Thoughts on performance chips?

[richard contratto]

I have a 2024 Timberline, and I’m wondering if adding a performance chip yields any noticeable gains? Looking at chipyourcar.com, Thornton, and performancechipsusa. Advertised 45-65 hp increase, more torque, and mpg. Thanks in advance

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Performance chips are absolute snake oil IMO. A custom tune from people like ZFG or similar tuners are going to be 100% better, and actually be a great use of your money.

 

[richard contratto]

What if anything do you know about products like, Roar Pedal? They don’t increase HP or torque. They just tune throttle response. Thx

 

[kep5niner]

I second the custom tuning. I had a Jet chip about 30+ years ago, and I can’t say there was a discernible impact. I’ve since custom-tuned about a half-dozen of my vehicles, and it’s a night and day difference. However, some tuners have vanished in recent history (H&S comes to mind) with the smack down from the EPA…

 

[2020FordRaptor]

What if anything do you know about products like, Roar Pedal? They don’t increase HP or torque. They just tune throttle response. Thx

I’m personally not a fan, just get a custom tune at that point.

 

[Calidad]

The chips are just modern versions of the “K&N” air filter. Unless you start modifying fuel systems, larger turbochargers, higher capacity injectors, then strengthening internal parts to handle the added power….. Your not doing anything other than fooling with electronic pedal sensitivity lol.

Besides these trucks are big heavy lumbering things. My stock Expedition is quicker 0-60 than my 05 SLT 350. But the SLT350 runs absolutely circles around the Expedition. Its stops way faster, it corners 5x better etc. You want a Quick vehicle get a sports car built to be quick.

 

[DieselMonk]

I don't bother tuning a stock car. For what? Unless there is like bigger turbo's, injectors etc. it's a waste of money in my mind. So you tune a stock car with stock engine and stock turbos. The only thing you do is pay for a shorter turbo life. You want power? Swap something out and then get a tune. That will be a lot more noticeable than tuning stock gas engines.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

I have a 2024 Timberline, and I’m wondering if adding a performance chip yields any noticeable gains? Looking at chipyourcar.com, Thornton, and performancechipsusa. Advertised 45-65 hp increase, more torque, and mpg. Thanks in advance

If gas engine vehicle manufacturers could increase horsepower by 45-65, and increase torque and fuel mileage - every new vehicle would come with the “performance chip” you referenced as standard equipment.

 

[biz77]

I don't bother tuning a stock car. For what? Unless there is like bigger turbo's, injectors etc. it's a waste of money in my mind. So you tune a stock car with stock engine and stock turbos. The only thing you do is pay for a shorter turbo life. You want power? Swap something out and then get a tune. That will be a lot more noticeable than tuning stock gas engines.

Tuning a modern forced induction, direct injected gasoline platform is one of the best bangs for the buck out there. It's not uncommon for 3.5 ecoboosts to see close to an extra 100 wheel horsepower and torque from tuning alone. Tuning with ethanol mixes is even more impressive. Do you realize there are F-150's with the 3.5 EcoBoost that are stock from the air filter to the exhaust tips simply running a ECM/TCM reflash that can crack off 3.xx seconds 0-60MPH and run the 1/4 mile in the 11's? That's a sub-$1,000 investment to shave two or more seconds off 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. To shave off another second you are looking at upgraded turbos and fueling. You are into it for thousands of more dollars chasing that next second reduction.

 

[DieselMonk]

Tuning a modern forced induction, direct injected gasoline platform is one of the best bangs for the buck out there. It's not uncommon for 3.5 ecoboosts to see close to an extra 100 wheel horsepower and torque from tuning alone. Tuning with ethanol mixes is even more impressive. Do you realize there are F-150's with the 3.5 EcoBoost that are stock from the air filter to the exhaust tips simply running a ECM/TCM reflash that can crack off 3.xx seconds 0-60MPH and run the 1/4 mile in the 11's? That's a sub-$1,000 investment to shave two or more seconds off 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. To shave off another second you are looking at upgraded turbos and fueling. You are into it for thousands of more dollars chasing that next second reduction.

Maybe that works for an occasional 1/4 mile race. But that’s about it. Power = fuel + air. More fuel and air creates more heat to get rid of. Short term no problem, but do that reapeatedly or constant, trouble comes quickly. Heat soak, timing retard etc… then the car gets slower and slower…
Gears in the rear end is another factor too. There are some tuned Expy’s around that are still slower than my SPP factory setup.

Ethanol, yes… I’ve been told that… problem is we don’t have that option. Our gas is blended between 5 to 10% ethanol at the pump, but there is no E85 to be found. I can’t try that even if I wanted to.

What I can confirm is the 24 3.5L HO works incredible even on regular gas. Same as a 25 2.3L. Very happy with both of them.

I am about sea level height. It shouldn’t matter with forced induction, but I think it does, since the air is also not that brutal hot at the coast.

My GT500 has a built engine and does more like double the power than stock and does this consistent all day long. It’s only tuned for 90 octane pump gas. Again…. 91 is the highest gas we get here.
Must be nice having the option for 93 octane gas and E85.

 

[Fastcar]

Tuning a modern forced induction, direct injected gasoline platform is one of the best bangs for the buck out there. It's not uncommon for 3.5 ecoboosts to see close to an extra 100 wheel horsepower and torque from tuning alone. Tuning with ethanol mixes is even more impressive. Do you realize there are F-150's with the 3.5 EcoBoost that are stock from the air filter to the exhaust tips simply running a ECM/TCM reflash that can crack off 3.xx seconds 0-60MPH and run the 1/4 mile in the 11's? That's a sub-$1,000 investment to shave two or more seconds off 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. To shave off another second you are looking at upgraded turbos and fueling. You are into it for thousands of more dollars chasing that next second reduction.

