i am looking at getting a vitara up to a 05 plate as towcar,just seems a little low on power at 107 horses,is it possible to upgrade the power,either chipping or any other way?does this alter the co emmisions at all?what sort of increase would it provide?any help appreciated,thanks,adrian
power upgrade for vitara
- Thread starter adrian_5071472
- Start date
- Mar 14, 2005
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Hello Adrian,
I cannot specifically comment about the Vitara, but in general you don't get something extra for nothing.
Some car manufactures do offer remapping the engine management to improve towing (Honda did for their legend model).
Most modern cars use a microprocessor to manage the engine in response to speed and throttle, and the manufacture will have programmed it to produce a set combination of power delivery.
Most chipping companies do one of two things or a combination of reprogramming the computer (know as remapping) or corrupting the signals from some of the sensors. This make the engine perform differently, and different torque and power outputs can be produced.
Quite simply if you increase either power or torque at a given engine speed, you will use more fuel, and therefore more particulates and emissions, However that is not always the whole story. The engine may be remapped to produce more torque at lower revs which aides acceleration, but it may be made to run leaner at higher rpm, which might produce better mpg at higher speeds.
There are always some risks from these sorts of modifications. Firstly, if you are putting more power through the transmission, it may be in greater danger of breaking. The engines running temperature may altered which can produce problems with deposition carbon, the valves may not be able to cope with extra heat, and the lubricating oils may not provide the necessary protection etc.
The modification may render the car an MOT failure of emissions.
It may invalidate the manufactures guarantees, and of course you must tell your insurer that you have modified the car.
I cannot specifically comment about the Vitara, but in general you don't get something extra for nothing.
Some car manufactures do offer remapping the engine management to improve towing (Honda did for their legend model).
Most modern cars use a microprocessor to manage the engine in response to speed and throttle, and the manufacture will have programmed it to produce a set combination of power delivery.
Most chipping companies do one of two things or a combination of reprogramming the computer (know as remapping) or corrupting the signals from some of the sensors. This make the engine perform differently, and different torque and power outputs can be produced.
Quite simply if you increase either power or torque at a given engine speed, you will use more fuel, and therefore more particulates and emissions, However that is not always the whole story. The engine may be remapped to produce more torque at lower revs which aides acceleration, but it may be made to run leaner at higher rpm, which might produce better mpg at higher speeds.
There are always some risks from these sorts of modifications. Firstly, if you are putting more power through the transmission, it may be in greater danger of breaking. The engines running temperature may altered which can produce problems with deposition carbon, the valves may not be able to cope with extra heat, and the lubricating oils may not provide the necessary protection etc.
The modification may render the car an MOT failure of emissions.
It may invalidate the manufactures guarantees, and of course you must tell your insurer that you have modified the car.
Adrian,petrol or diesel? non turbo petrol the gain would not be worth spending the money on.As for a Diesel what John L has pointed out is basically the full story.generally you recieve a 35% power increase.Being truthful i,d never recommend a tuning box,a remap is the better way,its a recalibration through the whole RPM range instead of a large amount of fuel at one spot.
You never know how components are going to react until its done,this can lead to other problems.
In theory it should save fuel as the idea is the car will always be a gear up on previously,but this rarely happens because of driver error,or a heavier right foot due to the smile factor.
The remap is thought to be undectable,due to the fact the ECM calibration files work on binary,these are being changed not the parameters.
The emissions will increase ,but not to the point of an mot failure.so long as the engine was good to begin with.this you wont know,unless you have a smoke test done before hand.
You never know how components are going to react until its done,this can lead to other problems.
In theory it should save fuel as the idea is the car will always be a gear up on previously,but this rarely happens because of driver error,or a heavier right foot due to the smile factor.
The remap is thought to be undectable,due to the fact the ECM calibration files work on binary,these are being changed not the parameters.
The emissions will increase ,but not to the point of an mot failure.so long as the engine was good to begin with.this you wont know,unless you have a smoke test done before hand.
Hi Adrian,
There was a guy posted on here last year who enthused over his chipped Seat Alhambra - megga power, better fuel consumption etc. and then it blew up big time - so beware.
Personally I subscribe to the "no subsitute for cubic inches" school or put another way, if you want to tow abig van get a big engine. It might cost you more in fuel but it's going to do the job easier and won't be strained.
There was a guy posted on here last year who enthused over his chipped Seat Alhambra - megga power, better fuel consumption etc. and then it blew up big time - so beware.
Personally I subscribe to the "no subsitute for cubic inches" school or put another way, if you want to tow abig van get a big engine. It might cost you more in fuel but it's going to do the job easier and won't be strained.
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