I've been waiting to do fuel-consumption figures on the Prado for you but haven't needed to fill up yet. I thought I'd give you initial feedback but I'll try to do some consumption figures and go for a nice beach run sometime in the next few weeks around Xmas / New year then give you more detailed feedback.

The Prado 90 series 3.0L turbodiesel has really improved significantly - the "feel" reflects the increase in numbers. I can feel the difference - it's quite obvious. The turbodiesel was always nicer with the auto transmission with minimal turbo lag. Getting away from the lights the Prado is now quite quick off the mark, and really starts pulling from 2000rpm onwards. In addition, at highway speeds, the overtaking also is much better. Prior to the upgrade, the 3.0 TD would run out of breath around 3000+ rpm but now it keeps pulling fairly well up to 4000rpm. Much better for overtaking.

It can accelerate pretty well from 110kph upwards up to 140kph and would probably keep going a bit further BUT **ahem** I haven't tried to take it beyond that for obvious legal reasons.

I've left the setting at the middle pins ie "standard".

Fuel consumption hasn't changed much just watching the fuel-gauge (ie in my usual week's driving it's still moving down about the same rate). I will do those figures at some stage and let you know. They will be with driving for "enjoyment" too... I'm sure if I drove for economy it would be as good as or better consumption.

One thing also is that the performance difference becomes really noticeable once the engine is nicely warmed up, say around 5 minutes driving. Interesting?

Rob Robson took it for a test drive after fitting. The only thing is it took Robson's 2 hours rather than the expected one hour. Rob thinks it would take around 1.5 hours for the next Prado even now that they're familiar with it. He's a top bloke and only charged me one hour since that's what I was expecting.

I'd strongly recommend Robson Brothers 4WD to anyone else because they are honest, very well equipped (easily as big as most dealer workshops) and nice blokes. Also, they're independent so would support anything that they think is decent gear.

Regards

Kay-Vin Lan

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Andrew,

Just a quick note to let you know how it's going. The truck is running beautifully now after you looked at it and what a great improvement the chip makes. I've been keeping a rough log on my consumption and I'm definitely saving fuel about 1 to 2 L per hundred better. The extra power when I'm loaded is great and the truck just wants to move now. A great change from before. Thanks alot and catch up with you next time I'm through your way.

cheers,
Garron Aitken

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Vehicle: Mack Midlum dc760

The DPCHIP is a great performer the truck has improved out of sight on the Brisbane she runs up the hills like they were not there. I can do the Richmond to Brisbane via the New England Highway much quicker than the Pacific Highway this is due to the climbs on the New England she powers up them hills.

Cheers Chris Sexton

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Hi,

Just thought I'd drop you a line to let you klnow how impressed I am with the DPChip in my Golf. My consumption has dropped from 5.5L per hundred down to 4.7km per hundred which is absolutely amazing when you consider this was with 5 people in the vehicle and aircon on travelling at 110ks on the highway. This is about a 15 percent increase in fuel economy which is incredible consdiering the Golf already runs on the smell of an oily rag. Thank you so much.
Garry Berry.

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27/9/2006
The Manager
DP Chips.

Dear Andrew,

So am I happy with the chip. Yes! The Landcruiser is a different vehicle. It tows much better and the gear changing is faster and more responsive to the conditions being encounter. Before the modification, the cruiser with the van would not tow between 80 km/h and 90 km/h without hunting up and down between the gears. It now tows in 5^th gear unless a steep hill is reached where it smartly steps down to 4^th and stays there until it is appropriate to step up. The old problem is still evident across a very small speed range around 75 km/h. I had to deliberately look for the speed range and most drivers would not notice it.

