Chipwerke Piggyback Tuner: 3.0 Dieselgate Solution?

Mythdoc

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2017
Location
Tennessee
TDI
2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
After much deliberation, I have decided to install a $300 Chipwerke Pro piggyback tuner in my 2015 Q5 TDI. As one who has never done any modifications to a car, even this little step was big for me. Here's why.

My 2011 Touareg is/was the best car I've owned. (It's parked awaiting the buyback.) Amazing car, amazing engine! The only problems were recurring issues with the emissions control system, which required replacement of various components, all but $200 of which was covered under warranty or comped due to the 2nd failure of a covered part. When dieselgate came to light, some unsavory disclosures came with it. Of course, VW had cheated the regulators — not good — but at first it seemed maybe they had done it to deliver a better product to the customer. But then came the revelation that VW knew their emissions system was likely to fail under the expected workload, and that the cheat was motivated by a desire to delay these failures until after the standard warranty had expired, leaving the customer holding the bill.

Yet when the buyback was announced, I found I couldn't do without the amazing torque and efficiency of the 3.0 TDI engine. I decided on a Q5, and found my current car with under 10K miles on the clock.

Although I am anticipating that CARB and the EPA will approve a fix for the 3.0 gen 2 engines (MYs 2013-2016), I think it is likely that the fix will do one or both of the following: 1) degrade the engine's performance and economy; 2) put more stress on the emissions system. This is a concern, obviously. I don't really want to give up any performance at all if I can avoid it, and I'd just as soon do without a number of trips to the dealer to replace overstressed components. On the plus side, however, these vehicles will be covered by a long extended warranty of not only the emissions system but the HPFP and engine itself. I don't want to lose the extended warranty — it was a key feature in deciding to double down on a TDI, and absolutely essential to VW's having an opportunity to earn back my trust. So I am not going to take any steps (emissions delete, ECU tune) that would run the risk of voiding that warranty.

With a little encouragement and advice from TDI club member BarryT82, I came to see the Chipwerke piggyback tuner as a way to possibly have my cake and eat it too. I can insure myself against possible degradations in vehicle performance, while at the same time preserve my extended warranty coverage, since the Chipwerke is removable and therefore undetectable by diagnostic software. Furthermore, Chipwerke's website claims that the tuner can not only deliver power gains but also increase fuel efficiency via more mpg's. This attracts me, also. I have posted a few monster tanks so far with the "new" Q5. I live in the country, no stoplights, essentially the perfect scenario for great mileage. I don't obsess about it, but I'd be lying if I said I don't smile when I calculate a tank of 35. But what if I could get 38? So, I'm curious.

Chipwerke makes tuners for both gassers and diesels. In diesels, it works by adjusting pressure in the common rail. Here is a link to a page of their website explaining the idea:

https://www.chipwerke.com/eye-catching-performance-with-chipwerke/

Bought it on eBay last week and installed it today in about 10 minutes. You disconnect the rail pressure sensor connector under the engine cover and attach the Chipwerke harness in its place, then you connect the original connector to the other end of the harness. The module has a 15 pin connector of its own that attaches to the harness as well. You hang the module in a relatively cool, dry place in your engine bay, away from other electronics.

Who knows, maybe it will do nothing, and this will be a short thread explaining how I returned the module for my refund. But I'm more optimistic. Anyway, what I plan to do is report back soon with some feedback. It may take a while for me to form some definite conclusions. But I'll probably have some initial observations to report within a week. In the meantime, I invite others, especially Barry, to join me in sharing observations and/or data on this thread. With the current state of affairs in 3.0 TDI land, we might just have a very workable solution.
 
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IA DPE

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Location
Iowa USA
TDI
2009 Jetta (sold back 08/18); 2014 Q5 (totaled 12/19😥); 2013 Dodge Cummins
I bought a '14 Q5 to replace my 2.0 with the intention of doing a DPF delete and Malone tune after "the fix" from the proceeds.

I'll be anxious to hear your feedback on this. Keep us posted!
 

