# 2006 Acura RSX - Performance boost **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** acura\ **Created:** [July 11, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154 "2019-07-11T15:05:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dane26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/fbc32d/32.png) [@Dane26](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dane26)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/1 "2019-07-11T15:05:28Z")
I’m thinking about getting a performance chip for my RSX Type S 06. I really want a little boost to horsepower and torque. What should I do? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/2 "2019-07-11T15:36:03Z")
> [@Dane26](#): > > What should I do? Forget it and don’t waste your money. ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/3 "2019-07-11T19:23:29Z")
I have to agree with Volvo here. I’ve owned Civic Si and Integra models. Chipping a normally-aspirated engine that has all of its power at the top end is not worth the time and hassle. Now, if you had a boosted GTI, MazdaSpeed3, or WRX we could have a different chat. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/4 "2019-07-11T19:31:26Z")
All a “chip” is going to do is add ignition timing forcing you to run premium gas. Not worth the cost. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/5 "2019-07-11T19:45:54Z")
Many ‘chips’ are scams, if they’re from the ‘we’ll sell you a chip for every model made’ web sites. ---
**Author:** ![yellowbal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/258eb7/32.png) [@yellowbal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/yellowbal)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/6 "2019-07-11T20:05:23Z")
His car already requires premium. Hondata and some other tuners allow VTEC to be adjusted to come on more gradually and at lower RPMs. This makes it easier to stay in VTEC after gear change. The best thing to do is to lookup a honda/acura forum and see if someone local is willing to demo their modded car, ask them questions. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/7 "2019-07-12T00:45:59Z")
11:1 compression and port fuel injection. Probably requires premium anyway. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 3:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/8 "2019-07-12T03:46:13Z")
My local Barnes and Noble bookstore stocks a magazine title “_Honda Tuning_”. That’s where I’d look if I wanted to chip a Honda engine for a little improved performance. As posted above the amount of performance improvement will be limited, and there is the downside of possible internal engine damage. But it is your engine, you get to decide. To get really noticeable improvement you’d have to implement some combo of - forced induction - higher compression - more displacement - reduction in the existing intake and exhaust restrictions ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 4:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/9 "2019-07-12T04:59:00Z")
It almost doesn’t matter. If you get more power, the transmission will probably waste it by staying in a lower gear and all you’ll get is more noise. If you only want a little more, you probably won’t be that crazy about it even if it happens. You can tell I’m getting old when I ask “How will performance get my rain gutters cleaned.?” Try to do without the performance chip unless it keeps you from talking like your parents. Roofing anybody? ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/10 "2019-07-12T09:44:13Z")
> [@Dane26](#): > > . I really want a little boost to horsepower and torque. What should I do? Sell the car, buy one with more horsepower and better performance. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 1:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/11 "2019-07-12T13:26:07Z")
You can gain a little by removing the back seat, leaving the spare tire home, keeping the gas tank below half full. See the theme here? ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-acura-rsx-performance-boost/144154/12 "2019-07-12T16:19:08Z")
There is no cheap way of getting noticeable gains in performance. If you’re thinking of those “power chips” advertised by the tens of thousands on eBay then forget it. They’re a scam and work as a placebo to many who buy them. They are a resistor which is fitted into the engine coolant temp sensor and which tries to fool the ECM into thinking that the engine is cold. This means more gas added and more power is the bogus reasoning behind it.