volo performance chip?

[wb6yyz]

I purchased a Volo FS3 chip for my 1999 Ford Ranger with the 3.0 liter "flex fuel" engine, automatic transmission. My truck is "stock" other than adding a scan gauge and the FS3 chip. It so happens that I was making many trips on the same route hauling nearly identical loads of firewood for the winter, making a perfect opportunity for a controlled test. The route involves a mix of 55 mph highway driving, plus 35 mph suburban driving with traffic signals and stop signs. I made three trips before installing the chip and the average was 19.3 MPG. After a 100 mile "break in" as recommended by the manufacturer before taking readings, I was averaging 20.8 MPG over six trips. The difference between each individual trip was 0.2 MPG or less, so I consider the 7% gain to be statistically significant, although not as great as the 14%-20% claimed by Volo. Still I think that the device is worth getting if you drive a lot. I drive about 14,000 miles a year in the truck and with gas prices at $3.60 a gallon on the average right now I will save $188 a year, enough to pay for the device in 7 months.

[CPLTECH]

RE: 2006 Nissan Pathfinder 4.0L, V6 4WD
VOLO experience

Can not say I’m a hyper miler, but always been mileage conscious. My 2006 Nissan Pathfinder has a rather accurate factory built in avg MPG gauge. Before that, I bought a kit from Australia, OZ Trip Computer, that gave me instantaneous MPG or avg (+ lots more options) on my 98 Tahoe. Took an engineer to figure out how to make it function, but it worked great once I talked a co-worker into programming it for me. Years before, I put a Sears MPG gauge on a 78 Chevy van 5.7L. It required magnets strapped to the driveshaft and a flow meter in the fuel line (how many remember that?). Can’t wait to just “plug in” a Scan Gauge some day in the near future. I also use store brand synthetic oil and an oil hyper lubricant that truckers swear by, MotorKote. If it makes my chain saw run cooler, hey, it’s got to help my car, too.

Currently, I am experimenting with the Volo Performance model FS3 purchased early January 2011 to improve mileage. It gets wired into the OBD II wiring. An email response from the company explains: “The chip reads the ECU and only the ECU's calculated fuel delivery and timing values are altered.” I will mention that I drove 600 miles to the east mid-Feb 2011 using cruise control for the most part at speeds generally 67-69 MPH. Used Shell & BP reg 87 fuel only (no noticeable difference of brands between fill-ups) & got 22.16MPG. But on the return westerly trip under similar conditions except very strong headwinds we got 18.99 MPG. I feel this was an improvement since this is winter blend calculations, but last July it was normal to get ~20MPG on interstate travel and at a slightly slower speed. Looking forward to summer’s figures.

Another example:
Trip to daughter is 30 miles round trip. Best summer driving in a 98 Tahoe was 15 MPG. After buying this used 06 Pathfinder, I was thrilled that it got 18 MPG in warm weather (without the VOLO). However, the month of March (winter blend) it registered 20.1 MPG !!! Now, in the middle of June it is up to 22.2 MPG. Odometer reads 76K.

We make an annual trip of 200 miles, (150 mi of interstate, 50 mi of state highway) around April. Last yr I got 21.8 MPG. This time it was 20.1. What’s with that??? Was it the slightly cooler temp?

Another trip that we can compare with the previous year is a 140 miles round trip, all interstate. This yr (July 2011) with the VOLO and 41% Shell prem 93 in the tank(= 89 octane), it gave 23.7MPG, a wk later with 89, 22.8MPG . With 87 it then fell to 21.8. So prem helps. Last yr 2 similar trips in a hot July on Shell reg 87 was 21.74 &19.56, an avg of 20.5MPG.

Overall, my figures show an improvement with the VOLO FS3.

I applaud those who are able to get high numbers in those high MPG cars. Just understand that this Pathfinder is not fulfilling my WANTS, it is for my NEEDS. As a result, I make the effort to reduce fuel usage where possible.

[2704ET]

I friend of mine got one of the famous Volo FE chips for me to check it out. Now I am not tuning expert but what I do know is that PIC chip that they use can not communicate with CAN BUS network. But there are few things that it can do, it can blink a light every few seconds.I will do a bit more research about this product and let you know what this product actually do to your vehicle. I am sorry to burst your bubble, but to me looks like you are paying only for a light show.

