Steinbauer or DP Chip 2013 Discovery HSE

[Baytown]

Hi folks;

Im looking into options/Pros and Cons of fitting a Steinbauer module or similar to my 2013 Discovery 4 HSE.

I tow a 20.6 Off road caravan and want to improve the already great towing ability of the vehicle. Any improvement in fuel use, torque would be welcomed. I’m heading off from Tassie in June for a few months to Australia with the van, so would like to fit a suitable unit by then if consensus is positive.

Has anyone fitted a relevant unit to their 3 litre Discovery 4 here?

What are your thoughts?

Thanks for any advice folks and best wishes.

Ken

149174

[DiscoMick]

Can't comment on the Disco, but I have a Steinbauer chip on my 2009 Defender and it has been trouble free and certainly makes a difference when go is needed. My Defender seems to be able to pull lower revs for the same speed compared with similar Defenders without it. Steinbauer says it doesn't increase the fuel rail pressure or alter the vehicle ECU settings, so that's important to me in terms of maintaining reliability. We tow a camper trailer.

[twr7cx]

There's heaps of threads about these types of products from companies that suit a wide variety of different brands and models already. I'll let you find and read them. Once you've done that you'll want to go to BAS Remaps, Powering the Landrover tuning world! – BAS2RRC Remote Remap Control Landrover Defender hybrid turbos, Remap, Tuining, Intercoolers and more (https://bellautoservices.co.uk) and speak to Pete (who specialises in Land Rovers only) to purchase your tune.
Not sure what the DP Chip of Steinbaur Chip cost either but the tune for our D4 TDV6 was $650.00 from BAS uploaded via my IIDTool - I believe that's much cheaper than what I see the 'chips' often advertised for!

I will share with you that a DP Chip (which the previous owner had had fitted prior to our purchase) destroyed the fuel injectors (due to the signals it intercepts and alters on the fuel rail pressure sensor causing the ECU to receive false values and therefore increase fuel pressure further) in our 2011 Ford Ranger costing $350.00 each x 4 for the replacement parts. Since replacing them, removing the chip and having a proper tune applied to the ECU it's more powerful, better fuel economy and the injectors have not had further issues.

[weeds]

Can't comment on the Disco, but I have a Steinbauer chip on my 2009 Defender and it has been trouble free and certainly makes a difference when go is needed. My Defender seems to be able to pull lower revs for the same speed compared with similar Defenders without it. Steinbauer says it doesn't increase the fuel rail pressure or alter the vehicle ECU settings, so that's important to me in terms of maintaining reliability. We tow a camper trailer.

Doesn’t gearing (and tyre diameter) determine revs??

I understand fuel usage might change but cannot work out how revs would change

[DiscoMick]

My gearing and tyres are standard.
I think if the chip is making more torque than standard then it should need fewer revs to maintain the same speed in the same gear.
For example, mine is only doing about 2000 revs in sixth at 100 km/h, but I have heard people say they need more revs for the same speed.
Anyway, that's just my unscientific guess.
Also, a post above talked about fuel injectors being damaged because fuel pressure was increased by a chip. Steinbauer says its chip does not increase fuel pressure.
The chip was fitted by a previous owner and I considered removing it, but then I read up on it and decided it seemed OK. I'm a non-expert, of course. So far it's all good.

[Disco-tastic]

My gearing and tyres are standard.
I think if the chip is making more torque than standard then it should need fewer revs to maintain the same speed in the same gear.
For example, mine is only doing about 2000 revs in sixth at 100 km/h, but I have heard people say they need more revs for the same speed.
Anyway, that's just my unscientific guess.
Also, a post above talked about fuel injectors being damaged because fuel pressure was increased by a chip. Steinbauer says its chip does not increase fuel pressure.
The chip was fitted by a previous owner and I considered removing it, but then I read up on it and decided it seemed OK. I'm a non-expert, of course. So far it's all good.

Revs and gearing have a consistent relationship. For example in your car with its current gearing 2000revs in 6th will always equal 100km/h. Adding more torque wont change the revs at a certain speed in a certain gear, it will just make the car better at "pulling" itself and whatever you have attached to it around. It may mean it is better at pulling itself up a hill at a consistent speed where other defenders may struggle.

