Many environmentalists have raised concerns that current legislation and rising fuel costs may encourage a mass rush to ditch perfectly good yet slightly older vehicles in favour of the latest, most fuel efficient models.
While consumer intentions may be noble, and while a new fuel efficient vehicle could reduce your daily carbon emissions, the overall cost to the environment could still be considerable. There is no magic formula to weigh up the environmental impact of running an older vehicle compared with selling or disposing it and replacing it with a new one. There are too many varying factors to take into account. If you feel that your current vehicle still has life left in it and you do not feel that selling it right now is the option for you, there is at least one solution that could help.
Engine chipping or remapping is widely known for its performance enhancing abilities but it can also enhance fuel economy. Also known as superchipping, it is designed to adjust power and torque of your engine by rewriting the ECU (electronic control unit) program. The term chipping is rather out of date now; modern cars need software uploaded to adjust their current programs rather than the old fashioned method of installing a microchip on to the circuit board. Effectively the changes remapping makes to a petrol engine is to increase the air flow which allows a better balance of air and fuel. Remapping adjusts data on fuel supply, ignition timing and injector opening times to provide more efficient engine performance. Although it is often said that engine chipping works best on turbo engines, it can be used on almost any car and can deliver improved economy and driving experience. Because remapping improves the responsiveness of the engine, it irons out flat spots and hesitation, giving you a smoother power curve and less wasted fuel.
Sources vary, but some engine remapping companies estimate that power and torque will improve by 50 per cent, others say 35 per cent. Fuel economy improvements are usually estimated between 10 and 20 per cent but of course individual driving style could increase or reduce that figure. The type of car will also affect the figures, turbo diesels are said to benefit the most from remapping, although that should not mean instantly dismissing the procedure for other vehicles. Costing in the region of £150 to £300 to do, fuel savings could be considerable especially with the ever increasing cost of fuel. Motorists may be disappointed to learn that it will not change the road tax band your car falls in, as the rate is judged on the manufacturer’s original figures of the vehicle’s emissions. Other slight downsides are that it could affect your warranty and insurance costs so it may be best to check first.
Faye Sunderland
For more details, try:
http://www.ukchiptuning.com/
