TelCom

Hello, I live in Denver, CO - 5280 ft above the ocean, I plan to chip my 00'A4 but want to know if there are any issues with running a chipped engine from 5000 to 9500 feet altitued?

Jake

No issues

Roastie

They don't lose power with gains in elevation, which means you give up less and less to normally-aspirated vehicles. IOW, passing gets easier because most others get slower. A chip just makes it all even better for you.

denVerSlube

If anyone who really knows can answer this question (APR, TAP, BAT, ...?) I'd really like to know. I don't want to be adding octane boost the rest of my car's life. I'm worried that even if those of you with chips at altitude don't hear pinging - maybe the knock sensor has already dialed back the timing (or whatever it does) and extended use like that may be harming the engine? (I obviously don't really know what the hell I'm talking about - so keep the flames to low simmer.)

(waiting to chip my 99.5 1.8tqms)
formerly derSlube

2001A4

I run a Garrett chip which is 1.15 bar & Stebreo exhaust.With 30K miles on both 91& amix of 91&101 i've never had pinging - in fact no problems at all except w/ clear coat on mirrors. The car does run better on a mix of 50% 101 & 50% 91. ioi is avail at Duggans Petro for $2.38/gal if you buy a card for 55 gal.

denVerSlube

I guess what I'm hoping for is some way that a tuner shop (maybe one at altitude, like Boulder Audi Tuning or RevSport .. hint hint) can verify that the timing isn't getting advanced. I would hope there would be some indication available through the OBDII port that the timing has (or has not) been effected by the knock sensor. I'm assuming that it's bad to always have your spark early, giving you the same long term bad effects as if you ran with too low octane on the stock chip (even if you might never hear the pinging). Put in there with all my assumptions that the performance chips even pay attention to the knock sensor - I have no idea.

As questions for Harvey: how often do you go through the trouble to mix, and where is Duggans Petro (yes I'm too lazy to look it up). Thanks in Advance for your (and anyone else's) response!

(99.5 1.8tqms)

pbarrow

I live in Denver and have an MTM kit on my 99 A4. I have never had any drivability problems and like the extra boost more and more as the altitude goes up. My car does 120 UP vail pass! Like Harvey, I like to mix the B35 fuel with premium for days at the track and special trips to the mountains (it is also available at the P66 station at Colfax/York).

Paul
barrow@usa.net