It is very hard to quantify the exact results of the chip on the road as the road and conditions are always different. I can state that there has been an improvement in fuel economy. Around town I believe the improvement is about 0.5 L / Km. not a great deal but considering the other benefits this is a bonus. On a trip; from the data it can be seen that the Grampians trip before the modification delivered slightly better fuel economy than the Lawn Hill Trip.  But this I believe does not present a true picture for the following reasons;

• The Grampians trip was mainly bitumen roads and there was a good proportion of the trip where the van was left in a caravan park and the Cruiser was used to travel to the places where we wished to go on day trips.
• The Lawn Hill trip was a lot of dirt roads all with the caravan attached. This included 22kms of wet “black soil” which was traversed in low range gears and traction control lights flashing all the time. (No it was not planned, It rained after we left Normonton on our way to Bourketown and it was either push on or be stranded)
• The Grampians trip was mainly flat open roads through the back of New South Wales and Victoria .
• The Lawn Hill trip included 1500km driving along the top of the Great Dividing Range on our way to the Atherton tableland.

I would like to close by recommend your agent here in Capalaba, Mike Vine of Mike Vine Turbos. Mike spent several hours helping me make a decision and did an excellent job of installing and tuning the chip and exhaust system.

If I can be of any help or if you wish to receive updates on further trips Please let me know. I will be keeping the fuel record for my own benefit and you are welcome to copies if it helps.

I have no problem in you using the data for your own purposes but I would appreciate it be published as a user rather than a specific person. In say that I would be happy to talk to any of your customers that are having the same issues; I had, if it would make their life easier.

George

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November 2006 - via 3 page fax from a very happy Frank Wood of Sylvania in Sydney.

Dear Sirs,

Re DPChip & Improved Performance

I have recently returned from a 21,500km trip towing a van behind my 2004 Pajero diesel. You may recall having fitted a DPChip to my vehicle on June 1st of this year.

I am very satisfied with the all around performance of my vehicle - extra torque and fuel economy - now that the DPChip has been installed.

Some facts & figures:

• Total distance travelled - 21,479 km
• Total litres of fuel used - 3017 Lt
• Total cost of fuel used - $4337.02
• Average cost of fuel per litre - $1.43
• Fuel consumption per litre - 7.12 km

For your information I carried out some tests to satisfy myself that the DPChip works. To do so I carried out such tests on different days under various weather conditions ie. driving into a strong head wind; a side draft wind etc. On each such test day I experimented with the DPChip connected and disconnedted, but on all such occassions I had the caravan being towed attached.

DPChip Performance Comparison

"The Rig" 2004 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 DiD Automatic, towing a 2004 Coromal caravan - tare weight of van = 1380kg.
Cruising speed 98 kmph @ 2000 rpm - on cruise control.

Example 1: July 3rd 2006

Sydney to Wagga Wagga - with DPChip connected.

476 km travelled / fuel used 72.04 ltrs = 6.607 km per ltr

Wagga to Hay July 3rd 2006 - Chip disconnected

281 km travelled / fuel used 47.43 ltrs = 5.92 km per ltr

In the above example the DPChip returned .687 km per litre better fuel economy.

Example 2: July 13th 2006

Coober Pedy to Erldunda Roadhouse - NB. Very strong winds all day.

Coober Pedy to Roxbery Downs to Marla Roadhouse - with DPChip connected.

241 km travelled / fuel used 42.41 ltrs = 5.68 km per ltr

Marla to Erldunda Roadhouse - Chip disconnected

299 km travelled / fuel used 50.40 ltrs = 5.13 km per ltr

In the above example the DPChip returned .55 km per litre better fuel economy.

Having carried out such tests I was and still am satisfied that the DPChip was a good investment. Of the 21, 479 km distance travelled, 70% with the van on, fuel consumption averaged 7.1174 km per litre. Averaging examples 1 & 2 above the improved fuel economy would be .618 km per litre.

Another benefit of the DPChip is that of the increased torque while towing.

NB. On most days and under all conditions I drove with the vehicle in cruise control mode, experimenting to ascertain the maximum cruising speed at 2000 rpm (this varied between 93 - 102 kmph depending on the wind)

The increased torque allowed the auto transmission to stay in 5th gear and 'Push'. Some times the rpm increased but the vehicle stayed in 5th gearto a maximum of 2500 rpm, not dropping down to 3rd or 4th gear and roaring in rpms as it used to do prior to the DPChip being fitted.

