Cold Air Intakes

Performance chips for cars and trucks have been around for a few decades now, and, like the on-board computers they reprogram, have greatly increased in sophistication over the years.  In fact, the term “chip” doesn’t really apply anymore – most modern “chips” are whole systems encompassing hardware, software, and networking via PCs or even smartphones.  Not only are they the only performance upgrades that perhaps offer similar bang-for-buck as a cold air system, but they can also work very well in conjunction with a CAI by tuning for the improved flow and cooler air provided by your intake!

Whatever the details of a specific tuning package or system, they all operate on the same basic premise:  when auto manufacturers program the engine management computers in their vehicles, they have to find balances and make compromises.  They have to weigh performance against gas mileage; they have to take into consideration the potential that their customers might drive regularly in somewhat extreme weather conditions (air temperate and humidity greatly affect performance!), or buy gas that’s not of the recommended octane or acceptable quality.  Everything from the air/fuel ratio to spark timing to aspects of the shifting of automatic transmissions.  Necessity forces them to compromise in the name of finding the broadest appeal to the largest number of people.

Custom tuning systems and performance chips allow drivers to alter the parameters of their engine computers to focus on the characteristics they personally want.  Power can be found by tuning for a specific grade of fuel, for instance – most performance tunes assume you’ll be running 93 octane – or gas increased gas mileage can be found in some cases.  (Occasionally, with a little luck, you’ll get both!)

In the past, you’d supply a manufacturer with your make, model, and year, along with a list of modifications you’d made, and they’d send you a plug-in chip module with what amounted to an educated guess about the optimal parameters for your vehicle based on tests they’d done on similar cars.  If you weren’t satisfied with the results, you could send it back, or you could take it to a shop with a dyno and some special equipment and get a custom tune done (at some extra expense).  While this one-size-fits-many method may seem haphazard, it actually works reasonably well on stock or lightly modified vehicles.  It’s also by far the cheapest way to get a power boost via software – pre-programmed chips like the Jet model pictured here can be found for around $120 – significantly less than the $300+ typical of full-fledged tuning systems.

Both for those with the extra cash to spend, the features of the programming systems are well worth it.  They often come pre-loaded with multiple custom tunes specific to your make and model, with the ability to download new ones from the internet or create your own by tweaking individual performance parameters.  The expensive and inconvenient chip-to-PC interfaces of just a few years ago have given way to hand-held devices, dash-mounted screens, and sometimes even devices that interact with your smartphone wirelessly.  They don’t just tune your engine management computer – they can be used to monitor the results in real-time, providing acceleration and gas mileage information as you drive and allowing you to quickly make adjustments.  Even if you’re not interested in tinkering with air/fuel ratios to squeeze that list foot-pound of torque out of your motor, these devices can be fun and useful, as shown in the video below about the Edge Evolution Programmer.

Thanks the miracle of modern technology called an industry standard engine computer interfaces, these devices are now extremely simple to install – they’re quite literally plug-and-play, as demonstrated in these video install instructions for the touchscreen DiabloSport Trinity touchscreen tuner device.

If high fuel prices have you looking for ways to pull in to the gas station a little less often, there are even chips, programmers, and custom tunes that are oriented strictly toward improving mileage!

There are, of course, disreputable vendors making excessive claims about chip products – huge horsepower gains at low prices.  It’s always worthwhile to do your research.  Look for a dyno sheet.  Look for people who have bought the model you’re considering and posted about it on forums and review sites.  These products are designed to provide modest gains at modest prices, and they do it very well – but if an offer sounds to good to be true, it just might be.