I have seen a number of ads for replacement chips for the computer in the engine. They advertise 10-30% increases in horsepower and up to 2 or 3 more mpg. Are these for real? Does this compute?

 

No, it is not possible to get 30% increase in power from a software upgrade.
unles you are talkin about turbocharged engines, but as we aqre talkin Astros, we leave them out.

Sorry. here is why:

The ECU is controlling fuel and ignintion, nothing more, just how mutch fuel, and when to spark.
To increas the power, we need more air into the engine.



There is some to achive, in some engines, you can setting earlier ignition, if you drive om higher octane fuel. And in some engines you can achive some power by reising the rpm-stop.

But whit mordern, ore eaven semi-modern ECU-systems, whit knock-sensor, the manufacturer has done a good job, som there is not som mutch to achive. mayby 1%


PS: English is not my native language, so therfore maybe some terms, or spelling may get a little bit confused, but i hope you can understand me.