The result of the extra torque is similar to having an extra 1/2 gear under towing conditions. Needless to say, it delivers similar improvements without the van attached.

I am pleased with my DPChip. The improved fuel economy has paid the purchase price on this trip alone.

Yours faithfully,
Frank Wood

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From BMW X5 Owner - Posted on X5 World.com Forum.

I managed to get in some testing done as follows.

Position No. 5 is an ok improvement for acceleration and still pulls strong through the gears.

Position No. 9 has the most obvious power increase but will smoke a little more than standard. Did not feel a lot more different that Pos. 8.

Position No.s 7-8 seems to suit my driving without sooting up the rear too much. This also gives me an extra small amount of power if I need it or get used to it.

Fuel economy is practically the same if only .1/Ltr. better, which is great considering the hard driving I've done all week.

I could only notice any extra smoke at night from the other car lights in the mirror, under flat acceleration on pos. No. 8.

The engine felt slightly rougher under hard acceleration but it could be in my head because I'm paying more attention to it. I intend to disconnect it and note any change.

Gear changing in auto improved with 1st to 2nd changes quicker. I haven't timed 0-100km/h yet.

The hill climbing torque is simply amazing and my favourite feature.

Overall my X5 feels more nimble and confident. With the power coming on early it makes the engine feel bigger than just 3.0ltrs.

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Another post from another happy customer at X5 world.com.

The DPChip is great!! I had the guys from TJM at Geebung fit mine a couple of months ago.

Currently I have the pre-face lifted 3.0d X5 sport and the performance is much better than a stock 2006 3.0d X5.

My engine felt like a bit of a freak motor even before I had the chip installed....now with the chip it just wants to break traction everytime I plant my foot.

By the way I run the DPchip on postion 6, no black smoke and redlines very quickly = fun to drive!!!

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Via email - Jan 07
Just wanted to let you know that I called into Berrima last Wednesday and purchased a DP Chip for my vehicle. I was able to fit it later that day and have to say that I am happy with the extra performance. The "seat of the pants" testing feels like there is a marked increase down low and it runs smoother at lower revs. On the trip home from the Blue Mountains to Jindabyne, I had the cruise set to about 115k with the a/c on and it didn't even look like unlocking the torque converter on either Catherine Hill or the Mittagong Bypass. This is with the unit on position 5. I filled at Sutton Forest and then topped up the tank at Jindabyne to check consumption and it had used about 9 per 100. This is the same or better than normal.
Cheers,
David

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Via Email - May 07
Jeep Cherokee 2.8L CRD

We purchased your DPChip about three months ago and recently we spent three weeks towing a 1600kg Caravan up the New England and across to the NSW North Coast and back to Newcastle, just on 2000 Klm and found we had power to burn and average fuel consumption dropped from around 14.8 litres per 100 Klm before the DPChip to 13.2 litres per 100 Klm with a best of a tank full at 12.5 litres per 100 Klm on the run from Tweed Heads to Coffs Harbour at usually around 98 Klm/hr on the cruise control. VERY HAPPY to date ...
Rob Williamson

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Via Email - August 07
Hi Andrew - have had the DP Chip for couple of days now - very happy - Hilux goes much harder and is a lot more responsive to the "loud" pedal now. Well worth the dollars spent - should have done it years ago!
Regards Dean - WA

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Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 7:45 AM
To: info@dpchip.com
Subject: dp chip

Hi folks,

          fitted one of your chips to my Prado last week, in conjunction with  Taipan 3" exhaust system. All i can say is that the improvement in driveability exceeded my expectations. It gets off the line much better, and the ability to pass semi trailers and the like is now much much better.it actually accelerates between 100 and 140 kph. It doesnt crawl now. I am Going to South Australia soon so will do a fuel comparison then.

Had it fitted by Jeff and his staff at scs in Mordialloc, and could not be happier with that as it is where i get the car serviced anyway, and they always have been great to deal with.I have just got back from an east west crossing of the country, and wish i had had it done before i left.

