Car now has 159000 miles on, was given a long life service at 150000. Went to Star Performance yesterday to have a cambelt service (2 toothed belts, 2 rollers, water pump). They also fitted the 2 auxiliary belts. The very helpful guys also arranged for the new tyres I had bought to be fitted (see thread on handling forum) and then we ran the car on the dyno. (Total bill was £593).
Watching the car doing 85mph on the rollers while strapped down is , erm, interesting. Figures were disappointing in terms of peak numbers, some way off the numbers Turbochip quoted at the time of the upgrade (210bhp and 420Nm).
Turbochip quote pre-chip original figures of 184bhp@3900rpm, amd 370Nm@3250rpm. My figures are:
Peak engine power 195.5bhp/145.6kW@3960rpm (close to the 195bhp @ 4050rpm I was sent for the "old" chip), wheel power 135.5bhp (60 loss in transmission argh!!)
Peak torque 290lbf-ft/393Nm@2660rpm (well below even the "old" chip figure of 421Nm@2550rpm).
I have the chart scanned in and can email it if anyone wants it, i can't see how to insert it here.
Jim Curley reckoned the standard car should produce nearer to 190hp than 180 (the handbook figure works out at 177bhp), and that his chip produces 210hp . Torque of 310-320lbf-ft should be achievable, again this is what Turbochip claim. His concern over going further than this is that the diesel pump will fail, a £1200 problem.
I've contacted the Turbochip dealer that installed my chip, who said the quoted figures on the website were for brand new engines and mine would be less as it had done 159000 miles. I can understand that but i am only getting around 50% of the quoted increase figures. He said he would speak to HQ. I will be sending my data to HQ and asking for their comments.
So although the car became smoother and more driveable, with better pick up from idle, peak power & torque is not what is claimed. This probably why I am unable to significantly better the standard performance figures. The surge at around 2800rpm that I described above is not noticeable in the curves so I don't know what that is, but i enjoy it all the same. Out of interest, the trip back from Cornwall including a loop to Stratford, Cheltenham, Solihull, Stratford cross country, averaged 37mpg with the cruise pegged at 80mph. This is the best it's ever done. Average for the 50000miles to date is 33mpg. Nicely run in then......