[mackayvx Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close mackayvx]

Hmmm.....inner guard cracking. Extra pin striping Macka, you mean don't you. Your rig will be fine mate, it's a VX after all.
Gees mate, you need a vehicle like that with the kms you do. That tight schedule over Christmas.
The Roo.

Yep 5000kms in 3 weeks... And all of it bitumen... Spewing...

[johna Member Find all posts View Profile Close johna]

2003 GXl with DTronic for the last 100,000 k's and has done a total of 195,000 and over half of that with a 22ft Full van behind.
Change oil every 5000k and all diffs and gearbox every 40,000.
Only thing donr so far was front discs at 160,000 and timimg belt at 150,000.
Runs like a dream, but a slug without the chip.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Looked into the chips when I had my 1kz, I didnt end up getting one as I sold the vehicle but I was going to get a steinbourer if I was to get one. Its not the type of chip thats going to make the 1kz a racer by any means but was purely for torque lower down for pulling, I also liked the fact it had a built in safety bit that turned its self off to protect the engine (forget the exact reason for it doing that) think it was related to temp ?? may be wrong on that bit. It also went in after the factory ECU so the original computer kept all its own safety parameters in place etc.......I have been in a prado with a chip with the 1kz and boy it went well but he had it set on maximum setting (company car) he now has a D4D in his hiace van with it chipped and again set to maximum, so far no issues but not sue it will last the distance but then he changes them every 3 years (lease) so he doesn't care...Cheers Steve

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Mine has had a SAFARI D TRONIC in it, most of its life.
So far 270,000klms no issues at all runs great.
The d Tronic is a unichip, the original and best performance module that just simply plugs in.
Part of the design was that it not an extreme tune up.
I think they are 96kw up to 115kw or so and the torque up to around 380nm or so, not the huge 130kw & 420nm I have been quoted from some set ups.
Basically gives it a bit more go down low, smoother acceleration, and more torque to maintain speed on hills.

Anyway I don't do much towing, I was happy with the way the vehicle went before and need $$$ for camper trailer, so I have removed it. (After trailer I might want it back lol.....)
I'm going to sell it, it's currently listed on eBay or $850.
The last one on eBay sold for $750.
If it doesn't sell I will list it on here shortly.

I know I should have listed it here first, maybe I will try to do it soon.

[nigelh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nigelh]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Just an update, had the DP Chip fitted today along with a 3 inch Sterling exhaust as a package from FNB 4 WD here in SA. so far all great, the Pradopoint now feels like it has longer legs. As responsive almost as a petrol car. Was a little hard to tell after driving the wife's V6 Klueger to pick it up ( 200KW in the Klueger) but its made the 1kz less like a tractor.
The surprising thing is the Sterling system. Not a big advertised system like the Taipan or Manta or Beaudesert but so quiet and straight through with no cat and just a rear muffler with a down turned pipe but surprisingly quiet with no drone what so ever. Highly recommend.

[nigelh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nigelh]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Just an update, had the DP Chip fitted today along with a 3 inch Sterling exhaust as a package from FNB 4 WD here in SA. so far all great, the Prado now feels like it has longer legs. As responsive almost as a petrol car. Was a little hard to tell after driving the wife's V6 Klueger to pick it up ( 200KW in the Klueger) but its made the 1kz less like a tractor.
The surprising thing is the Sterling system. Not a big advertised system like the Taipan or Manta or Beaudesert but so quiet and straight through with no cat and just a rear muffler with a down turned pipe but surprisingly quiet with no drone what so ever. Highly recommend.

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

I think it would always be a good idea to fit an EGT once you've chipped the 1kz (bigger exhaust is mandatory, and you've already done that). Second to that, would be a coolant temperature alarm. The 1KZ will apparently go forever, provided you don't work it too hard and run with high temps all the time...

[KANDYG Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KANDYG]

I have picked up a second hand Safari Dtronic SD181 chip, came across it cheap so grabbed it. I was think about putting this is my prado but have not yet fitted. I would like to know is it possible to get any better performance from my vehicle with this chip without an exhaust upgrade, also have heard they can fry your piston heads by creating excessive heat and hot spots is this true? I will be touring OZ soon towing a 4.3mtr Quintrex Hornet and not sure to install or re-sell? Any advice would be great. Also are there any install guides anywhere??

[seenthelight Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close seenthelight]

KANDYG
My Dtronic has been in for over 300 000km...I tow a jayco eagle OB (1.5T) and a 7x4 trailer (1.5-2T), have had no problems what so ever..
The Dtronic was my first mod to the car at about 1 month old...standard exhaust for about 5 years, then I had a 2.5 inch
turbo muffler fitted to the standard pipe..As for ( is it possible to get any better performance from my vehicle with this chip without an exhaust upgrade) yes but you will get more with an exhaust upgrade or a better muffler
Cheers
Geoff

[KANDYG Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KANDYG]

Hey seenthelight thanks for the feedback, thats good news. How easy are they to install? I am a complete novice.