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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchDo performance chips increase horsepower? Some vehicle-specific engine-control tuners can be calibrated to raise power, but the label “performance chip” alone proves neither that a device changes engine output nor that it adds horsepower. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report cited here examined emissions and engine controls—not horsepower—so it provides no verified power-gain figure for the tested products.
What a “performance chip” actually is
“Performance chip” is a loose term that can refer to an engine-control module (ECM) tuner, a programmer, a plug-in module, or a revised engine control unit (ECU) calibration. These products are not interchangeable. The changes a tuner makes depend on the vehicle, engine, and model year, so a claim about one application cannot automatically be applied to another.
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The EPA’s 2016 report on ECM tuners describes devices that load modified calibrations. A changed calibration means the engine may operate differently; it does not, by itself, demonstrate a horsepower increase.
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Do performance chips really work?
They can change engine operation, but whether a particular product increases power is a separate question. A credible answer requires a controlled horsepower test for the exact vehicle, engine, fuel, and calibration—not just a product description or proof that the ECU settings changed.
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The EPA and contractor Eastern Research Group tested two pre-loaded tuners in October and November 2015. The report focused on engine controls and regulated emissions, not power output:
- A Bully Dog Diesel GT tuner (part number 40420) was tested on a model-year 2012 Ford F-250 with a 6.7-liter Powerstroke diesel engine.
- An SCT X4 Powerflash tuner (part number 7015) was tested on a model-year 2013 Ford F-150 with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine.
The report gives no horsepower measurement for either tuner. Its findings therefore cannot be used to claim that either product increased horsepower.
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What the EPA tests found—and did not find
The two tuner-and-vehicle combinations produced different emissions results. On the tested F-250, the Bully Dog tuner caused nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions to nearly triple over the Federal Test Procedure and exceed the applicable emissions standard. On the tested F-150, the SCT tuner altered engine operation but did not increase regulated exhaust emissions over the test cycles used.
Those are emissions findings, not horsepower results. The EPA report also cautions that effects are likely to differ for other vehicles, engines, and model years. Neither outcome establishes what a tuner will do on a different car, or even what a different calibration will do on the same model.
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Can a tuner hurt your engine or emissions?
The cited tests establish that a tuner can affect regulated emissions, but they do not establish that every tuner damages an engine. They also do not provide a general engine-reliability assessment. The specific F-250 result is a warning that an emissions outcome can be unfavorable; it should not be recast as proof that every device has the same effect.
Before considering a tuner, check whether its calibration changes emissions controls and whether it is lawful for your vehicle and location. A product’s power claim does not answer either question.
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EPA-tested does not mean EPA-approved
The EPA’s voluntary Aftermarket Retrofit Device Evaluation Program evaluates technical claims about aftermarket devices and additives, including claims about fuel economy or emissions. The agency states: “EPA does not approve, certify, endorse, or register any products that pass through this voluntary evaluation program.” In other words, being evaluated or tested by the EPA is not the same as receiving EPA approval or endorsement.
Emissions legality depends on the device and application
In its 2020 Punch It Performance settlement, the EPA described aftermarket tunes that altered fueling strategies to increase power, fuel economy, or both at the expense of higher regulated pollutants. The agency said that the Clean Air Act prohibits manufacturing or selling parts that bypass, defeat, or render inoperative emissions-control elements. The case concerned defeat devices; it does not establish that every tuner is automatically illegal.
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The EPA reported that more than 20,000 aftermarket defeat devices were manufactured and sold in that enforcement matter. That number describes the Punch It case, not the size of the tuner market. The agency also noted that “The severity of the emissions impact of these devices depends on the original vehicle design, and the extent of the vehicle modifications.” Check current rules for your jurisdiction and confirm the status of the exact product and vehicle application.
How to evaluate a tuner for your car
If you are considering a vehicle-specific OBD-II performance tuner or another ECM tuner, assess the exact application rather than relying on a broad horsepower promise. Ask for evidence and documentation that match your configuration.
- Confirm fitment. Check the precise year, make, model, engine, and any relevant vehicle configuration the calibration supports.
- Look for a controlled power test. Seek independently documented horsepower and torque results for the same vehicle configuration and tune. A changed calibration or emissions result is not a substitute for a power measurement.
- Check fuel requirements. Confirm what fuel the calibration requires and whether that requirement is practical for your use.
- Understand what the tune changes. Determine whether it preserves or alters emissions-control functions, and verify its status under the rules that apply where the vehicle is used.
- Ask about installation and reversibility. Find out how the calibration is installed and whether the original calibration can be restored; do not assume every product works the same way.
The EPA sources discussed here do not provide a comparative horsepower ranking, current product availability, or a price comparison. A product’s claims should be evaluated on their own evidence for the exact application.
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