View Full Version : To chip or not to chip???
With all the HP figures running around the forum I began wondering if I should chip my Toledo ????
1st some backround.
Daily commute = 280km (that's not a typo)
Year avg = 72000km
Drive mostly highway on commute but like the twisties on weekends. Don't do track days unless I'm very late for work ;)
Still wondering on engine longevity?? Don't want a rebuild on a yearly basis. Have you chipped guys noticed any higher rate of trips to the dealer for repair?? Any problems that would probably not happen in not chipped?? How about engine temperatures, has anyone noticed a increase in the engine's working temp (especially oil temps)??
My temperature is always at 88degC, I still use no oil (although the PD (115/130/150) engines do use quite a bit so I've heard), and have had no other problems.
You are only likely to see a problem if you drive the car very hard all the time, which you won't be when travelling up and down highways.......
Mine has been driven very hard with the chip for about 4000miles (7000km) with no problems.
Originally posted by Tdi 110
My temperature is always at 88degC
What bothers me most would be the oil temp. Not sure if you've got a oil temp gauge on the Leon (my Toledo does not) like my old beeza had, but on those hot summer days (>30ºC) it would hit 96ºC and that's without the AC running. Of course I must admit that those temps would only happen on the late for work days:) .
I would think that a chipped car would be like running with the AC always on. On the beeza running oil temps in the 90s was quite easy with the AC on (driving to from work avg 130-140).
Chip it, you shouldnt have any extra problems, the high mileage you do means less cold starts, so there is less engine wear anyway, all of my cars (including 2 diesels with half a million miles between them!) have died because of faliure of other parts of the car, the block and pistons and bottoms end have always been in good condition for their age, it is only the odd blown head gasket(easily fixed), that you might suffer with the chip in, although the vag engine is much better built than citroen engines anyway, so you might not even have these problems!
This has been a subject of much discussion on TDIClub.
Net concensus seems to be that chipping has no effect on longevity.
If you use good oil, meet scheduled change intervals and have access to god quality fuel then releasing a few more horses is fine. Remaps increase the part-throttle efficiency of your engine, so you should get better mpg when cruising ~ as quoted on the Upsolute site for example.
(Allededly) manufacturers "play safe" with TDI outputs 'cos fuel quality is globally more variable than petrol, and some owners do not stick to oil change schedule.
FYI ~ not sure the same can be said regarding Tuning Boxes which effectively increase fueling. This can (again allegedly) lead to higher piston temps than you'd get with a more comprehensive remap.
OK I will be chipping:D
Probably in late spring. It will give me time to save up the $$$.
mik brought up the next question I had?
Chip or Tuning box?? Personally I feel much safer chipping than sticking on an extra box on.
Chip wise who's the best manufacturer? The only ones I know you can definitely get here in Portugal are:
SuperChips, ABT, and Wetterauer.....From those 3 I definitely perfer the ABT stuff since they're in closer contact with VW. I've seen alot of guys on this site use Upsolute. I could probably remove the ECU, send it out, and receive it back within a week ??
prc,
Yeah you can do the Upsolute upgrade fully insured by courier.
Do next day deliv, tell them it's coming, they'll upgrade and courier back. Should take about 4 days only....
I've personally spoken to 2 UK folks who did this before we had a rep here in UK ~ no hassles!
Didn't see your note on Wetteraur..........guys on TDIClub seem to rate their upgrades too. Not quite as highly as Upsolute though, and power gains are less. That might suit you though?