Before Superchips tunes are released to the public, they are tested, documented, and validated on the company's in-house Dynojet dynamometer. Here, a customer volunteers his G8 GT to get an extra helping of horsepower.
Remember the tools and supplies that were needed to supertune your Pontiac in the old days? Timing light, carburetor jets, colder spark plugs, and high performance wires and points? Well, things sure have changed. Now, all you need to do to get a hot tune into your Pontiac is plug in the Superchips Flashpaq handheld programmer and let the computer do all the work.
But what exactly is a handheld tuner/programmer? How easy is one to use? Do you need computer knowledge to operate one? What kind of hidden power will it unleash from your engine? How safe is it? Even if you're not confident in your ability to digitally tune your Pontiac, is the Superchips Flashpaq smart enough to prevent you from causing damage to your engine?
To answer these questions, we traveled to Superchips' testing center in Sanford, Florida, where the company invited us to see how easy it is to inject some extra horsepower into the new Pontiac G8 GT.
Here's the device: The Superchips Flashpaq for the Pontiac G8 GT (PN 2865) is available directly from Superchips (www.superchips.com) and sells for $379. It is pending CARB approval.
Dyno Results
All numbers are SAE corrected.
STOCK G8 GT: Inlet air temperature, 83.20 degrees F; barometer, 30.45 in-hg; humidity, 28%; SAE correction factor, 0.97
Here is a comparison of before and after pulls. Note that the tuned G8 GT made more horsepower and torque throughout the power band. Due to the dyno software data export, there are very slight variances in the fractional performance figures in this graph compared to the numbers on the chart.
Stock Tuned RPM HP ft-lb HP ft-lb 2,500 128.70 270.49 130.71 274.71 2,{{{600}}} 133.34 269.51 135.41 273.67 2,700 138.89 270.31 140.74 273.85 2,800 145.33 272.72 147.49 276.73 2,{{{900}}} 152.21 275.76 154.38 279.7 3,000 159.41 279.2 160.68 281.42 3,{{{100}}} 165.{{{90}}} 281.19 167.58 284.03 3,{{{200}}} 172.98 284.04 173.98 285.67 3,{{{300}}} 179.00 285.01 180.91 288.05 3,400 185.{{{62}}} 286.85 187.85 290.3
First a baseline is determined. The G8 GT produces four dynamometer pulls on stock tuning using 91-octane gasoline. To get the baseline, Third-gear pulls up to 6,000 rpm are performed. According to Superchips: "Third gear is chosen because it produces a consistent, but not too quick, acceleration rate so the software can accurately read the run. Second gear would cause the engine to rev too quickly for the computer. Fourth gear would produce excessive speed."
3,500 194.05 291.32 196.23 294.59 3,{{{600}}} 202.24 295.17 204.73 298.82 3,700 211.02 299.68 213.79 303.59 3,800 219.87 304.02 222.53 307.7 3,{{{900}}} 227.65 306.73 230.41 310.43 4,000 233.15 306.29 236.95 311.27 4,{{{100}}} 239.70 307.23 243.10 311.55 4,{{{200}}} 246.46 308.35 251.43 314.{{{57}}} 4,{{{300}}} 254.06 310.44 259.97 317.68 4,400 262.47 313.44 266.87 318.71 4,500 267.64 312.54 275.00 321.11 4,600 273.20 312.11 280.74 320.71 4,700 279.64 312.67 286.64 320.49 4,800 283.83 310.76 288.{{{90}}} 316.29 4,900 285.94 306.67 293.11 314.35 5,000 290.08 304.92 297.12 312.29 5,100 292.30 301.24 299.08 308.18 5,200 295.19 298.37 302.06 305.27 5,300 295.11 292.65 303.45 300.92 5,400 295.82 287.91 302.15 294.07 5,500 296.19 283.04 301.98 288.59 5,600 295.40 277.25 301.77 283.25 5,700 295.49 272.48 302.29 278.76
The dynomometer uses a DynPep 7 software program that allows a Superchips dyno technician to read the speedometer and tachometer during each pass. (The A/F wideband gauge was not utilized for our testing and should be disregarded.)