100HP @ the rear wheels?? What's the name of the tuner and how long does it live?

 

[DieselMonk]

100HP @ the rear wheels?? What's the name of the tuner and how long does it live?

It’s possible when they mix E85 and 93 to a certain ratio and tune the engine to it. While it is a decent hack, not everyone can have it like me for instance. Overboosting the turbos works for a while until they had enough. To me it isn’t worth it.

 

[Fastcar]

It’s possible when they mix E85 and 93 to a certain ratio and tune the engine to it. While it is a decent hack, not everyone can have it like me for instance. Overboosting the turbos works for a while until they had enough. To me it isn’t worth it.

I figure we are driving a fairly heavy truck with the aerodynamics of a brick or maybe a 4x8 hunk of plywood. It is never going to be fast imo, maybe quicker than stock but...Your driving a 80K hand grenade and when it comes apart as it surely will, it ain't going to pretty. The gettin' ain't worth the goin" imo. Were I to get back into it I think I'd opt for a used CTSV and play with the super charger. Hell when it blows I want to hear a big bang. I had one a few years ago and it was a fun, fast toy, another one I should have kept.
Wife just came buy and was reading over my shoulder says I'm too old for that stuff again. She might be right, then again....

 

[Fastcar]

I'm thinking we are at the point where most want instant gratification. If it can't be done with a 'putor by somebody else... Nobody reads plugs, changes heat range, plays with different injectors or cracks the block 'cause it's dirty and take time and some expertise.

 

[aurelion]

I tried both afe's and jb4 and they didn't work at all (the jb4 made my truck much slower) support weren't their for the jb4 and afe just told me the problem...it doesn't work for international vehicles which they don't say in their website. I got a tune and now my timberline does 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and does 12.8 in the 1/4

 

[biz77]

100HP @ the rear wheels?? What's the name of the tuner and how long does it live?

Most popular tuners for this platform are:
5 Star Tuning
Livernois
More Power Tuning
Unleashed Tuning
ZFG

Plenty of examples running over 100K miles on tuned ecoboosts.

I'm thinking we are at the point where most want instant gratification. If it can't be done with a 'putor by somebody else... Nobody reads plugs, changes heat range, plays with different injectors or cracks the block 'cause it's dirty and take time and some expertise.

Like it or not, that's how it's done these days and remaping a modern ECM takes a bit more time and skill than rejetting a carb. It's not about instant gratification.
Putting colder plugs in is absolutely still a common practice on tuned engines. "Reading" plugs is something that isn't as common any longer since modern closed loop fueling optimizes AFRs on the fly.
Changing out injectors, building motors etc is still all done, but on a different scale. Things have progressed to the point where it's not uncommon to have stock long blocks capable of 700+ HP. If I have a car that is meeting my power goals and holding together with original equipment, why would I start digging into it changing things?

 

[Mr Big]

Before you spend money on a chip or tuning, put it in sport mode and drive it for a couple days. My Platinum flies in sport mode. Huge difference over normal. And I wouldn't do it until you are out of warranty.

 

[Fastcar]

Most popular tuners for this platform are:
5 Star Tuning
Livernois
More Power Tuning
Unleashed Tuning
ZFG

Plenty of examples running over 100K miles on tuned ecoboosts.

Like it or not, that's how it's done these days and remaping a modern ECM takes a bit more time and skill than rejetting a carb. It's not about instant gratification.
Putting colder plugs in is absolutely still a common practice on tuned engines. "Reading" plugs is something that isn't as common any longer since modern closed loop fueling optimizes AFRs on the fly.
Changing out injectors, building motors etc is still all done, but on a different scale. Things have progressed to the point where it's not uncommon to have stock long blocks capable of 700+ HP. If I have a car that is meeting my power goals and holding together with original equipment, why would I start digging into it changing things?

I'm not looking for a list of tuners. I wanted to know who increased the HP by 100HP at the wheels and how long it lived.

 

[Mr Big]

I'm not looking for a list of tuners. I wanted to know who increased the HP by 100HP at the wheels and how long it lived.

Custom tuning done properly will last as long as no other programming is done. Horsepower varies. 60hp is pretty normal and requires high octane gas. I'm not really sure the maximum you can get out of the vehicle. I do know that the various different models are rated different from the factory. My Platinum is rated at 400hp stock, while my friend's same year is 375. I may be wrong, but I think it is the same motor with the same specs and just programmed differently.

 

[Fastcar]

Custom tuning done properly will last as long as no other programming is done. Horsepower varies. 60hp is pretty normal and requires high octane gas. I'm not really sure the maximum you can get out of the vehicle. I do know that the various different models are rated different from the factory. My Platinum is rated at 400hp stock, while my friend's same year is 375. I may be wrong, but I think it is the same motor with the same specs and just programmed differently.

I wasn't meaning the program lasting. How long will the engine last? Most tunes will make their HP claims at the flywheel, not the rear tires. Hell K$N at one time advertised 25 HP at the rear wheels and were crucified for it. They subsequently removed that claim from their ad's. I wanted to know what tuner made the claim of 100HP at the rear tires. Folks just love to toss figures around I guess.