Mythdoc

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2017
Location
Tennessee
TDI
2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
First observations:

* noticeable improvement in power in two situations
--power doesn't flag above 4000 rpm but continues to swell up towards red line
--at low rpm's, car less dependent on downshifting but can much more hold a given gear even under acceleration

For the first phase, I wanted to drive as much as possible like I was before, meaning same style, use paddle shifters mode, etc. even same fuel. Next I want to get data on MPG. After that, drive much more under automatic transmission and get idea of how well and smoothly it shifts in a variety of conditions. (I have driven a little bit in automatic mode and not noticed any bad or jerky shifting so far.)

As for MPG, more in my future posts, but the early evidence suggests that it will increase with Chipwerke compared to without.
 

Mythdoc

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Jan 28, 2017
Location
Tennessee
TDI
2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
With respect: If you do a search for Chipwerke you'll find that whenever someone asks or tells about their product the thread tends to get clogged with claims for competing products, downplaying, and IPhone vs. Android type arguments. I'd like to avoid some of that by pointing out that I am not in the market for a true tune, probably not until 2024 when the extended warranty runs out, and I am trying to share observations with others whose position is like mine. I don't have a dyno handy, but I know how to calculate mpg's and I feel I can contribute some reasonably objective observations along with some common sense.
 

BarryT82

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Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Location
Charleston, WV
TDI
‘12 JSW TDI
I have two Q5 TDI's; one has the Chipwerke module and the other has a stage 2 tune from JR Auto Tuning. If you'd like to see some logs tell me which modules to log and I'll get a few.
 
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Owain@malonetuning

Associate Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Jul 1, 2016
Location
Vancouver
TDI
PD jetta wagon
Lets keep this productive and maybe even cover a little data.

Under VCDS

Advanced blocks
63: Charge pressure specified
64: boost actual
186: RPM
326: Main injection duration
341: Main injection quantity

additionally, can't remember #s but there's a full list under advanced meas.
1. Actual rail pressure (requested rail pressure would be nice too, but not super important, and won't work with chipwerke anyway)
2. Torque limitation - Smoke
3. EGT #1 (before turbo / pre-turbine)
4. Additional Injection timing


Feel free to PM me if you have any questions on findings, curious to see a larger sample size on this product.
 
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BarryT82

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Location
Charleston, WV
TDI
‘12 JSW TDI
It'll be about a week before I get to it, but I'll post it when I'm done. Any certain RPM's, gear, or speed?
I will say that the Chipwerke directions are ****; if they even include them.
 

Mythdoc

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2017
Location
Tennessee
TDI
2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
Here is my update for today. If the powers that be will reopen the other thread, they can copy this post to it. I too would like to continue the conversation. I've seen this type of thread get derailed and clogged on other occasions.

I just completed another long drive today, around 300 miles. There is little doubt the piggyback tuner has enabled me to hold taller gears. My mpg (display, not yet calculated, because not finished) for the first post Chipwerke tank is at 39.2, which is 5-10% higher than normal for the type of driving I do. I'll post more soon. I'm not giving up on this thread.

My supposition is that the increased rail pressure may be putting more stress on emissions components, in the form of temperature or another factor. On the other hand, I am currently under warranty, and will be under some form of engine/emissions warranty until the fall of 2024. Otherwise, I have yet to encounter any downside to it.

I don't claim that a Chipwerke or any kind of piggyback system would or should be compared to a true ECU tune. Under the current warranty, though, it may be a sensible choice, and it is very low cost at $300.
 

psd1

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Location
OR
TDI
2006 Jetta 2013 Passat SE 6Man
Here is my update for today. If the powers that be will reopen the other thread, they can copy this post to it. I too would like to continue the conversation. I've seen this type of thread get derailed and clogged on other occasions.

I just completed another long drive today, around 300 miles. There is little doubt the piggyback tuner has enabled me to hold taller gears. My mpg (display, not yet calculated, because not finished) for the first post Chipwerke tank is at 39.2, which is 5-10% higher than normal for the type of driving I do. I'll post more soon. I'm not giving up on this thread.

My supposition is that the increased rail pressure may be putting more stress on emissions components, in the form of temperature or another factor. On the other hand, I am currently under warranty, and will be under some form of engine/emissions warranty until the fall of 2024. Otherwise, I have yet to encounter any downside to it.

