Chip Tuning

[DoomSlayer]

I know this isn't the proper place to post automotive questions but I'm genuinely curious, for those who have one, what are your thoughts on obd2 chip-tuning?
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I've been reading about this ST8PRO chip, http://www.performancechipreviews.com/st8pro-performance-chip/ it worked on their BMW - plus I read multiple forum posts on KIA's website, ( https://www.kiasoulforums.com/177-aftermarket-modifications-gen-2/111469-sawyer-tuning-sxth-element.html ) and multiple others - it seems to be legit.

Sooo, I decided to get it for my 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT 2.0l with the 6 speed manual...

I'm pretty skeptical, i do not trust these chips as many of them are scams, but this company did provide me a dyno graph for my car when I asked from one. https://imgur.com/W4Hyptn

I never seen any other company do such a thing, plus it does seem to be legit too as in not modified or photoshopped. The power numbers do correspond with that they said it will add - 32hp, which to me for a N/A engine - its seems like a lot to me, unless Hyundai under tuned this engine then it would make sense. It makes 173bhp stock, and 154 lb - ft of torque.

Once I get the chip, I'll reply to this if it makes a difference or not. As if it does, and if its even noticeable, its pretty damn good then. I am playing on getting a cold air intake eventually, plus aftermarket rims + wider tires over the stock 205's, I'm thinking of 225's or 235's for my car probably a little too much but i want to corner quicker and have more grip... aaaand maybe a cat back too... They say the chip will respond well with those parts - that is, IF, the chip even works or not LMAO. Rip.

[✪Happy Dude✪]

ok good luck

[Canadian Guitar]

Plug in chip's are always snake oil. At best, they do nothing, at worst than can mess with your ECU.

The only real way to change ECU perimeters is to do a flash tune, or go to a shop and get a tune actually made for your car specifically.

[ErickaUnlimited]

Originally posted by Flukey:

i do not trust these chips as many of them are scams

There's your answer.

[DoomSlayer]

Originally posted by Canadian Guitar:

Plug in chip's are always snake oil. At best, they do nothing, at worst than can mess with your ECU.

The only real way to change ECU perimeters is to do a flash tune, or go to a shop and get a tune actually made for your car specifically.

Too much money for me, not willing to spend $500 on a ecu tune for my N/A car. If I am able to get away with spending $135 instead of $500 which I could put towards a turbo kit in the future, i'd rather send 135 for now. Plus the stock ecu for my car probably hasn't been cracked before, who knows how much ♥♥♥♥ Hyundai put in there to stop people from tuning the cars. They made sure to lock down their ecus on the newer elantras and some other cars which lead me to believe my car is no different

[Canadian Guitar]

Originally posted by Flukey:

Originally posted by Canadian Guitar:

Plug in chip's are always snake oil. At best, they do nothing, at worst than can mess with your ECU.

The only real way to change ECU perimeters is to do a flash tune, or go to a shop and get a tune actually made for your car specifically.

Too much money for me, not willing to spend $500 on a ecu tune for my N/A car. If I am able to get away with spending $135 instead of $500 which I could put towards a turbo kit in the future, i'd rather send 135 for now. Plus the stock ecu for my car probably hasn't been cracked before, who knows how much ♥♥♥♥ Hyundai put in there to stop people from tuning the cars. They made sure to lock down their ecus on the newer elantras and some other cars which is pretty crappy on them.

500 dollars for a real tune with real results, or 135 dollars into the garbage.

If you want some real performance gains for that money, look into an exhaust system, Lightweight pulleys, Ram air intakes, a camshaft.


ALL companies encrypt their ECU's

[whatamidoing]

So they made a graph that confirmed their own data?

[Canadian Guitar]

Originally posted by whatamidoing:

So they made a graph that confirmed their own data?

Yes, as most of those "performance chip" companies do.

[Sir Dookface McFerretballs]

It is pretty pointless unless you are running some dedicated track or drag car with serious enough drivetrain modifications to warrant it.

