Will a Superchip give smoother running?

[Ed]

My car is far from a smooth drive. I have been in other cars with my engine (Cav GSI) which have superchips, and the ride is far smoother. I know that superchips do not necassarily give a performance increase, but do they guarantee a smoother drive? Has anyone noticed this after getting a superchip? Before anyone recommends the unichip please bear in mind I am only after a smoother ride, and not too interested in bhp increase.

[Richie]

I very much doubt its your ECU thats giving you the problem. I would get the rest checked first of all eg idle control valves, induction kits etc .

What exactly is not smooth about it ?? the idle ?? acceleration ??

[Ed]

Well it used to kangaroo a hell of a lot until I did the "breather mod". Now it's just a bit jolty on gear change, and backing off the gas. I do have a cone filter if that is to blame. i wondered about superchips cause they claim to give smoother running throughout the gears. It's not really that much of a problem, it's just a bit annoying compared to my mates cars.

[Richie]

The breather mod will help but I would try and remove the cone filter in favour of a replacement panel filter to see if that fixes it for you.

[Rob_S]

if you are looking for an excuse to chip your car go for it!!!
but you could try putting a shield between your cone and manifold and another pipe for cold air to the filter too. change the filter for the block's breather too, see if that helps.

[lee may]

Superchiping my 1990 cav gsi did make it smoother. It new rev's like an 8v at lower speed and then like a 16v at higher speed. I would recomend getting it done.

[tomstickland]

I was talking to the bloke at the local tuning place about superchips. When I described the jerky overrun of my 8v engine he said "fuel cut of valve, superchip will fix that". I assume that he is referring to the way that the ECU cuts of most of the fuel when it detects near engine idle. Maybe superchips have refined it a bit.
As to your problem, I wouldn't expect a chip to be the whole story.

[trebor]

Exactly, the Superchip overides the overrun, increases the fuelling slightly through the rev range (MASKING any problems there might be).

[Adam]

hmmmmmmmmm......well im in the process of saving for a unichip myself...i was told superchips are pants not just for the bhp increase..sozzzz best i keep saving for that 400 squids

[Adam]

hmmmmmmmmm......well im in the process of saving for a unichip myself...i was told superchips are pants not just for the bhp increase..sozzzz best i keep saving for that 400 squids [img]http://cgi.dohc.co.uk/gallery/data/adams_cav_gsi.jpg[img]

[Adam]

hmmmmmmmmm......well im in the process of saving for a unichip myself...i was told superchips are pants not just for the bhp increase..sozzzz best i keep saving for that 400 squids

[pudsey]

For smoother gear changes, you could try an ecotek valve, www.ecotekplc.com £40 compared to £300, cant go wrong!! Only problem is that you lose a lot of engine braking. A quick snip of your brake servo hose, connection, setup and your done.

[Rob_S]

YOU LOSE A LOT OF ENGINE BRAKING??????????? SINCE WHEN???

NOT MEANT TO HAPPEN!!!!!

[pudsey]

It relieves excess vacuum in the inlet manifold, still keeping enough for the braking system. OK, you dont lose a great deal, but its enough. The ride is smoother.

[Rob_S]

i have lost absolutely no braking power at all and the car is smoother. i did the ecotek thing b4 my big brake conv too. it does not affect the brakes in the slightest

[pudsey]

I didnt say it affected the braking system itself, when you are slowing down by changing down a gear then taking your foot off the clutch, it doesnt slow down as much as it would without the valve. like changing from 4th to 2nd for a corner.

[Rob_S]

oh crap...i stare at this monitor too much, i am going cross eyed. sorry mate you are right, but have you driven a ford focus? thats dangerous!! no engine braking whatsoever!!! fun eh

[pudsey]

I wouldnt step in a ford, never mind drive one!!

[trebor]

Ok, someone tell me why letting in more (unfiltered) air into engine after the airflow meter / carb, makes the car smoother???

Unless the engine is running rich in the first place...

[Rob_S]

its one of those little gimmiky plastic things that actually works. it bleeds in a small amount of air from the brake servo vacuum pipe back into the plenum. this air is filtered in in bursts to make it turbulent. turbulent air mixes looooads better with stuff like petrol and so the burn is more efficient. it also alleviates a small amount of pressure from the top end as a byproduct hence if cured my slight kangarooing and i presume why the engine braking can be affacted, but mine wasnt noticibly different.
www.cleanburn.co.uk

[trebor]

I know what it is and they do let in unfiltered air unless you purchase the optional Pipercross filter.

Ought to try one myself to see if it makes a difference or not seeing as you can get your money back (keeping an open mind here!)