What exactly does a performance chip do?

[supraman1379 10+ year member]

Im looking into getting one and i need to know what it will do for my 2001 Ford Ranger.

Thanks

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[RandyJ 10+ year member]

I would imagine that different chips do different things. BUT, the majority of them probably change the A/F ratio, the spark, anything in the motor that is computer controlled.

For the most part, they will provide minor performance inhancements, noticeable acceleration difference and if difference in towing. It all depends on what you get though. There are a bunch of different ones that do different things.

 

[kuijo 10+ year member]

I would imagine that different chips do different things. BUT, the majority of them probably change the A/F ratio, the spark, anything in the motor that is computer controlled.
For the most part, they will provide minor performance inhancements, noticeable acceleration difference and if difference in towing. It all depends on what you get though. There are a bunch of different ones that do different things.

x2. you can also usually change what kind of gas ur going to use and gain more performance.

 

[cpierce 5,000+ posts]

PCM tune > Chip

 

[guy022077 10+ year member]

well depends on the car..my chip put my boost from 6psi to 15psi..

 

[04redmach1]

Im a SCT (Superchips Custom Tuning) dealer. What engine? 4.0 or 3.0 ? Well i would do a tuner not chip. Alot easier to deal with and when you want differ tunes then a can email them to you. I can do 3 differ tunes. 87/93 octane tune and if you want another one for smething else. the tunes actually make the vehicle run ALOT more efficient thats how you are able to gain more horsepower and torque along with better gas mileage. Better throttle response is a plus as well. what exactly are you looking for? Do yuo have any mods right now?

 

[scrappy 10+ year member]

well depends on the car..my chip put my boost from 6psi to 15psi..

Wouldnt a boost controller do the same thing?

 

[dbhittin 5,000+ posts]

chips u dont really notice a diff unless your turbo.... waste of money IMO

 

[PhatTonyDeMarco 5,000+ posts]

I have worked with this guy. He knows his shit. I have a 2000 mustang and i got an xcal2 from him. He gave me a few different tunes and explained to me how to use it since i didn't know anything about them. My car is also automatic so it made a huge difference. I was very pleased with what the chip did to my car and if you are looking for a good relatively inexspensive mod i would go with a chip.

What'd you pay for that, if you dont mind me asking.

 

[supraman1379 10+ year member]

Im a SCT (Superchips Custom Tuning) dealer. What engine? 4.0 or 3.0 ? Well i would do a tuner not chip. Alot easier to deal with and when you want differ tunes then a can email them to you. I can do 3 differ tunes. 87/93 octane tune and if you want another one for smething else. the tunes actually make the vehicle run ALOT more efficient thats how you are able to gain more horsepower and torque along with better gas mileage. Better throttle response is a plus as well. what exactly are you looking for? Do yuo have any mods right now?

Im looking for better horse power, gas milage, and overall better perfprmance.

Oh and the engine is a 3.0 liter

And its automatic

 

[supraman1379 10+ year member]

I dont have any mods right now

its completely stock

 

[supraman1379 10+ year member]

I would also like to put a shift kit in it. SO if anyone knows the price on one let me know.

 

[Lil Poot 5,000+ posts]

chips u dont really notice a diff unless your turbo.... waste of money IMO

you dont know what you're talking about. my engine (a normally aspirated 355 chevy small block) dynoed 381 hp at the wheels with my old jet aftermarket chip. with the stock chip i imagine it would have been something like 350 with my mods. i got into custom prom burning bought a laptop and the burning gear, took me about 10 minutes to improve it and 2 or 3 months to get it just right, now i dyno 403 hp on the same dyno with no other modifications.

although if you're talking about going from the stock chip to an aftermarket one, you dont see a lot of improvement usually, and you'll need an even more specialized chip to use on a turbo motor. you spend the money on a turbo, spend the extra 500 on a good tune.

 

[supraman1379 10+ year member]

What kind of mods would i have to do to see an improvemtn? I am planning on getting an exhaust put on. Ive been told thats a start, but dont hold me to that.

 

[Lil Poot 5,000+ posts]

honestly i would wait on the chip. if you dont have any mods, you dont need one and wont really see any difference. do the mods, then upgrade the chip.

exhaust is a great place to start, thats usually the main choking point in late models performance. do you have the 4.0l? what kind of exhaust you looking at? a cold air intake is a good starting point too. look around for some ranger forums, im sure those people could be more helpful than anyone here.

out of curiousity, how much are you planning to spend, and what are you looking to get out of your truck?