The benefits of remapping your vehicle are numerous. We re-evaluate what remapping is, how it affects your vehicle, and what the advantages and disadvantages are often.
The Control Unit for the Engine
The Engine Control Unit (ECU) may be a computer that controls modern automobile engines (ECU). The ignition timing, air/fuel ratio, and boost pressure are all controlled by this tiny microprocessor.
The vehicle’s performance or economy, or sometimes both, are often improved by modifying these parameters.
Remapping, often referred to as Chipping, is the process of putting third-party software on a European computer to exchange the manufacturer’s default software.
This new software can also be customized to urge the best out of the engine, and it’s frequently adapted to every individual vehicle.
It is typically installed by attaching a laptop to the vehicle’s OBD serial connection, which allows for a rapid and painless installation.
The PC in older automobiles had to be completely removed and replaced with a replacement chip that already had the latest software installed. This is often why it was once referred to as chipping.
What are the possible outcomes of a remap?
The engine may perform much closer to its optimum possibilities by altering the ECU software, sometimes by increasing horsepower and torque by 20% or more! Most vehicles have their performance dialed down by default once they leave the factory for a variety of reasons.
This is often frequently done to suit environmental standards, as well as economic and noise regulations.
Furthermore, all vehicles are covered by warranties, and therefore, the last item a manufacturer wants to try to do is repair or replace a broken engine.
As a result, performance is usually kept well within the engine’s capabilities.
After a couple of years, most manufacturers create facelifted versions of every sort of automobile they produce before releasing fully new ones.
They’ll rapidly and simply boost the vehicle’s performance figures by modifying these ECU settings themselves on the facelifted versions, making them more appealing without much or any engineering.
Is a remap merely a software upgrade?
Yes. Stage 1 tuning, often referred to as remapping, is one of the varied services provided by the tuning company. Stage 1 is nearly always just a software update to the ECU.
Additional software and hardware, like a redesigned exhaust and a high-pressure fuel pump, are frequently included in Stage 2 and beyond.
Upgrades to the vehicle’s turbocharger or supercharger are common piecemeal 3 and 4. As compared to the primary stage, later stages entail more invasive treatment and deliver fewer performance increases per pound.
Is remapping the engine risky or harmful?
Changing engine control settings can have negative consequences, depending on who designed the software and the way the vehicle tuner configures it for the vehicle.
As a result, we never recommend installing your own software or software from an untrustworthy source. ECU software is written by specialized tuning companies, and they normally test and adjust it for a year or more on a range of vehicles before making it available to the general public.
If you select one of these organizations, you’ll rest assured that the software you’ve installed is safe to use, but always read reviews first.
Is remapping going to void my warranty?
Because the software being loaded is never created by the vehicle’s manufacturer, any warranty you’ve got on the vehicle will presumably be voided.
After all, it isn’t the manufacturer’s decision to push the engine to its limits (or beyond), and if something goes wrong, you could possibly find yourself footing the bill for an engine rebuild.
The software business that created the map is unlikely to hide these expenses either. That’s why it is important to work with a reputable firm with tons of experience.
Is remapping just for high-performance vehicles?
In most automobiles, remapping can improve both performance and efficiency. Even a car with a 1-liter engine, especially if it includes a turbocharger, can enjoy a remap.
A turbocharger (or supercharger) is now standard equipment on most current cars. An engine functions by igniting a mix of compressed gasoline and air inside its cylinders.
Turbochargers and superchargers improve fuel compression, allowing more gasoline to enter the cylinders before ignition. The more fuel you’ve got, the more power you will have.
Increasing power this way is more fuel-efficient than simply having a bigger engine to start with. Emissions are also often lower.
As a result, we’re seeing more 3, 4, and 6 cylinder engines and fewer 8, 10, and 12 cylinder engines.
Because the key adjustments made to the software are fuel compression, fuel/air mix, and boost pressure, remapped automobiles benefit most when a turbocharger or supercharger is fitted.
Resources: Importance of Using Vehicle Stickers to Promote Your Business