S2000 and Tri-Phase

[silver_j]

Hello,
I have got a standard 2004 and would like to get a little bit more power out of it.
I found some information about chip tuning and especially the Tri-Phase. Now to the question: Is this a good idea on the S2000?
When speking to nextlevelracing.com they claim the following:
The Tri-Phase is available for your S2000, and power gains will be as follows: 15-17 whp, 13-15 lb/ft torque. Fuel economy should also improve approximately 2 mpg.
all help will be much appreciated.
/Johan Ludvigsson

[Java Junky]

Aaay Sil. Owyadoon?
First off, I've got no inside info on Tri-Phase r' their chip, so I'm jus' shootin' from the hip, okay?
As I read the info you supplied, it appears that the use'a this chip improves everything. I get the impression that if you asked, you'd also be told that it regrows hair on older feller's heads.
I'd wanna see some unbiased reports of the use of this chip before I spent my hard-earned, y'know?
If there was somethin' that could have that much improvement happenin' with Stewie, don'cha think that maybe Mother Honda would'a supplied it from the factory? (Instead'a that baby blue, winged-wonder, eye-sore CR AP3 thing)
It jus' sounds a bit suspicious Sil. The time to properly research it is before ya puts yer money down.
Be well . . n' like the old knight said . . .
Java
Oh . . n' if this thing's as good as they claim it is, I'll be in line right behin'ja.

[silver_j]

... Any idea how Ill find out more about this chip? Perhaps there is another forum where I can also post the same question. Havent found much info about this specifc chip. But in general people sound quite negative to chipping the s2000?
rgrds,
johan

[gomarlins3]

I have never heard of this chip. I am not saying it doesn't work, but I have been on the S2000 forums for over 5 years and have never heard of it.

[silver_j]

Heres a link to the information that I can find about it:
Next Level Performance

[gomarlins3]

As stated before, I would like to see some independent results.

[Scott]

Wow...$180 for a $3 relay and another $1.50 in materials. I guess I got into the wrong line of work.

Short answer, these are gimmicks. Anything that claims to increase horsepower AND fuel mileage that does not require proper tuning is easily lumped into 1 category...fake. All this relay does is advance your timing slightly. In the case of the S2000, the ECU will notice this change, and then alter it back to OEM settings, just like with a VAFC.

Here's another indicator that it's fake. Look at their "data". Observed range of HP gains are listed as 9-20. So, if you make 70 whp stock, you will gain 9-20 hp? And if you make 550 whp stock, you can expect the same? This is the real world. Gains can vary dramatically. Example, an improved intake on an S2000 can yield 1-2hp increases. On an LS1-powered TransAm, an new intake can sometime result in 15-20 more. And that's a modification that directly affects the operation of the engine, by allowing more air to entire the combustion chamber.

If this thing is real, then that's swell. But I've seen far too many of these products come and go...every single one of them proving to do nothing. Some even resulting in poorer mileage and a loss in power.