Think of it like this... If the company could have tuned the car better from the factory, why didn't they?

If your country/state has inspection or smog/emissions control rules, chip tuning could get you into trouble there as well.

I've worked in the automotive industry for 20 years now... Performance companies will tell you literally anything to get you to buy their product. Hell they are likely laughing at you for wanting to chip tune a bottom of the line 4cyl Hyundai.

You are just going to waste your money.

[DoomSlayer]

Originally posted by Canadian Guitar:

500 dollars for a real tune with real results, or 135 dollars into the garbage.

If you want some real performance gains for that money, look into an exhaust system, Lightweight pulleys, Ram air intakes, a camshaft.


ALL companies encrypt their ECU's

If I could get those parts I would've already. I already looked up lightweight pulleys, exhausts, and intakes and it took me hours to find one thing. Theres only 2 CAI's out there that are compatiable with my car. And 1 full exhaust system, for a older model year, the 1.8L not the 2.0L.

Theres a serious lack of aftermarket for my specific model year, theres a crap ton of parts for the 1.8, but jack all for the 2.
I wish there was more of a option for tuning, but who knows how much it would cost to get it done in the end, if I were to get a full REAL tune LOL... I read a forum post of someone paying 800+ USD or more to tune their stock 1.8L, and thats with a ton of trouble of finding a good tuning shop thats dedicated to do it, and knows how to tune these cars.

[Canadian Guitar]

Originally posted by Flukey:

Originally posted by Canadian Guitar:

500 dollars for a real tune with real results, or 135 dollars into the garbage.

If you want some real performance gains for that money, look into an exhaust system, Lightweight pulleys, Ram air intakes, a camshaft.


ALL companies encrypt their ECU's

If I could get those parts I would've already. I already looked up lightweight pulleys, exhausts, and intakes and it took me hours to find one thing. Theres only 2 CAI's out there that are compatiable with my car. And 1 full exhaust system, for a older model year, the 1.8L not the 2.0L.

Theres a serious lack of aftermarket for my specific model year, theres a crap ton of parts for the 1.8, but jack all for the 2.
I wish there was more of a option for tuning, but who knows how much it would cost to get it done in the end, if I were to get a full REAL tune LOL... I read a forum post of someone paying 800+ USD or more to tune their stock 1.8L, and thats with a ton of trouble of finding a good tuning shop thats dedicated to do it, and knows how to tune these cars.

Your best bet, before pissing money away on snakeoil, is find some car culture, either online or in person. I've never owned a Hyundai that I did more than basic repairs to, so I dont know the aftermarket scene for them, but others will. Find out the website's and companies that people trust and recommend. I'm sure you can find something.
I own a Dodge Dart, people hate them, and they were only made for 4 model years, and there's a decent enough sized aftermarket scene for it - I'm sure since your car is still being made there's a market there.



EDIT: You said you want it to handle better, start there then while looking for other companies. Swaybars, and endlinks/stabilizer bars are an inexpensive and easy place to get your feet wet and have something to show for it.

[DoomSlayer]

Originally posted by Sir Dookface McFerretballs:

I've worked in the automotive industry for 20 years now... Performance companies will tell you literally anything to get you to buy their product. Hell they are likely laughing at you for wanting to chip tune a bottom of the line 4cyl Hyundai.

You are just going to waste your money.

And thats why I am being cautious. I didn't buy this chip straight away. I emailed back and forth, waited 3 - 5 months to see if anything pops up about the company, but I kept on seeing threads on forums saying they noticed power gains, and MPG gains using this chip.

I ain't buying a cheap ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, resistor hack. I wouldn't have come no where near this if I had heard 1 person claiming that this is a scam or some ♥♥♥♥.

And this engine does have some capability, I am willing to spend some money on tuning this engine if this doesn't work. I like the engine, idc if its a bottom line 4cyl, its fun to drive since I have the manual not the auto.