I don't claim that a Chipwerke or any kind of piggyback system would or should be compared to a true ECU tune. Under the current warranty, though, it may be a sensible choice, and it is very low cost at $300.
Hoping for an MPG update. :D
 

Mythdoc

Veteran Member
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Jan 28, 2017
Location
Tennessee
TDI
2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
Hoping for an MPG update. :D

Haha, yeah, I went on a nice drive yesterday, but took the old Touareg cause it hadn't been out in a while. As soon as I get the Q5 tank refilled, I'll calculate and share the number. Thanks for your patience!
 

psd1

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Location
OR
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2006 Jetta 2013 Passat SE 6Man
Haha, yeah, I went on a nice drive yesterday, but took the old Touareg cause it hadn't been out in a while. As soon as I get the Q5 tank refilled, I'll calculate and share the number. Thanks for your patience!
I really love the interior fit and finish of the 14 Q5 we bought in february, and it's returned 31 ish MPG in the 2K miles we have driven it. We satarted driving an 11 Exec and and it's only returning 25 MPG so far. I love the look and room of the Touareg, but man O man, what a slug compared to the Q5.

I'll be awaiting your report. :)
 

Mythdoc

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Jan 28, 2017
Location
Tennessee
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2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
Wife took the car out today. Good news is we'll refill sooner and have a number sooner. Bad news is it won't be as high because she can't drive without running up on the car in front of her and then hitting the brakes, haha. Good news is if the number is higher than before we'll know there really is a fuel savings. Bad news is we won't know how much. Good news...
 

Mythdoc

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Location
Tennessee
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2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
First full tank of diesel under Chipwerke came back at 35.2, which is fine, not a huge deal though. The average of three fills previously was 34.6. Another couple of fill ups would help me see if there is a trend. Sorry it is taking so long to accumulate data. The darn range on this thing is huge. I went 591 miles on that tank and could have gone another 100.
 

Mythdoc

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Tennessee
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2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
220 miles on the new tank and the cockpit mpg displays 41.5

I suspect when I average a few tanks I will have experienced a 5-10% increase in mpg. It's just hard to measure because it's a shared car and my driving characteristics differ so much from my wife's, haha.

As for power, I am more aware of an improvement when I drive in manual mode. This is something I am able to do all the time since I have the sport package (paddle shifters). In full auto I can't tell as much. (The tranny under auto shifts too readily, in my opinion. The Q5 TDI has 8 gears. I can easily go 2-4-6 when controlling them myself.)

(Disclaimer: you will likely not get 35+ mpg. I drove 210 miles today, average speed of 45 mph, and encountered five stop lights. That is typical for me, probably not typical for you, heh.)
 

Mythdoc

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Location
Tennessee
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2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
Mileage for another tank came to 35.8, a personal best. My average is pulling up bit by bit. I'm a bit surprised, since my wife drove about half of the miles, haha. Maybe leaving the mpg average in the cockpit display is wearing off on her some, haha.

I'll do a third tank my normal way (emphasizing efficiency) and then start playing more with D, S, and paddle shift power delivery experiments. Then I'll end with some summary comments.
 
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Mythdoc

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Jan 28, 2017
Location
Tennessee
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2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
Another 35.8 tank. So mpg went up about 1-1.5 mpg tops. I have been using sport mode to check power, and it feels better, but it is very subjective. Also the paddle shifters are just too tempting, lol! I prefer them much to sport mode. I am running tires at about the end of their tread life so don't want to do insane driving until they are changed in the fall.

I'd be open to testing in ways anyone suggests. Barry has some diagnostic tools and might weigh in.

I long ago decided that the Chipwerke was worth the $300 entry fee. It suits my style of driving, which is mostly for efficiency except for about 5 times per outing when I floor it, lol. It seems to give a modest bump to my already great mpg. If you do a ton of stop and go, then you might not be the best candidate for either a Chipwerke or a diesel engine, haha. For me, a rural/highway driver, the Chipwerke puts a little bit of icing on top of the diesel cake. When my warranty expires I will look seriously at an ECU tune, with or without an emissions system modification.

