Powerchip

[joey]

For those that are curious or may just want to know... I just sent my ECU off to be upgraded by PowerChip in California. Cost $390 plus shipping. I will let you know within the next month (currently it is sitting at my Dad's house waiting for the ECU to come back, and I am 3 hours away using his car (I don't think he was happy to learn it may be 2 weeks before I get home again).

I will let everyone know how it goes as soon as I get it installed and check it for fuel economy and power.

 

[DiscoveryLover]

What kind of upgrade are you having done to your ECU? Their 'regular' upgrade for what Octane gas you run, or more specific to how you have your rover setup?

 

[joey]

I had them tune the ECU chip to my Rover with the Headers, and cold air intake... I also had them turn off the 113 mph speed limiter (so the VSS issue will go away, at least until the speed 'o' dies). I also had them turn off the rear O2 sensors.

I am hoping for better fuel economy (more of a wish) and better performance out of my existing mods.

 

[DiscoveryLover]

I didn't know they could do that much different programming to the ECU. Hopefully it proves beneficial.

 

[joey]

Install Update.

First let me say that this has only been installed since Saturday Morning and I have driven it around about 25 to 30 miles around Cambridge OH, then today I made a 163 miles interstate trip in Ohio from Cambridge to Cincinnati OH.

First impressions was it has a lot smoother idle, I also notice smoother mid-range response. I didn't really notice any major power increases (local driving).

Then for the interstate driving, I notice that it maintained cruise speeds much better up and down hill (remember Ohio is more rolling hills then the mountains I was used to in WV). I also noticed when I did have to accelerate to speed or pass the kick down was there much faster as well as speed to pass was there, vice not really there prior to. I set the cruise on 65 MPH (remember OH is 65 Speed limit), I also wanted a base line for this test. My last trip from Cincinnati to Cambridge yielded a whopping 13MPG at 65 MPH. Keep in mind that I am currently running 245/75/16 tires I have a 300+ lb front bumper and RTE Running boards w/ Nerf bars, i.e. 100+ lbs per side.

Now for the really exiting news.... I filled up in Cambridge just before getting on the interstate and topped it off till it started to run out of the fuel fill. 163 Miles later I got off the interstate at exit 12 in Cincinnati on I-71, I stopped and filled it back up and it took a total of 8.492 gallons. Unless I did some bad math I came up with 19.20 MPG. Not bad for the first run.

You must also keep in mind that I have a very free flowing exhaust and cold air intake. I will update this later this week with town/highway numbers.

 

[Disco Squared]

.... I filled up in Cambridge just before getting on the interstate and topped it off till it started to run out of the fuel fill. 163 Miles later I got off the interstate at exit 12 in Cincinnati on I-71, I stopped and filled it back up and it took a total of 8.492 gallons. Unless I did some bad math I came up with 19.20 MPG. Not bad for the first run.

Wow! 19 MPG would make that $400 price tag easier to swallow for me. Looking forward to hear about your average city MPG too.
I've got a CAI, Magnaflow muffler w/o resonator and stock cats. Do you think this is free flowing enough to reap the benefits of an ECU upgrade?

 

[joey]

I am sure if you don't drive it like you stole it.... or stop light to stop light racing I would say that should work very well....

I will be doing a lot of in town/highway driving this week here in the Cincinnati OH/Covington KY area, so I will let you know how well the MPG update goes.

I know I was happy to see the 19+ MPG on the drive down.

 

[joey]

Got an in town update.

Driving around the Cincinnati Ohio/Covington KY area the last couple days I have put on 151 miles on this tank, then filled back up. Of this driving I would say it was 60% hard Highway mile (i.e. hard acceleration and passing) and 40% in town stop and go traffic.

So here goes and I am calculating this as I type. 151 miles at 11.48 Gallons = 13.15 MPG... doesn't sound the best, but remember I have been driving it real hard for a couple of days. I don't think this is too bad considering.

 

[DiscoveryLover]

Looks like you've benefited from it so far. I'm sure if you were hot rodding it with the original ECU, you'll MPG would have been less.

 

[joey]

I am sure of it... when I used to drive it this hard I would be lucky to get 10 MPG... if that means anything.