Custom Chip Tuning: Improve Engine Performance

Hello,

1.
Is it possible to request a specific torque curve from a tuner? The 100-horsepower PD engine produces 240 Nm of torque. However, at 4000 RPM, it only produces 74/4000 * 9550 = 177 Nm. Wouldn't it be possible to increase this value to 240 Nm? A drop in power afterwards would be acceptable. If this were achieved, we would have 240 Nm of torque from 1800 to 4000 RPM, which would equate to 100 kW = 134 horsepower (at 4000 RPM).

2.
What is 'more harmful'? A chip tuning like the one described in '1.' or increasing the maximum torque at low RPMs? Theoretically, you could also achieve 300 Nm at 1800 RPM while keeping the 74 kW, resulting in 177 Nm at 4000 RPM.
You can imagine the two torque curves, right?

Best regards,

Adrian.

PS: By 'harmful,' I mean the lifespan of the vehicle's components (engine, transmission, etc.) in everyday use. So, no racetrack driving, no street racing between VWs and Opels, no power struggles on the highway... Just normal, everyday driving.

Hi!

There are tuners that allow you to select from different chip settings/torque curves. However, they only offer one setting that is TÜV-approved. All other settings are intended for racing purposes only.

When increasing the torque, you'll experience increased stress on the bearings (they can handle it, but it's not ideal), the clutch (which is already critical), the transmission (which sometimes makes noises), and the tires (which will make the tire dealer happy).
When increasing power (more Nm at higher RPMs), you experience increased thermal stress in the engine. Excessive chip tuning can lead to a loss of reliability and may require measures for better cooling, such as an oil cooler.
Many people are already using performance chips. If you use them responsibly, nothing will happen. I'm not talking about driving at full throttle for hours. You can definitely accelerate quickly, but not for too long. Properly installed and well-designed chips are also durable and won't break, even with constant full throttle.
You're sure to enjoy the TÜV chip, and – assuming it's properly installed – you shouldn't experience any problems. I would definitely recommend it.

Best regards,
Uwe

Hi,

Before my current Golf 4 TDI ALH, I had a Golf 3 TDI, also with 90 horsepower. The older model had a proper TDI torque curve. It was really fun to accelerate with it.
With the new one, I have the feeling that it has been adjusted to the torque curve of gasoline engines in order to achieve the most even and smooth acceleration throughout the entire speed range. As a result, it has lost a significant amount of bite and driving pleasure .

I won't buy that again...

Regards,

Eike.

eike wrote:

... Before my current Golf 4 TDI ALH, I had a Golf 3 TDI, also with 90 horsepower. The older model had a proper TDI torque curve. It was really fun to accelerate with it. With the new one, I have the feeling that it has been adjusted to the torque curve of gasoline engines in order to achieve the most even and smooth acceleration throughout the entire speed range. As a result, it has lost a significant amount of bite and driving pleasure . I won't buy that again... ...

Hi Eike,

I believe the torque curve in the new TDIs was designed to protect the transmission and drive shafts, not to match the torque curve of gasoline engines.
Try performing quick gear changes when accelerating. In my 1Z model, the engine-transmission unit would frequently slip. With the AXR engine, you'll initially notice a loss of power after shifting, but then the power is smoothly and gradually increased (even at high RPMs).

Hello Adrian,

Adrian wrote:

1. Is that possible? Can you request a specific torque curve from a tuner?

You can purchase an open-source engine control unit (ECU) and program it yourself. You can read the existing chip and use it as a base, then modify it. By experimenting, you can see if it works, and then fine-tune it on a test bench.

Regards,
Thomas.

great answer.
Which program would you like to use to edit a 16-bit dataset?
With what method will you align the checksums after the changes?

What are the different fields for, and what do they do? Oh, and just try it out. Nothing will break.

*shakes head*

How can someone be so naive?

It's probably logical to assume that it's not easy. However, if you want a custom tuning job, you either have to pay a tuner a significant amount of money, or perhaps take a bit of a risk. For example, you could buy an old car without an immobilizer or similar features and try experimenting.
The basic, open-source devices cost approximately €1500 and only read specific data. The corresponding software is included. A detailed user manual is provided, and if needed, introductory training and support for implementation are also available.
What do you think about how some (backyard) tuners operate? Do you think they really know what they're doing?