brider

I've read in random posts about gas mileage actually INCREASING after "chipping".

Can someone explain what is involved in "chipping", what effect it has (if any) on mileage, and if there is a known effect on reliability, or if any effect is just anectdotal?

Mike B

First chipping is done to increase performance. If you are a non-aggressive driver you may experience increased gas mileage. However, most of us like the improved acceleration so any increase in fuel mileage is inconsequential.
If you are <b><i>really</i></b> aggressive, you <b><i>may</i></b> shorten the life of your turbo's, which is a very expensive situation.
Chipping consists of replacing (flashing) the program in your ECU (Engine Control Unit) with a more high performance program. There are several providers of these high performance programs and the most popular ones have dealers who can do the flash.
Do it, JMO.

PaperToast

ive had mine chipped for almost 50k miles (im almost at 150k) with zero problems
the gas mileage sucks, but what would you expect with a 4200 lb car with 300 hp?
just my turbos have recently started to seep a little oil

ericbky

I chipped (APR-93 Octane) my 2001 approximately 50,000 miles ago. Gas milage improved a little over 1 mile/gallon compared to unchipped. Tremendous difference in power. Best money spent on the car. K03 turbos appear okay at this time.

Mike B

I should have mentioned that I have chipped my car. Also, my old B5 S4 (same engine and turbo's) has been chipped for 103k of it's 105k life. My son drives the car now and works it very hard. It still runs great.

choptt

chipping effects mostly the wot map. fuel econmy is based off several other factors.

parts that weat out from excess power.
1.maf
2.coil packs
3.axles.

changing the soft code in the instruments from xxx64 to x+1x84.

then change fuel consumption to 85, and go to adaptation 60 and enter 1027.

remove the cold air intake feed, and you should no be at 30mpg+,

want more, drive in 5th in auto, and use neutral as a clutch for the long hill desents. you might hit 40+ mpg.

score602

can you explain this a bit better?

GTA_Driver

Did anyone take their AR to a track post-chipped to see what improvement stage 1 does? My estimate is that it should shave off about 0.8 seconds in the quarter-mile.

slatebrick

The only way I can see to get a US model allroad to average above 30 mpg is to tow it with a TDI.

Kristopher

I would say other things would suffer a shorter life before the maf and coil packs.

I'm curious...
Why would you code the instrument cluster to an 8cyl car then modify the fuel consumption factor? How does that possibly affect real fuel consumption other than displaying something different on the cluster?

for what it's worth, you save more fuel by coasting *in gear* than free-rolling in neutral.