5,800 295.01 267.35 301.17 272.91 5,{{{900}}} 293.56 261.54 302.34 269.35 6,000 294.58 258.08 301.02 263.73
STOCK AND TUNED COMPARED All numbers are SAE corrected. Dyno Run Stock Tuned HP TQ HP TQ 1 296.{{{90}}} 312.76 305.79 {{{323}}}.56 2 298.83 313.91 305.34 321.16 3 299.37 314.18 304.13 323.05 4 296.19 313.44 303.45 321.11 Average 297.82 313.{{{57}}} 304.67 322.22 Average Gains Over Stock 6.85 hp 8.65 lb-ft
Then the software converts the raw data into a dyno graph and corrects the numbers using an SAE standard so that pulls performed under different weather conditions can be more accurately compared. Here you can see the four SAE-corrected baseline runs charted onscreen. Peak numbers are shown in the graph; max numbers are at the bottom left.
Superchips Flashpaq Benefits At A Glance* Greater increases in torque, horsepower, and driveability.
* Faster quarter-mile and 0-60 times.
* Calibrate speedometer, odometer, and shift points for tire and gear changes.
* Monitor and record driving and vehicle performance with data logging.
* Adjust shift points and firmness.
* Adjust speed and engine-rev limiter.
* Real time vehicle sensor display.
* Check ignition timing and fluid temperatures.
Then, Superchips technician Chris Wade plugs the Flashpaq into the OBD-II port of the G8 GT. (All Pontiacs built since model year '96 have OBD-II ports. It's located underneath the dash.)
New Features For 2009
* A smaller case design with ergonomic features for easy, one-handed operation. The case is only 4.75x3x0.75-inch, allowing it to work with most GPS and cell phone in-cabin holders. This allows for an easy-to-use data acquisition and monitoring experience.
* Easier to use menu structure, much more intuitive.
* New screen with dimmable backlight for better readability.
* Fewer part numbers and more coverage included on each part number for the consumer.
* Upgraded buttons for ease of use.
The Flashpaq programmer has an integrated, easy-to-read display with step-by-step directions to tune your Pontiac. Here, the Flashpaq tells the driver to turn on the ignition, but not start the motor. Then it reads the G8 GT's ECU and identifies the car by model.
* New electronics inside for better reliability and faster performance.
* Rugged cases are tested for durability.
* Works with most CAI and exhaust kits right out of the box.
Breaking News
93-Octane Tune ReleasedJust before we went to press, Superchips released its 93-octane tune for the G8 GT, which the company tested on a SuperFlow dynamometer. HPP was not present for this test. The results are:Stock: 290.8 hp / 304.5 lb-ftTuned: 306.7 hp / 319.9 lb-ftIncrease: 15.9 hp / 15.4 lb-ft
According to the company, its SuperFlow dynamometer reads horsepower and torque differently than the Dynojet dynamometer used in our testing, and this accounts for a 6hp loss on the baseline. "The SuperFlow reads a little low for comparison," says the staff at Superchips.
The 93-octane tune should ship with new Flashpaq tuners by the time of print, or download it to your Flashpaq by going to www.superchips.com and click on Update Your Tuner.
"To address performance issues or to continue conforming to emissions standards, OEMs release new calibrations on a somewhat regular basis. If you are a Superchips customer, we supply new Superchips-specific tuning based on these latest factory calibrations, providing our customers the newest enhancements for their vehicle. This service is free to our customers.Our new Easy Update software works five times faster than the previous system and is completely automated, providing a plug-and-play, guess-free experience for the customer," according to Superchips staff.
Conclusion
In the tests observed by HPP, the Superchips Flashpaq handheld programmer added an average of 6.85 hp (max) and 8.65 lb-ft (max) (SAE corrected) to a stock G8 GT. Dyno charts only tell part of the story, however. Superchips examines many tuning parameters to achieve the best tune out of the box.
The Flashpaq offers a series of simple menus to install tuning. From the main menu, the driver chooses Tune Vehicle.
"Our R&D team goes through a detailed process to develop tunes that will work flawlessly with your G8 GT. They start by reverse-engineering the factory engine, transmission, and gear to uncover and deliver hidden performance. When engineering tunes, we look at the engine and transmission as a system that works in harmony across the entire power band. Our R&D team understands how making changes to the transmission controls affects the engine controls or vice versa. Superchips' comprehensive approach to engineering targets five key areas: fuel injection and ignition, throttle position optimization, displacement on demand, transmission shifting, and torque converter strategies. These areas are optimized across the entire rpm band. If a tune is done correctly, the end result is increased horsepower and torque, while at the same time optimizing drivability," says Ken Baize, Superchips vice president of Research & Development.
Our testdrive of the G8 GT proved he is correct. With the Flashpaq tune, the G8 GT showed better throttle response and firmer shifts. This made driving a more exhilarating experience.