Kev

 

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From: james correo

Sent: Tuesday, 20 November 2007 1:08 AM

Subject: RE: DPChip

Hello, I bought your chip and it is very very good .I live in Costa

Rica if you remember .thanks james

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7/11/07

Andrew,
I recently returned a DPChip that was fitted to my 04 Patrol 3.0 ltr Diesel the unit did not respond (show red light) until wide open throttle full load, this response was of a very short duration, a phone call to discuss this problem resulted in a return of the unit to your company for inspection/recalibration.
On the very prompt service and return of the chip it has been refitted to vehicle, the results from the recalibration has exceeded all my expectations, the throttle response when accelerating is an eye opener 65% better, towing about 40% better, fuel consumption has NOT suffered a great deal, therefore in general I am very pleased with the chip also the service provided by you and your company 100%.

I do thank you once again,
Ron Skinner (VIC)

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A post from a Caravan and Camping online forum:

OK. The DPchip was put in & 9,500 kays later I reckon it's probably worth the $1300 (in round figures) it cost me to buy & install. Auto Elec guy came out to the van park we were at & fitted it in 40 minutes.

The unit is fitted (at Albury) in the glovebox - from the rear - so just the facia panel is visible, this has a dial from 0 - 9... mine was preset at 5.

That same morning we headed north towards Broken Hill & to be perfectly honest I didn't notice any difference towing the van at all! Initially thought I'd just blown $1300..... but then, as the old addage goes "when all else fails - read the instruction." So I did & found that the dial (above) can be adjusted to suit your present requirements. Cranked it up to #6 &..... voila! Heaps more power.

During the next couple of months we cruised around VIC, SA & NSW & never had a problem with lack of power when required..... passing B double semis or climbing hills - although you still need to have the revs up *BEFORE* hitting the base of the hill, but once you hit that sweet spot it was just like being on the flat.

The first time I took the van off the truck - at Broken Hill - & we went shopping I thought I was driving a sports car!! Fair Dinkum - the additional power there without the van in tow was amazing.

Economy remained the same... 11.5/100 without the van & 18/100 with the van (close to 3T).

Don't profess to understand the technical aspects of it at all, but yes, I'm happy.

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Via Email: Feb 2008

Hi Guys,

I bought a DPchip through Andrew at Dieseltec in Lilydale Victoria last Tuesday and I just wanted to write to you to say how happy I am with it, fitted to my new Holden Astra CDTI manual sedan and the service I got from Diesel Tec.

Really, I couldn’t be happier.

I thought the vehicle offered pretty good performance and economy before the DPChip was fitted by Andrew but after driving it for a couple of days I am just amazed at how much improvement in the car that there is.

Attached are the links to the before and after dyno figures.

http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Muzz_2008/?action=view&current=AstraTorque.jpg

http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Muzz_2008/?action=view&current=AstraPower.jpg

I did look at other lower cost solutions that are available and imported from Europe but what won me over was the engine and transmission guarantee you offer, the fact that the DPchip is made for Australian diesel fuel and Australian weather conditions plus the helpfulness of the folks in your office and finally the fact that you’ve been in business for a long time and that you do so much commercial as well as private owner upgrades.

Obviously I haven’t really had a chance to do full testing of any improvement to the fuel consumption but I have done a preliminary test.

The best I’ve been able to get in average city fuel consumption on the 45km drive from home to work before the chip was fitted was 5.2 l/100km (mix of normal street and freeway drive) and on my first check after the chip was installed, I got 4.9l/100kms. Not a huge improvement but I’m very happy with it so far given the added power and torque improvement. I’ll take the time to test it properly over the next few weeks.

This Astra with the chip fitted adds up to an incredible value for money “performance vehicle” at approximately $31,000 on road with your chip fitted.

Andrew did the dyno testing before and after and for testing the chip for the optimal setting for my particular car, and I think I got really good value for money overall.

I’d have no hesitation to recommend both DPchip and Dieseltec to anyone.

