In the old days of D.I.Y. tuning, motor enthusiasts had to rely on little more than a screwdriver and their own knowhow for tweaking a pickup's performance to their liking: adjusting carburetors and distributors used to be the way to squeeze out more horsepower. But computers have changed all that: now most of an automobile's performance is run by a computer chip, which at first led many gear heads to think the days of engine tweaking were over.
But performance enhancement is still alive and thriving, just in a different form: the newest craze in automotive customization is the Diesel Performance Chip, a computer chip created by auto mechanics and computer programmers to unlock the mysteries hidden within your pickup's computer software, and help you get the most out of your Diesel engine.
Diesel Performance Chips come in two varieties: hand held power programmers, and plug-ins, also known as control modules. Both products cost roughly the same and work in the same way: by switching your truck's on-board computer from its factory programming to a customized program. The difference lies in installation and customer interactivity: a control module plugs directly into your truck's on-board computer, and stays there permanently. It's also comes completely preprogrammed, so you just have to install it and forget it.
A power programmer is a little different: it plugs into your truck's On-board Diagnostics system under your dashboard, making installation a little easier than a control module. Additionally, a power programmer doesn't stay attached: it works by first reading and backing up your truck's factory settings, and then replacing it with data customized to your driving habits. It does this by asking a series of questions after you plug it in: your answers will determine your truck's settings, giving you more options over your truck's customization than a control module. After it's done sending the new information, you simply unplug it and enjoy the benefits of enhanced performance.
Whether you go with a control module or a power programmer, both kinds of Diesel Performance Chips offer impressive benefits, including boosts in horse power and torque output, and increased fuel mileage, without damaging your engine or transmission. Most of the gains come from optimizing your engine's air/fuel ratio and ignition timing, and can even lengthen the life of your engine by making it run more efficiently.
Diesel Performance Chips are now gaining extra popularity due to the possibility of increased gas mileage, with some chip manufacturers claiming increases of up to 20%, and that the chip pays for itself in a matter of months. Whether or not a buyer can expect to see this kind of improvement remains debatable, but the real appeal for many Diesel Performance Chip users lies in the substantial increase in torque, which provides more muscle for towing. This is because the factory installed settings are designed for the average driver, and not optimized for frequent, heavy towing.
Most Diesel Performance Chips are emission legal and shouldn't void your warranty, as long as they aren't Engine Management Systems (EMS), which completely bypass your pickup's on-board computer. Aside from that, installation and use of a Performance Chip is a worry-free process, and feels almost like the good old days: no computer programming is necessary; in fact you don't even need a computer, just plug in a few wires. It may not be as fun as tuning your engine by hand, but the increase in power and performance -- as well as the knowledge that your pickup is tailored to your own driving habits, not some computer technician in a factory -- will having you feeling like a teenager again.