Has anybody put a chip in their dmax?

bill12 · Guru

Has anybody put a chip in their dmax?

Bass · Senior Member

Hi Bill, I chiped my 2011 D Max, steinbaur, then ramped it up from factory standard. dyno 149kw. I had the car for another 50k before selling it and as far as I know it is still chipped as I left it.
Didn't notice any difference in fuel one way or other, no difference in oil, but did enjoy the extra power ( our van is 2.9t ). also noticed better in bush especially in low range.
A mate has a stienbaur in his and is happy with it.

Cheers bass.

banjo · Senior Member

Steinbauer are one of the better safer options but very expensive, a far better idea is to have the ECU reflashed and dyno the vehicle for best results.

Cheaper and a far better option, no piggy backing chips needed.

These guys did my Isuzu, ecuwest.com.au but they have dealers all around Australia. Simple proceedure takes around 2 hours all up and the difference is amazing.

macka17 · Guru

Hi.
My 2010 model is chipped. NOT Steinbaur or the other over priced units.

Mate has same model D Max. same size van Steinbaur chip.
Results similar, I get better economy. $460 V 1200+ ??.
Over 2 yrs now..

Most chips made in 1 of three or four factory's in the world
then labeled and set up to suit differing buyers.
Different buyers add own pricing to same chips.
To Suit their greed methink's.

Go the Flash. With a REPUTABLE Dealer. They vary.
and do a lot more than just fuel rail Timing and turbo.

Let's see if this one goes through and not cyber space hey...

bill12 · Guru

They do seem abit overpriced. Even the ecu remapping is $1400.I will have a look around before deciding. Thanks.

Delta18 · Guru

I have a chip that I had in my MN 2101 Triton. As I was trading to my 2015 D-Max I sent the chip back to be adjusted to suit the D-Max.

Once I took delivery & did some driving with & without my 3T caravan I decided the car doesn't need a chip. The torque is there at a usable rev range such that it is not required.

Last trip, 12,000km with the van we averaged 13 - 14 L/100km (calculated at the pump) so I'm happy with that.

Neil

patrol03 · Senior Member

It is my firm opinion that if you need to chip your engine then you have made a bad choice in purchasing an underpowered vehicle for the task at hand. You can't beat cubic capacity and horsepower

Delta18 · Guru

patrol03 wrote:
It is my firm opinion that if you need to chip your engine then you have made a bad choice in purchasing an underpowered vehicle for the task at hand. You can't beat cubic capacity and horsepower

To a degree, horsepower is not much good for towing though, torque available low down in the revs is king.

macka17 · Guru

I've had 2 Patrols. GQ\GU 3 ltr.

GQ fabulous, as a 4wd. Thirsty (petrol) as a tug.
One return trip with van from Darwin to Adelaide back in 2000
showed me that. Sluuuuurp.

GU is a great tug with 3 ltr.
but with 6.5mtr off roader. a little bit of a slug on hills and head winds.

Tuned exhaust (2.5 and 2 3\4 in tubes with no silencer fixed part of that.
Then a current chip (03) finished the job.

Much better economy. as less throttle used.
Left all earlier 100 and 80 ser Tojo's behind on hills. With and without van.

The chip and exhaust. using as a tug on near 3 ton is necessary and pays for itself in fuel alone.
Not counting ease and mental security.

Over 13 plus yrs.
averages. 6.5kmph at road speeds. More on hills and wind obviously, Towing.
By itself at road speeds av 9.4\9.6kmpl, again more on hills etc. at all road speeds.
Prev 17ft6, Compass, Semi ofroader. (1.45 ton plus tanks)
Didn't hardly know it on back,

If you have PAtrol AUTO..
Install a Torque Converter Lockup. makes a different veh.
Does to my 2010 Auto D'Max too.

I have chip on mine set to near min.
ALL at bottom end of veh. I never use more than 1\2 to 1 in max of pedal.