In fact, I’m a member of a forum of Holden/Opel car owners and last night I posted the results and my very positive impressions on that web site. (www.opelaus.com)

Look under the Astra Diesel sub forum and you’ll find it.

Thanks for a great product and well done for choosing a high quality reseller/installer like Dieseltec.

Regards,

Rob

Please feel free to use this reference as you would like.

If you have any customers who are interested in getting their Astra Diesel upgraded, please feel free to get them to phone me for a great wrap.

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Recieved via emal Marcvh 2008

Howdy,
Before Christmas I had a DP37 fitted to my Golf, and had it dyno tested.Coming from a 3.5 Magna with extractors, UNICHIP, ported & polished heads, I must say I was quite surprised to see it punch out 103.3kW (138.5HP), given the Magna put out 172HP. The only other changes are a straight through stainless steel rear muffler, and deletion of the front resonator. The result is with the position selector on 3, so possibly a couple of more neddies available with a higher setting.

Put simply, it has made an already fun to drive car, even more enjoyable.The only downside, is you have to watch your speed, as it gets away from you very easily.

Finally will have a chance in the next 2 - 3 weeks to have a proper long distance run, from Brisbane to Dubbo, so will have a chance to test out the economy side of things with the cruise control set for 100.

I've attached a PDF copy of my dyno sheet, in case you would like to post it to your dyno results page.Thanks for a great product.

Regards, Darren

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From an internet forum post:

I have a Prado 120 with a snorkel which made an improvement to power only to be lost with the 70 series tyres. I had the chip installed by Berrima Diesel Service who also remapped it with the latest maps and software. Thanks to them for that. I noticed an immediate change: less engine noise; more power across the range. To be able to really tell properly I would need a dyno, however, I was more interested in measuring what it was in real life so I performed a number of real life driving tests. I performed the tests on a flat road using the same piece of road for each test. They were performed twice and the times averaged.

Results are listed below.

No Chip Chip % improvement
0-60 kph 9.38 sec 8.17 sec 12.9%

0-100 kph 24.6 sec 21.1 sec 14.2%

60-80 kph 7.10 sec 6.35 sec 10.56%

80-110 kph 15.54 sec 13.75 sec 11.5%

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Email: 28/4/08

We had DPCHIP fitted to our 2006 Hyundai Terracan Hylander 2.7l diesel as we are heading off to Kimberleys and were a little reluctant to take the Terracan because it lacked pulling power. After fitting the DPCHIP we have had excellent results. It doesn't feel like you are driving a diesel vehicle at all and has made no difference to our fuel consumption.  Very pleased with the result.

Keith Bates

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Via Email 4/9/08 from Indonesia

Hi Andrew, Scott.

After driving for15 min. I realized how the DPChip effect the engine. I feel like drivingtriton with landcruiser 80 series engine in it, 4.2L turbo diesel 6 inline 150 HP. The DPchip gives me earlier torque and longer rev at thetop and minimize the turbo lack. Usually I play in a range of 2.000 -3.500 rpm, but now I can play it at 1.800 - 4.000 rpm. It rev quicker and take over quicker, exactly as you pointed in your website. I reach 170km/h fast on the way home.Two Thumbs up for you guys. It worth to buy. Even thou I spent (1.320 for the chip + 130 for courier + 530 for custom clearance = 1.980 AUS$.Thanks to Scott of all the informations I need and to Kiah to make it simple for the payment and the courier.

Regards, Danny

And a follow up on 6/9/08

Hi,

Thanks for the information. Anyway, additional info I got regarding the DPChip. Remember (without chip) I got smoke after I hit 120km/h above, I ran a test just this morning, the smoke start at 160km/h above, the triton now reach top speed at about 175km/h on the speedometer, rpm around 4.000, 5th gear, with 3/4 throttle. It is a fact, that DPChip gives more power at the top, above 3.500 rpm (factory standard for 2.5L commonrail D-ID best torque at 2.000 and highest output power at 3.500). I left the setting of 5 as you recommended. Thanks again, AWDTech.

Regards, Danny

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