10% more horsepower just by reprogramming a chip? In the past few years I have done dozens of performance tunes on the Ecotech engines found on Pontiac Solstices and Saturn SKYs (and other GM vehicles such as the Chevy Cobalt). On weekends, you will most likely find me doing tunes at the track. However, even for daily drivers, a simple ECM tune can make your roadster pop out of the start, give you more control, and increase your gas mileage.
Anybody who has been interested in auto-racing has probably heard a lot of talk about Nitrous. To some it may seem like something incredibly dangerous, and to others it may be the most exciting modification they own. It is true that there are some dangers to using Nitrous Oxide systems, but in reality it should be no more dangerous than any other type of power adder, such as a Turbo or Supercharger. Learning more about Nitrous Oxide Injection will help you decide if this is something worth considering, but at the very least it might be fun to learn a little more about it either way so you can keep up your side of a conversation if one ever arises.
With all of the aftermarket products out there on the market, there may be some confusion as to how all of them work. In my short series of articles, I plan to cover the technical side of how basic aftermarket upgrades benefit your car, and explain the important question: “Why do I need that, and what does it do?”
In this article I will explain the functions of Cold Air Intake systems, but in upcoming articles I will be covering Exhaust Systems, Ignition, and Forced Induction.
GM's highly evolved LNF engine, which is the 2.0L Turbocharged motor found in the Saturn SKY Red Line and the Pontiac Solstice GXP, just grew in stature a bit within the broader GM enthusiast community.
As many people know, I began my tuning career working with earlier generation Ecotec engines found on Chevy Cobalts and Saturn Ions before I began working with SKYs and Solstices. For the Cobalt community, the performance engine option offered by the factory was the LSJ, a close cousin to Sky/Solstice engine that was "super"-charged instead of turbo-charged. However, GM recently annouced the retirement of the LSJ, although they didn't leave GM enthusiasts much time to grieve before that short lived motor was quickly replaced with the turbocharged LNF.
With the high performance GXP / Red Line 2.0L Ecotec engine comes several more capabilities, but does it truly address all of the issues with the previous motor, or are there still some naggine problems? In my evaluation, there are a lot of obvious changes to the appearance of the new LNF compared to the LSJ, but there are also a lot of changes that cannot be seen from the engine compartment which deserve more detailed analysis (and appreciation).
All modern automobile engines are controlled by computers, which is why traditional tune-ups are nearly a thing of the past. However, most engine computers are programmed at the factory with "granny controls" to make insure that the operator will not lose control and that the vehicle will have limited stress on it's components.
So, if your roadster doesn't "pop" out of the start like you think it should, it is because GM is is more worried about their new 100,000 mile drive-train warranty than they are about giving you the full performance that the vehicle is capable of, or even giving you the best possible gas mileage.
For people who just spent $30,000+ on a performance roadster, the very existance of "granny controls" are a real disappointment. The solution? Reprogram the computer, take off the granny controls, and tune for best possible performance and gas mileage.
Anybody who has been interested in auto-racing has probably heard a lot of talk about Nitrous. To some it may seem like something incredibly dangerous, and to others it may be the most exciting modification they own. It is true that there are some dangers to using Nitrous Oxide systems, but in reality it should be no more dangerous than any other type of power adder, such as a Turbo or Supercharger. Learning more about Nitrous Oxide Injection will help you decide if this is something worth considering, but at the very least it might be fun to learn a little more about it either way so you can keep up your side of a conversation if one ever arises.
With all of the aftermarket products out there on the market, there may be some confusion as to how all of them work. In my short series of articles, I plan to cover the technical side of how basic aftermarket upgrades benefit your car, and explain the important question: “Why do I need that, and what does it do?”
All modern automobile engines are controlled by computers, which is why traditional tune-ups are nearly a thing of the past. However, most engine computers are programmed at the factory with "granny controls" to make insure that the operator will not lose control and that the vehicle will have limited stress on it's components.
