Thinking About Installing a Performance Chip?

Almost everyone has, at some point, toyed with the idea of boosting their car's power. Depending on the method chosen, tuning your engine can cost between €100 and €250. This is a very reasonable price considering the significant driving improvements a good remap can provide.

It is usually at this point that a friend or colleague suggests installing an external control unit (often called a "power box" or "chip") to boost the engine. They might tell you it’s easier and cheaper than a professional workshop remap, and that if you don't like the results, you can simply "unplug" it as easily as you plugged it in.

Not All That Glitters Is Gold

While adding an extra unit might seem like the ideal, hassle-free solution, installing a "piggyback" ECU can lead to various long-term mechanical issues. These will not only negatively affect your driving experience but will also significantly shorten your engine's lifespan.

Below are the 4 most likely failures you will face if you choose to tune your car using an external plug-in unit:

1. Cylinder Wear: If injection times are extended beyond safe limits (due to a poor remap or a cheap power chip), "cylinder washing" becomes more frequent. This happens when excess fuel washes away the oil layer that lubricates the cylinder walls, leading to accelerated wear of the engine's rings and cylinders.

2. Tyre Wear: An excessive and uncontrolled increase in torque causes the front tyres to work twice as hard, reducing their lifespan. This is a serious concern as it can compromise safety and lead to accidents.

3. Temperature Issues: A faulty tuning method can cause temperature spikes within the combustion chamber, which directly degrades the engine's internal components over time.

4. Clutch Wear: Much like tyre erosion, the clutch discs must withstand much higher torque levels than they were designed for, leading to premature slipping and failure.

Better at the Workshop

For these reasons, Ecumotorstock always recommends increasing engine performance through a professional ECU Remap. As long as the remapping is performed by professionals—and respects the safety limits established by the manufacturer—it is completely safe for your engine in both the short and long term.