As for fuel efficiency, yes, it will use fuel more efficiently but ultimately power comes from fuel burnt. Want more power-burn more fuel. If you drive at the same sppeds and accelerate at the same rates the higher state-of-tune engine may actually be more economical due to a marginally more efficient burn but you wont drive like that, will you? You want the power for a reason and that reason is, unless I am completely wrong, mainly improved acceleration and that is where you will get the benefits of the extra power and the downside of drinking like a squaddie at all-you-can-drink-for-ten-quid night.

As for premature wear, it is pretty much a straight line graph - increase power output by 20% and expect 20% faster wear rates on all engine components that are routinely subject to wear through pressure.

Consider also the rest of the drive train. You are potentially putting more than the design specifications through the clutch, gearbox, drive shaft(s), CV joints and tires. All will wear out faster but maybe not so fast that you will notice (although I would bet on you noticing the faster tyre wear fairly fast).

Have you also considered that you might want to improve the suspension and brakes before/at the same time as you increase the available acceleration and top speed. Its all very well going fast in straight lines but......................

Bloke,

I never said I wasn't going to drive like a loon!!! :D

I know what you mean, there are fuel efficiency savings to be made, but I also doubt that I will see them. Whilst I will drive carefully and considerately when I have my little on in the car, when I'm 'home alone' as it were I will return to factory settings and get the hammer down, otherwise what's the point in being a bloke?

Life's too short.........

Originally Posted by whosthedaddy

Jagman, thanks mate, much appreciated.

Bloke, I'm not so sure about increased fuel use, as the claim by everyone is that it will actually improve fuel efficiency, due to an improved power curve and less revs required for the same speed. Same allegedly goes for engine wear as they claim to only imprve output within set tolerances of engine parts, not so excessive as to blow the engine apart. But thanks for the input, it's exactly this kind of stuff I want to iron out in my head before I go ahead with it.

The vehicle is not still under warranty, being a 55 plate.

You have swallowed the manufacturer's blurb, haven't you?

Your speed is directly linked to the number of engine revolutions; no chip will alter that. If you want to change that, change the gearbox.

Engine wear depends on lots of things but mainly on the quality of the engine oil and the amount of stress on the engine. Increase the amount of stress on the engine as you plan and wear will increase somewhere. Whether that is sufficient to break the engine within a reasonable lifespan is a question that can only be answered by the company's engineers.

My attitude to chipping has always been that, if the manufacturer thought it could get away with a more powerful engine, it would do so. But, what the manufacturer wants is reliability and economy, so it doesn't rate the engine at its maximum output.

You will increase both the power output and fuel consumption. You might increase your top speed because there might be more torque at the top end of the rev range. If you take advantage of the increased power, you will reduce the life of the engine.

Litotes

If you live close to, or are prepared to travel then contact THORNEY MOTORSPORT in Milton Keynes.

There are an appproved Vauxhall Garage (Masterfit servicing and engine mods etc, but not car sales), and well known in the motor racing world. They race VX,s and BMW's.

They may not be the cheapest.

I use them to service my Vauxhall Corsa and I have had no problems with them, unlike the other Vauxhall dealer in MK.

Contact; 01908 238798
Email; info@thorneymotorsport.co.uk
Web; www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk

Hope this is useful

DB, cheers mate, might be a bit far.

Litotes, the reason they don't squeeze the extra power out is mainly for tax reasons. Road tax in most countires is linked to either BHP or emissions. I have a vectra, the vast majority of which are snapped up as company cars, companies don't like spending money on taxing cars, hence keeping the power below a certain point.

Allegedly,

Don't forget that this could also invalidate your insurance unless you inform them.

Whosthedaddy try Celtic Tuning mate. They travel nationwide just about and have a very good rep. My Dad had two cars done by them and was happy both times, as long as you service the car as you normally would and keep an eye on the oil (normal in diesels anyway I'm sure you'll agree) then you should be fine. His 1.9 tdi passat went from 115bhp to 150 bhp and his TT from 180bhp to 220bhp. Also if you don't like it after a week or two they'll come and take it back out. Do a serch under google and you'll find them, I think they operate out of Newquay way.

Hope this helps!! :D