Hello all. I have a 2008 Mazda 3 4 door GT and I'm always reading about computer chips that deliver more HP and better gas milage, etc.. Are these things worth the money ,and, do they cause any engine damage? Any info us appreciated.

 

READ: https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/maz...houghts-29349/ That is still a work in progress.

 

Without delving too deep into the conversation pretty much all of those "chips" are BS..... for the 3 anyway. Even the type of chip which works on other cars wouldn't work as the 3'd computer would end up compensating for it. If you wanted a "power chip" you'd need to end up going with an entire aftermarket control unit.

Also a lot of those chips are just a resistor inside a casing which causes the reading on the MAF to change and theoretically make the car dump more fuel in. Not good for car and not good for gas mileage.

 

I love those ads that claim as much as 60 HP, then you click on for your vehicle and it still says up to 60 HP. The 60 HP is probably for a corvette or camaro or something with a huge engine that is drastically undertuned. Realistically how could a 4 cylinder get up to 60 HP more from a chip----you may get 10 HP (for a proper re-calibrated ECU), but then you would also have to spend extra money on 91 Octane.

 

I bought a tuner for my moms 05 V6 Mustang a few years back, we didnt use it for power but used the economy setting which leaned out the mixture from stock values, as I understand it this version of Mustang runs pretty rich so it can pass emissions (gets cat hotter) without any issues, in my mind I would rather pay for less gas burned than worry about what comes out the tailpipe (burn less fuel you get less "harmful" gasses right? ok maybe NOx goes up a tick) and she does get about 1-3 MPG more, was it worth the $180 I spent at the time? No not yet but maybe in another year at the prices she pays. In the end like Noggin said you WONT get 60HP more on a 4cyl, thats over HALF what my 3's engine produces, a more realistic amount would be around the 1-3HP mark due to different timing and fuel curves but at the expense of fuel economy, and if the 3's ECU does what has been mentioned its not worth it. If you want performance get a sports car, if you want economy get an ecobox, you cant have both, middle ground yes but not good at either.