[CPLTECH]

I feel I must defend my previous comments and those others of us as VOLO users. It may not be right for everybody on the forum, but as a small sub-group we found positive benefits without spending $300+ on a tuner. I hesitate to remove the VOLO just to prove its worthiness, since it takes about 120 miles for the ECM to accept any new changes the VOLO makes. As members of this forum, we do a lot of little things that in the long run add up to savings (even using a credit card that offers gas rebates). I see you are new here but stick around and you will find we here are not so crazy. Keep reading the forum.

About a month ago I purchased a ScanGuageII from this site and have learned a little more about my engine.

Here are some interesting facts the SG2 revealed to me:
In idle at a stop, throw the AT into N and save 10% of idle GPH
Headlights or the blower fan increases HP and GPH (measured at a stop) (I already knew electric is not free but now you see the #’s). Should I go a step further & get LED brake / marker lights. Mine uses relays for the blinker circuit so would not be affected by the drop on amperage but will it think I now have a blown bulb? Is it worth the $$$?
MPG improves as the water temp increases to normal (some yrs back I tricked a Tahoe into thinking the temp was higher than actual & boosted the MPG that way)

[herm]

even a placebo effect is beneficial if it makes you feel good.

[RMasters]

Hi all!

I just happened to come across this forum by accident, and due to my recent experience with one of those "fuel savers", I thought I comment as well.

We drive a little over 480 miles every weekend (visiting family), in a dealer maintained van, mechanically top. Mostly highway, and there with cruise control only (nothing else would make sense). Heck, we even fill up when starting at the gas station next to our house, and the one around the corner at our destination.

So, the basic setup is almost perfect for accurate fuel consumption calculation.

Now, I consider myself a good driver, am already at least 1mpg above the EPA rating for our main vehicle (which qualifies for being called a "Hypermiler"), oh well.

My lovely wife, bless her heart, "fell" for one of these chips (FS3 aggressive fuel saver). I guess because I used to drive diesel for work, and a fine tuned chip can show a little improvement. None of those "buy now through the internet" of course. It has to be fit to the specific vehicle.

She got me one for Christmas last near, never intended to mess around with our main vehicle, but was "forced" (unfortunately without the pleasant pressure ) to do so 2 months ago.

Long story short: First, the Volo chip does not go into sleep mode in our vehicle. This causes additional drain (of course larger than they claim) of our battery, instead of charging it before a trip for about 5 minutes before it trickle-charges (we store the van during the week), it now takes a little over 3 hours to do so.

Second: There is no gain in fuel mileage at all. As a matter of fact, we went from an average mpg of 15.1/16.8/16.6 to 13.4/13.6/12.9.

We talked to Volo, reset the chip several times, tried everything they "recommended", no positive changes.

Well, 2 weeks ago I took it off and mailed it back. We made 2 trips since then, guess what: MPG was 16.4 and 16.3 already.

I made my wife do some reading of professional writings online (not forums), she now realizes that this is all just money making, and that most people who claim savings only encounter them because they either did something else, or simply just changed their own behavior because they installed something.

This was my 2 cents (more like 20, I know).

Later!

[2704ET]

Hi as I promised I did look bit deeper in to this new " chip" technology. As I suspected this thing does nothing for your engine. I was going to say nothing for your vehicle but actually it does have effect on your car. This unit will drain your battery if is left for prolong period of time, so your alternator will have to work harder to replenish used energy. But looking on the bright side your money is not completely wasted, you do get nice light show.

[CPLTECH]

Say what you want, but as for me and my Pathfinder, the VOLO stays in. I do worry that some devices can lean out the fuel to excess and may therefore damage the engine valves & plugs, but I’m no mechanic.

Also, I plan on continued use of MotorKote in the engine. If my 2 cycle Stihl chainsaw idles faster with a little bit added to the gas/oil mixture to the point that the idle has to be reduced to keep the clutch from engaging, no one is going to tell me that additive is hogwash.

I do think that the car mfg’s don’t give the American public enough choices compared to other parts of the world where options such as smaller engines, diesel, and MT are available. Let us all keep doing what we can with what we got to work with until wood gas mods are perfected.

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

Yeah , I hear that wood gas is just about ready to hit the market.

And just in time !

[lightfoot]

Originally Posted by EdwinTheMagnificent

Yeah , I hear that wood gas is just about ready to hit the market.

And just in time !

At least stoking the gasifier in the back will keep the kids occupied on long trips.