My engine chipping experience so far

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

Thanks for that MidLife. Cheers

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

I think I am about 4-5 months now into the Chip-It. The other day, by accident, I lined up next to my work colleague at a stop light. He spends quite a bit on the latest BMW's--version du jour was 6 series. I jokingly encouraged him then beat him for first 150metres (obviously I will not say I could have maintained that since it is after all a Bimmer versus a Prado?!) Oh, and for all NZ's finest: all this was done whilst observing local traffic laws and ordinances!

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

Lol .

[boycebag Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close boycebag]

On the weekend I installed a Chip-It chip and EGT module to my Prado. The power increase was noticeable but only lasted about an hour before the engine check light came on along with LO4 and traction control lights flashing. I followed the instruction manual word for word. I called the guys at Chip-It and they where very helpful and over the phone we checked out every possible thing that could be causing the problem. To make a long story short they put it down to a faulty chip. I posted it back to them today and eagerly wait for a new or repaired one to arrive.

JFYI I fitted one last wednesday - 2011 GLX 3.0 - fairly easy to do just the blank for the EGR was a bugger, took out intercooler pipe for access. Have covered almost 400km running around with no issues other than the grin on "she who must be obeyed" when she drove it.
Robert from Chip It was excellent with a few hints and tips.
The increase in torque was most impressive. Bit early to judge fuel consumption.

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

thanks for that boycebag. let us know the economy results. Did you leave it on the standard tune?

[sbclover Member Find all posts View Profile Close sbclover]

Just a handy hint for everyone, If you blank the EGR completely on a 150 Auto you will every
now and then loose top gear and remain in 4th. The only way to correct it is to stop and restart the car.
I have now fitted a restrictor but only with a 6mm hole in it. 3000k's later and no fault.
This was the only other fault that came with blocking the EGR .The other fault was the EGR code

Sean

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

I have the kaka booked in next week for exhaust mods as there is a rattle coming from the cat after 67000ks and the noise is doing my head in. We will fit a hi flow muffler and cat to standard pipe. After that I will be looking at buying and fitting a chip it module. My main questions are do I need the full house with EGT and what are the benifits. Is there anything I need to do or be careful with and what tune should i start with. do I need to block EGR and why? Do you need to run oil catch can because of chip? Thanks in advance for help fellas.

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

Hi MNK

Not sure if you were asking me or not, but here is my reply.

A Performance Module will not determine the need for an Oil Catch Can. That's that the nature of the beast. ie from factory they need one.

We fit EGR blanking plates and on the Toyota to blank off 100% you need to drill a small hole into the throttle plate (like I have done on my Pajero). Otherwise the blank needs a small hole drilled in it (ours are supplied with the correct hole)

For reasons WHY: CLICK HERE . This will help you to understand the problem. Then you can CLICK HERE to read the rest of "WHY".

You also don't NEED the EGT Controller but for $300 it is very good engine protection and we totally recommend this if you are towing anything substantial.

When u receive the kit, just fit it and leave on tune 5 (our std tune). You can go higher ... say tune 5 - 7 ( possibly 8) but after that you will need a 3" exhaust (we can assist there too) and really you should have the EGT Controller fitted to keep the engine temps in check.

Hope this helps

Cheers

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

If you tow with your Prado, something to monitor EGT's would be extremely recommended, especially if you still have standard exhaust pipes (even taking into account higher flowing muffler).

Hope that helps with your decisions to purchase an EGT monitor of some sort

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

BTW, most of the time just a new EGT gauge will set you back $250.00 - $300.00 so the EGT Controller that interfaces with the Performance Module is good value for money. It's also digital and has a data logger as well ... not that you need to monitor it since its fully automatic both up and down. ie detuning and reinstating the performance tune when needed.

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

Thanks for the info guys!!! I dont get how on forum i've read that people with 3"exhaust are suffering in performance eg torque and beaudesert suggest a 2.75" exhaust to keep a happy meduim. This is why I thought to go with a standard system but making it flow better & would be in ball park of these dearer systems without spending dollars and saving it for other mods. Are they really going to make much difference over what im doing. if anything I would think to change is the dump pipe to help straight off and then make it flow better. Well you guys have convinced me to fit the catch can regardless and go a chip with EGT control as I tow a camper and YZ310F hanging off the back. now your next job is the exhaust. What are they going for these days MR CHIP IT???

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

If you want the most flow, less restriction, most power, you need a 3" exhaust. Don't listen to the guys that sell 2.3/4". You want some back pressure in a petrol car (for scavenging effect) however you don't want back pressure AT ALL in a turbo diesel. Those guys are doing a great job marketing that 3" is not good but it is just marketing. And also remember that now we are not talking about a stock power output anymore. Chipped up ( sounds better than Performance Moduled up LOL ) the car is going to be producing around 30% more power and coinciding with greater exhaust flow.