Thanks for following this thread.
 

willyworm

Active member
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Mar 18, 2009
Location
On the road, SC
TDI
2003 Jetta
Forgive my ignorance here, but I assume this is the 2.0L in this vehicle?

I'm still looking at diesel options out there for my next ride. BMW x5 is out of the running after some reading on the mpg figures they post and my Q7 options are severely limited. Kind of leaning towards the Q5 TDI now that I see those mpg figures. I drive 25,000/yr for work and used to drive a Jetta TDI so I miss the efficiency diesel can offer. But now I have a family and pull a boat often so I need something with more room and can tow.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 

willyworm

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On the road, SC
TDI
2003 Jetta
I saw that much, but the way he wrote it I thought it eluded to the 3.0 being in the Touareg he used to own, not the q5 he now has. Which is why I asked for clarification.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 

Mythdoc

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Jan 28, 2017
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Tennessee
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2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
I get great mileage with the 3.0 Q5 in a rural use/highway setting. Chipwerke helps a little, and using paddle shifters (part of the sport package) also helps a little. When in Knoxville, as I occasionally am, my efficiency goes down between 4-7 mpg depending on route and traffic
 

Mythdoc

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Tennessee
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2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
I'm bumping this thread, because with the Q5 (PC category) fix expected soon, I will soon have some news to share about how the fix performs under Chipwerke. With some drivers displeased with the fix on their SUV, Chipwerke could represent a very affordable solution, if it works.
 

BarryT82

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Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Location
Charleston, WV
TDI
‘12 JSW TDI
I'm bumping this thread, because with the Q5 (PC category) fix expected soon, I will soon have some news to share about how the fix performs under Chipwerke. With some drivers displeased with the fix on their SUV, Chipwerke could represent a very affordable solution, if it works.
Is there an approved fix for the Q5 yet? I checked yesterday and the website hasn’t shown a fix for the A6, A7, A8, or Q5. If there’s a buyback I’ll definitely sell both back and buy another Audi.
 
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Mythdoc

Veteran Member
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Jan 28, 2017
Location
Tennessee
TDI
2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
Fix due 12/20. I am not expecting a buyback Christmas present. I think all signs point to a fix. But, we’ll know something more in a few days.
 

DJmart

New member
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Dec 27, 2017
Location
Connecticut
TDI
99.5 Jetta TDI, 2011 Q7 TDI, Soon to own 2015 Q7 TDI
Hey guys!!

This is my first post but I have been a long-term lurker.

I am subscribing to this post because I am about to trade my 2011 Q7 TDI in for a 2015 Q7 TDI and I fear I am going to be disappointed long-term with the fix performance.

With the serious extended warranty, it would be foolish to get the car flagged TD1 with the possibility of denying warranty claims for expensive components.

Very curious to see what you think about the performance after the fix, and after installing the ChipWerke.

Thanks!!
 

Mythdoc

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Tennessee
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2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
Barry’s had the fix done on his Q5s and one of them runs a Chipwerke. He reports (in the dieselgate thread) a “tremendous” increase in power over normal fixed Q5. I’ll be in for the fix on mine mid February, and will add my two cents on whether the Chipwerke still feels like a good purchase. Remember, the key for me is *not voiding the extended warranty* which I’ll have until 2024, and retaining fuel efficiency and reliable power.
 

Greg5OH

Vendor
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Apr 29, 2015
Location
Ortonville MI
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13 Q7
have you done any logs with the requested channels by Owain?
If you could run a log with those channels, then run with it again withh the box disconnected please.
 

Mythdoc

Veteran Member
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Jan 28, 2017
Location
Tennessee
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2011 Touareg, 2015 Q5, 2015 Golf
have you done any logs with the requested channels by Owain?
If you could run a log with those channels, then run with it again withh the box disconnected please.
Speaking for myself...I took it at the time that Owain’s interest was not entirely impartial. Can you explain what you are seeking to show? Nobody disagrees, certainly not I, that a piggyback and an ECU tune are very different. One is like makeup, and the other is like plastic surgery. That is why it voids the manufacturer’s warranty. Indeed, if I get to the end of my warranty, I may get an ECU tune myself. Two different animals.
 
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