My dad had a 2005 hyundai tucson with the 2.7 v6 for 10 years and had zero issues with it. The belt tensioner snapped in half once not while driving but when someone was changing the belt, and the power steering pump died once but those were the only issues through 10 years. He beat the crap out of the thing, drove it hard, and it still ran just fine, with no rust either.

[Canadian Guitar]

Looking around very quickly, I found places that do ECU flashing, and are claiming 10-15 WHP, which is pretty typical for a 2.0 NA I4 engine. There is no one a OBDII plug in chip is going to add double what a properly done ECU Flash is going to do.

[DoomSlayer]

Originally posted by Canadian Guitar:

Originally posted by Flukey:

If I could get those parts I would've already. I already looked up lightweight pulleys, exhausts, and intakes and it took me hours to find one thing. Theres only 2 CAI's out there that are compatiable with my car. And 1 full exhaust system, for a older model year, the 1.8L not the 2.0L.

Theres a serious lack of aftermarket for my specific model year, theres a crap ton of parts for the 1.8, but jack all for the 2.
I wish there was more of a option for tuning, but who knows how much it would cost to get it done in the end, if I were to get a full REAL tune LOL... I read a forum post of someone paying 800+ USD or more to tune their stock 1.8L, and thats with a ton of trouble of finding a good tuning shop thats dedicated to do it, and knows how to tune these cars.

Your best bet, before pissing money away on snakeoil, is find some car culture, either online or in person. I've never owned a Hyundai that I did more than basic repairs to, so I dont know the aftermarket scene for them, but others will. Find out the website's and companies that people trust and recommend. I'm sure you can find something.
I own a Dodge Dart, people hate them, and they were only made for 4 model years, and there's a decent enough sized aftermarket scene for it - I'm sure since your car is still being made there's a market there.



EDIT: You said you want it to handle better, start there then while looking for other companies. Swaybars, and endlinks/stabilizer bars are an inexpensive and easy place to get your feet wet and have something to show for it.

Yes, for the suspension theres a good bit of parts out there for it. I'm probably going to pick up a front and rear swaybar kit and maybe a front strut bar in the future. Not bothering with coilovers though. I need the ground clearence in the winter lol

[Sir Dookface McFerretballs]

Originally posted by Flukey:

Originally posted by Sir Dookface McFerretballs:

I've worked in the automotive industry for 20 years now... Performance companies will tell you literally anything to get you to buy their product. Hell they are likely laughing at you for wanting to chip tune a bottom of the line 4cyl Hyundai.

You are just going to waste your money.

And thats why I am being cautious. I didn't buy this chip straight away. I emailed back and forth, waited 3 - 5 months to see if anything pops up about the company, but I kept on seeing threads on forums saying they noticed power gains, and MPG gains using this chip.

I ain't buying a cheap ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, resistor hack. I wouldn't have come no where near this if I had heard 1 person claiming that this is a scam or some ♥♥♥♥.

And this engine does have some capability, I am willing to spend some money on tuning this engine if this doesn't work. I like the engine, idc if its a bottom line 4cyl, its fun to drive since I have the manual not the auto.

My dad had a 2005 hyundai tucson with the 2.7 v6 for 10 years and had zero issues with it. The belt tensioner snapped in half once not while driving but when someone was changing the belt, and the power steering pump died once but those were the only issues through 10 years. He beat the crap out of the thing, drove it hard, and it still ran just fine, with no rust either.

That is another thing messing with the ECU/ECM will do, is possibly make your car break down sooner.

Your biggest performance gain will come from knowing how to shift better.

You own a basic bottom of the line economy car, it is NOT a race car, and spending tons of money on said car is not worth it when some old guy in a $1500 early 2000s Crown Victoria has twice the horsepower and torque as your car.

If you want the car to stay reliable, don't screw with the computer.

You already got a manual, that's your performance and fun right there.

As others have said, you would be better suited to upgrade your suspension, tires, and brakes.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

air intake and headers easy 10 hp? $200