You also can save your money in NOT buying a stainless steel system since the Mild Steel System we supply are Aluminised. This means that it will certainly outlast the factory system, probably by a factor of 1.5 - 2. In other words, all things being equal, when you sell your car after 7 years it will still have a great rust free exhaust.

Thats the good news on exhausts

The good news on price for your Prado we can now do full 3" Turbo Back Exhaust w/- Cat for $900.00 delivered.

For Hi Flow Cat add $300.00

All systems come with bolt, nut and gasket kit thrown in.

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

Ok so what brand are they?
Why is the cat not supplied and extra?
we have to run cats true?
It looks like a costly process by the time i fit chip with EGT, exhaust and the can.
Is there much difference between a flowing exhaust (modified standard good flowing cat and muffler) then compaired to a 2.75 and then compaired to a 3".
I must get out there and measure the standard pipe!! ANYONE KNOW??
Is the extra dollars going to give me that much more performance I would notice?
Im not trying to be smart here but at the end of the day we dont drive our cars on dynos and is that weeee bid more kw/tq noticed? Ive had cars (V8 Petrol) and they have similar setups but one guy spend more dollars chasing awsome dyno results and both cars feel and drive the same....just better than the other dyno results by 10kw
(my ex VE SSV with a 2.5" & mates 3" and same ECU programme, same brand EXH loaded by same tuner & dyno, they even sounded very similar if not the 2.5 better as it didnt sound like a boat on the murry)

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

Hi MNK

You ask some valid questions. Here is my take on them.

Q. OK so what brand are they?
A.We mainly used Manta but another brand also is starting to make their zorts to our liking.

Q. Why is the cat not supplied and extra?
A. Every brand has Cats as an option. About 60% of the exhausts sold are without Cats as there is no testing for diesels in Australia. People want the most free flowing exhaust they can get. Going without Cat does this.

Q. We have to run cats true?
A. Legally yes. Technically, no.

Q. It looks like a costly process by the time i fit chip with EGT, exhaust and the can.
A. Yes it is not for everybody. If someone wants more performance there are steps you can take. Some can do this in 1 step. Others may do this over a period of time.

Q. Is there much difference between a flowing exhaust (modified standard good flowing cat and muffler) then compaired to a 2.75 and then compaired to a 3".
A. No. The increase in incremental. The best bang for your buck is the Performance Module for sure. The exhaust mod will nett you about 3- 5%. However, when combined with the performance module you will see a multiplying effect (re the performance gain) of exhaust. With a custom tune (around tune 15 of the tunes we supply) the D4D will nett up to 20% gain with a 3" exhaust over the stock unit. So you can see it really does give a good boost when combined with a "souped up " engine. Not only the performance gain but also the lower EGTs.

Std pipe is 2.5"

Re your last remarks. I agree. That's why we recommend Performance Module, Exhaust, Sports air-filter, snorkel, after - market intercooler ... in this order. Each step gets you less and less gain but DOES produce a more efficient engine which runs cooler.

If people have the dollars they probably should do module and exhaust at one time. Inter-cooler mods are good but will not nett a great deal of power. This mod is more for keeping the EGTs lower which is better for the donk.

As an engineer if someone came to me and said JUST GIVE ME THE BEST FOR MECHANICAL SYMPATHY. I would fit exhaust, inter-cooler, Chip. But this costs the most and not what the majority wish to do.

Its another reason we added turbo boost modification to our diesel modules (before others cottoned on) as this reduced EGTs and meant that people could achieve better power gains on the stock exhaust without having their EGTs soar through the roof.

Hope this helps.

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

Thanks (CHIP IT) for your answers and they make it all eaiser to understand. But I think for my requirements at this stage is a chip with EGT control and still modn the standard exhaust by means of hi flow muffler and cat. I will see if we can do something with the dump pipe, either make bigger or just weld in bung for EGT sensor.
What size are the EGT sensor threads no I can fit bung for now till I get Chip ect..
I dont want a very noticeable change in eng/exh noise as the MRS drives it daily.
I modded the exhaust in my 07 hilux with straight pipe and then tried hi flow muff and when I had straight pipe the mrs said the car sounded like it was sick and something wrong. I did love the turbo whistle thought!!!!
I just dont think that I will see much greater results (driveabillity) buying & fitting a $1400 system composed to $500- $600 in mods and still get good results. I will see if someone in melb can put the kaka on dyno to get best results for the set-up im thinking of trying.
ANYONE no a good tuner in Melb VIC?? In the worst case if it doesn't work I know I need the 3" but if I can save $$$ and still be happy, ill be even happier to spend the rest else where.
So it looks like I need, my mate to do exhaust, chip with EGT, dyno tune.

By the way when these chips are tuned on a dyno is it just a matter of running the car on dyno and loading/setting for the best tune suited, or is there more to it programing wise??
I have mate with dyno I can run it on just so we can see out-puts if its only a matter of seeing which tune suits