Gives me, on Guages. averages of around 7.4\7.6 ltr p 100. and locally in town down around 6.3\6.5 ltrs per 100
High speed on highway. never over 8.2 per 100 (9.5sh kmpl)Up to 120km's.
Measured at pump. Mileage V Fuel added to tank.

Patrol03.

ALL veh's apart from last model of the current ser. are tuned "from Factory" BELOW capacity.

So they CAN update to the last model released.

Your '03? model Patrol WILL go a lot better. towing if you have it exh and chipped.
I guarantee it,

Get on the "PATROL FORUMS" and read a bit from people using.

And after 13 plus yrs. MINE never missed a beat. towing 3 plus months every yr.

-- Edited by macka17 on Thursday 22nd of December 2016 11:34:44 PM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

This is a bit of a long read ... but offered as food for thought -

https://outbackjoe.com/macho-divertissement/macho-articles/why-no-diesel-chip/

Cheers - John

warhorse · Senior Member

to get the best performance from a chip or remap usually involves modifying exhaust=more noise...for me, no thanks...if it aint broke dont fix it. regards ray

patrol03 · Senior Member

Thanks for that Guru but I updated to a 5.6l Y62 about 2 years ago.Just great on the road towing or cruising.Fuel burn not as bad as some make out.I get 22l/100 towing 2.5t full van and 13 on hwy without. Gu sits in the shed and goes to golf a couple of times a week,still a great vehicle.

Jenko1 · Veteran Member

warhorse wrote:
to get the best performance from a chip or remap usually involves modifying exhaust=more noise...for me, no thanks...if it aint broke dont fix it. regards ray

I'm on a few other forums where blokes have done before & after dyno runs when they installed their 3" exhausts and there was absolutely NO horspower gain at all. One guy said "it just sounds like it goes harder" out on the road....I'm too old for loud exhausts and like Warhorse, don't want to listen to a droning exhaust all day.
Another fallacy you read quite often is snorkles give more power....if you rekon they do, post up a B&A dyno.

-- Edited by Jenko1 on Tuesday 27th of December 2016 11:55:12 AM

Dickodownunder · Guru

Jenko1 wrote:
warhorse wrote:
to get the best performance from a chip or remap usually involves modifying exhaust=more noise...for me, no thanks...if it aint broke dont fix it. regards ray
I'm on a few other forums where blokes have done before & after dyno runs when they installed their 3" exhausts and there was absolutely NO horspower gain at all. One guy said "it just sounds like it goes harder" out on the road....I'm too old for loud exhausts and like Warhorse, don't want to listen to a droning exhaust all day.
Another fallacy you read quite often is snorkles give more power....if you rekon they do, post up a B&A dyno.

-- Edited by Jenko1 on Tuesday 27th of December 2016 11:55:12 AM

Got to agree with this but only my personal opinion.

For the cost for the gain if any, Dyno Figures only, is it worth it?

Most of the current vehicles tow quite well provided you are not overloading them and fuel economy figures arent necessarily that accurate as a comparison due to inaccurate speedometers, tyre sizes, tyre pressures, varying skills from different drivers, weather, fuel quality, etc.

A convertor lock up kit if towing is far cheaper than than exhausts and chips and will give you a genuine increase in fuel economy when towing provided of course that your vehicle is an auto.

Some diesel vehicles respond quite well to turbo modifications as well which could be another consideration.

-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Tuesday 27th of December 2016 05:37:18 PM

macka17 · Guru

everybody different. with views and opinions.

My last 2 veh's , both tugs, have been chipped and exhausted. after buying standard and changing later.

----------------------

THE WAY I DRIVE THEM..

Both gave better economy, both had more torque on same hills,climbs
with same vans.

Both had snorkels. But I only fitted them to get cooler air intake, Maybe.
and more waterproofing if I ever go wading.

First one was results from first yr or so. compared to following 12 yrs or so with same rig\driver.

Second one still ongoing. But definitely better economy, with and without van.
Torque. ???, but comes on tap sooner.
The D-Max tows well anyway within it's range. 2.5ton max.