Hypertech Perfomance Chip--What does it do??

[WNH]

I recently installed a Hypertech High Perfomance Chip.
I felt a difference as soon as I turned the key.
But what exactly does it do???

 

[Edmond]

The only thing a Hypertech chip does is turn the fans on earlier. It doesn't change anything else.

The way to get changes is by ordering a custom burned chip. Jeff, the C4 moderator does that and I bought one from him.

 

[vader86]

It doesnt really do anything besides timing and fan settings.

You dont get nearly as much HP as you think you have.

 

[drags1998]

You almost forgot the delayed converter lock-up,and wrecking the gas mileage!!!!! Other than ,this post and the others above, the ONLY thing you will feel in the seat of your pants is THAT LIGHTENED FEELING IN YOUR WALLET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[drcorvette]

Guess that's why it feels like you have more power. Wallet lighter = less weight in car!!! :L

 

[WNH]

So it looks like I paid $189 for a 'sugar pill'.

I wonder how they get away with the false advertising??

At least my Vette's fan will turn on sooner this summer.
Some price to pay for a fan switch.

 

[Edmond]

So it looks like I paid $189 for a 'sugar pill'.

I wonder how they get away with the false advertising??

At least my Vette's fan will turn on sooner this summer.
Some price to pay for a fan switch.

Is there any way that you can return it?

 

[Skant]

The Hypertech programmer allows you to do a number of things like altering the rev limitter, correcting the speedo, etc.

Seperately, it has a performance tune program that has a more aggressive spark advance. The claim is that the factory settings make an allowance for the car to run on 87 octane fuel. It's not supposed to, but it will tolerate it. In fact, the factory program is more tolerant in general and more compatible with a multitude of mods. The Hypertech program is more aggressive and specific. It requires 93+ octane fuel period. No engine mods allowed other than free flow air intake and exhaust. MAF upgrade (descreening or larger MAF) is specifically listed as something they won't work well with.

For this, they are claiming a small power gain. Like 5hp. And a definate increase in throttle response (which isn't really that useful, but still nice). On some applications they show large increases... particularly on trucks and such. On Corvettes, the gains they are claiming are typically small, but there.

For example, on my LT4, they are claiming an 8hp increase, and they have dyno runs on a stock LT4 running 93 octane gas to prove it. I find that believable. It's not like the 70hp increases some of the exhaust systems claim... it's actually within the realm of real possibility.

I have a pet theory that maybe the folks who are claiming that it does nothing or actually reduces power tried it on an engine with other incompatible modifications or were otherwise outside of the parameters of what it was designed for. But even if it does work, we're not talking about a huge difference here. But probably not bad for the money in terms of bang for buck. Unless you intend to also make modifications in the future that won't be compatible with it.

Hypertech itself says that if you're going to do anything more than these couple of common basic mods, you'll need their custom programming service.

There's also a good number of posts from people on these forums who were pleased with the results they got from Hypertech. So really, I wouldn't toss the thing in the trash or something. At least, not without giving it a proper chance.

 

[WNH]

Skant, Thanks for the post, it makes me feel alot better.

My Vette is completely stock, with an open air lid and K&N filter.

I was sure I felt a difference in performance.

Also, it's not logical that a company like Hypertech can advertise and sell an expensive product to knowledgeable customers for so long and still get away with it.

Another words-the chip must do something.

Thanks again

 

[vader86]

We have dyno and 1/4mi results that show the chip actually costs horsepower and ET.

The Power Programmer is different, its more useful, but its performance settings are equally as worthless.

You would think we could get them for false advertising, but you really cant since they never release the information on their dyno tests. (you dont know if they added a better intake, or intake porting, or exhaust work during the dyno run, so you dont know where the gains come from)

 

[Skant]

Wayne88: Well, in various other applications besides Corvettes Hypertech chips are able to achieve enormous gains. Particularly in vehicles that the factory wasn't trying to setup to be fast that have turbos (ie. trucks). So their relatively lackluster Corvette programmer models may be riding on the fame of their other product lines.

To be sure, I'm not saying whether the Hypertech really works or not. I don't have one yet... it's coming on Monday. I bought it because I need to correct the speedo on my LT4 for a rear gear change to 4.11's. I'm just saying that my research on the net and talking to knowledgable people in person suggests that Hypertech chips do provide some gains for at least some vettes. Hypertech has reasonable claims about why their chips would work, and how much is gained. And I have used similar chips before in other applications with very noticable beneficial effects... so I can verify personally that the basic concept works. But I can't add personal experience to that research with regard to their performance on Corvettes in particular versus the stock factory chip.

I think... since you already have the programmer... you should objectively test it and determine whether it improves your particular vette or not. Either by going to a local track and doing 1/4 mile runs (which is fun anyway, and an excuse to get into it!) or borrowing a friend's G-tech meter (there seem to be lots of them out there) or something like that. The gains that Hypertech is claiming on this application are too small to be really be positively verified by simple 'seat of the pants' feel.


Vader: I'd be interested in seeing this data. The only hard data I've found that showed performance _loss_ from Hypertech chips (on these forums and elsewhere) was on vettes which were not stock in ways that Hypertech says in their own FAQs will not work well with their generic performance tuning programs. If you can show dyno runs or 1/4 mi times from stock cars with and without the Hypertech that show performance loss from it, that would be very pointful.

As far as Hypertech's dyno testing, they have several dyno charts on their site, and they describe their dyno testing method with some detail. So what information are they missing that could be used to prove false advertising exactly?


To be sure, I'm not trying to make an argument that Hypertech works or doesn't work. I'm trying to drill down to the truth. I have conflicting information from various sources that are nominally reputable. So I am neither convinced that it does or does not work. I suspect the reality is that it works sometimes dependent on the particular application (year, engine model) and the particular car. Hypertech says that its programs are the average of ideal programs for several individual examples of a particular application... it's a generic average, so that does imply that some cars will be spot on with it, and some cars won't be so spot on. Hypertech itself says that some cars will respond more favorably than others to their generic programs.

If you read Hypertech's information carefully, they seem to be rather honest about what their product is and what it does. Their online documentation does indicate that their programs may cause detonation or otherwise underperform on particular vehicles. They explain the various whys and issues. Their weaknesses and potential strengths. I'm really not inclined to think they're being dishonest. I think that GM put a lot more effort into the Corvette's stock program than they do for other cars, and it's particularly hard for Hypertech to beat in that application. But they're beating it at least sometimes.

I think it's interesting that Hypertech does not have a dyno run for the LT1... but does have published dyno runs for several other C4 vettes. They do have dyno runs on the LT4, which leads me to believe that they may be effective on my particular model. Since I'm getting one already for another reason, I aught to try it.

 

[Edmond]

Skant,

Our L98's are different from your LT cars. We have a chip that is replaceable. You guys have the reprogrammable CPU. We can't reprogram our CPU's like you guys, we just replace the chip. Wayne has the chip, not a reprogrammable CPU.

The Hypertech Performance Chip is different from the Hypertech Programmer.

 

[Skant]

Didn't catch that it was an earlier year, sorry.

Well, I guess that means you can't custom change parameters like the rev limitter or speedo. The power tune part should still be the same kind of thing though.. just delivered differently.

 

[FX GS]

To be sure, I'm not saying whether the Hypertech really works or not. I don't have one yet... it's coming on Monday. I bought it because I need to correct the speedo on my LT4 for a rear gear change to 4.11's.

I thought the Hypertech was only programmed to up to 4.09's

 

[Skant]

That is true. The Hypertech program goes up to 4.09. However, the difference between 4.11 and 4.09 only equates to a 1/2 mph deviation at 100mph.