In recent years there has been a massive influx of ECU re-mapping emerge. A tow vehicle with more power and torque does the job better and often there’s a bonus positive result in fuel economy. Both methods increase combustion pressure within the cylinder to provide more downward force on the pistons, the result is more power and torque. Generally speaking piggy-back modules change the fuel mapping by either increasing the fuel pressure in the system, or by altering the duration of injection. Different modules use different ways to connect and to alter things like fuel quantity but they are essentially “piggy-back” systems that can be removed pretty easily. Most “chips”, or more correctly called modules, are a box of electronics that is actually a computer in itself that is separate to the vehicle ECU and connected into the fuel injection system, turbo boost sensor, exhaust temperature sensors, etc by means of a harness and connector plugs. This practice is not common these days but has been replaced by a variety of methods to squeeze more out of the engine, but the name “chip” has stuck and is used loosely to describe pretty much any means to change performance electronically. It comes from the early practice of physically adding or changing a chip (microprocessor) to the printed circuit board of an engine’s management computer to enable changes to be made. The term “chip” is used in a very general sense these days. Two major developments have occurred – vastly improved engine performance for towing, and the ability to alter the engine’s performance by changing the management system’s parameters electronically. They have evolved from being naturally aspirated to multiple turbocharged and intercooled, from mechanical fuel injection systems to electronic control injection systems.
The last 15 years has seen a major change in engine design and engine management systems, this is especially so for diesel engines. Most of us who tow caravans or other loads with our 4WD’s are familiar with the need to improve the performance of our tow vehicle. The Dangers of ECU re-mapping – Flash Tuning TO FLASH, OR NOT TO FLASH? THAT IS THE QUESTION