To change gearing you need to change tyre size, diff ratios, transfer case ratios or the actual gears in the gearbox.

[Baytown]

Yep, I realise that there’s many other options out there, hence my question is about Steinbauer and DP Chip. I did search here, and nothing came up revant to my 2013 HSE.

I know about Pete and BAS. I’ve had two of his tunes in my heavily modified 110. Currently running his 170 tune and very happy.




There's heaps of threads about these types of products from companies that suit a wide variety of different brands and models already. I'll let you find and read them. Once you've done that you'll want to go to BAS Remaps, Powering the Landrover tuning world! – BAS2RRC Remote Remap Control Landrover Defender hybrid turbos, Remap, Tuining, Intercoolers and more (https://bellautoservices.co.uk) and speak to Pete (who specialises in Land Rovers only) to purchase your tune.
Not sure what the DP Chip of Steinbaur Chip cost either but the tune for our D4 TDV6 was $650.00 from BAS uploaded via my IIDTool - I believe that's much cheaper than what I see the 'chips' often advertised for!

I will share with you that a DP Chip (which the previous owner had had fitted prior to our purchase) destroyed the fuel injectors (due to the signals it intercepts and alters on the fuel rail pressure sensor causing the ECU to receive false values and therefore increase fuel pressure further) in our 2011 Ford Ranger costing $350.00 each x 4 for the replacement parts. Since replacing them, removing the chip and having a proper tune applied to the ECU it's more powerful, better fuel economy and the injectors have not had further issues.

[twr7cx]

I know about Pete and BAS. I’ve had two of his tunes in my heavily modified 110. Currently running his 170 tune and very happy.

Stick with what's worked for you!

[Melbourne Park]

I have an AOR Matrix, which is a two wheeled off road van, its GVM is 2,400kg. It is quite tall, but its narrow so there is no extra drag from having a wide van behind me.

My Disco is an Aug 2014 version, and HSE. I run the 18" GOE wheels too.

There is a huge amount of torque and also KW in your motor.

The majority of your mileage is done on open road. And at our speeds, a lesser motor will easily do the work. The torque and KWs comes in when overtaking - and considering your touring Australia - why overtake? And if you choose to - if the chip adds 10% of torque or KW - so what? Jeez you already have 15% more of both than the TD D4, and its motor is already more than you need.

If you want to save fuel, then use the manual gear control. That does save some fuel. But also, it increases wear on the gearboxes top gear ...

My fuel economy varies according to how I drive. Typically on cruise control at 100 KMH I get a real 15.7 litres per 100k. A real 90 KMH is 13.2 l/100km. My best economy was doing a real 110 KMH on the Hume Highway, from Sheep Yard Flat (near mt Bulla) to Melbourne. I got just under 10 l/100km. Why? I emptied my water from my van, and the wind was behind me. Plus I was going downhill. It was around a 3 hour drive to my home. I brimmed the fuel tank just outside of Sheep Yard Flat, and did the same the next morning to check the fuel. Llams is next on my list or maybe a Gap II Diagonistic; tyre pressure live sensors could save me a heap of money because they avoid wrecking a tyre. And I am getting new tyres ... And then, I will get the gearbox fluid replaced, and service the gearbox (not by Land Rover either but by the official service ZF people).

The best way to gain economy, is with your brain, and then, with your right foot. As far as the brain goes: tyre pressures, the speed you travel, avoiding acceleration. Accelerate down the hills and hold a steady throttle up the hills. Use manual gear selection, but don't strain the gearbox. If you use cruise control you'll use more fuel - but your wife will enjoy the trip more because you won't be focused on fuel economy. And you'll see more of the scenery.

I am not getting a chip. The payback for me would maybe be years. And it might not benefit the vehicle either. There are other things I would spend and am spending on my vehicle too - I'm putting in a bull bar now and also some super spot lamps as well. I need to put some under vehicle guard in too. A chip - its the bottom of my list, and my gut tells me its a risk. Not so the other stuff.

[Baytown]

Thanks for the comments fellas.
Ive decided not to go this route.
Ive added an IDrive which has improved low end pedal response greatly so I’ll leave the ECU alone.
Best wishes.

Ken