Many people hear about performance chips and tuners and think they represent a good option for improving engine performance. These modifications can help some vehicles eke out a little more power from their engines. However, for the majority of people, it's better to avoid these types of modifications for several reasons.
1. Performance Chips Often Require More Modifications
You may hear a performance chip can do wonders for your car's horsepower or fuel economy. What you don't hear is that you typically need to modify other car systems and parts to take full advantage of these chips. You can't just pop one in and start seeing gains without additional work to your car.
2. Performance Chips Can Ruin Your Engine
Many performance chips and tuners start with advancing the engine's timing. If your tuner doesn't adjust the timing correctly, you will face knocking. Your engine can even suffer catastrophic failure. That represents a very high and potentially expensive risk for a small gain in power.
3. Performance Chips May Cause You to Fail Emissions
Some performance chips can help you bypass some of the emissions functions of your car. This can lead you to fail an emissions test. In addition, tampering with or bypassing emissions functions is illegal in most places. The boosts from these modifications often cause your engine to run dirtier while making it seem like it's running better.
4. Performance Chips Rarely Deliver On Their Promise
The performance chip market contains a lot of high-quality tuning devices, but even more low-quality offerings. Many of the manufacturers promise large gains in power and fuel efficiency. The reality is that most people will not achieve those advertised gains.
5. Performance Chips Might Void Your Warranty
If your car still has a warranty, performance modifications may void it. The chips will cause your engine to act in ways the manufacturer did not intend. If your car develops engine damage for any reason after the modification, the manufacturer will likely not honor your warranty.
6. Performance Chips Can Cost You More Than You Gain
Performance chips can require you to spend money in ways you never intended. For example, most chips require you to only use premium fuel. Your insurance company may classify your car as a modified vehicle and raise your insurance costs. Selling a modified car or trading one in can often represent a challenge.
These chips aren't always a terrible idea. Nevertheless, for most normal drivers, performance chips and tuning can lead to the need for engine services sooner rather than later. If you're not absolutely sure about what you're doing, avoid these types of modifications. Visit a site, like http://59autorepair.com/, for more help.
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