As automotive experts at obd2global.com, we constantly explore the latest gadgets and technologies promising to enhance your vehicle’s performance. Among these, the Nitro OBD2 chip tuning box has gained considerable attention, advertised as a simple plug-and-play solution to boost horsepower and torque. Claims suggest that by merely connecting this device to your car’s OBD2 port, you can unlock hidden engine potential. However, in the world of automotive modifications, skepticism is healthy. Does the Nitro OBD2 benzine truly deliver on its promises, or is it just another automotive myth? We decided to delve deep and conduct a thorough Nitro Obd2 Benzine Review to separate fact from fiction. This article details our reverse engineering journey, CAN bus analysis, and chip examination to provide you with an informed perspective on this widely discussed performance enhancer.
Dissecting the Nitro OBD2 Benzine Dongle: A PCB Examination
Before even considering plugging the Nitro OBD2 benzine into a vehicle, our expert approach mandates a closer look at its internal components. We opened the dongle to examine the printed circuit board (PCB) and identify its core elements. The first observation was the standard OBD2 pin connector, a familiar interface in automotive diagnostics. The pinout configuration is depicted below, outlining the function of each pin.
Our initial investigation focused on verifying the connectivity of crucial pins, particularly those associated with the Controller Area Network (CAN) High (CANH) and CAN Low (CANL) bus. These pins are essential for communication in modern vehicles. Fortunately, we confirmed that these pins were indeed connected, alongside pins for J1850 and ISO 9141-2 protocols, indicating a potential interface with the car’s communication network.
Examining the circuit board itself revealed a rather simplistic design. The key components identified were:
- A basic power circuit, likely to draw power from the OBD2 port.
- A push button, the function of which was yet to be determined.
- A single integrated circuit (IC) chip, presumably the brains of the operation.
- Three Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for visual feedback.
Notably absent was a dedicated CAN transceiver chip. This raised a significant question: how could the Nitro OBD2 benzine communicate over the CAN bus without a transceiver? Either the microcontroller chip incorporated a built-in transceiver, or, more suspiciously, the device lacked genuine CAN communication capabilities altogether. Given the compact SOP-8 package of the main chip, the integration of a CAN transceiver along with the processing power required for engine tuning seemed highly improbable, immediately casting doubt on the advertised functionality of the Nitro OBD2 benzine. The complexity of understanding vehicle operation, retrieving engine state, modifying parameters, and reprogramming Electronic Control Units (ECUs) all seemed to be an immense task for such a basic-looking device.
CAN Bus Communication Analysis: Does Nitro OBD2 Benzine Actually Transmit Data?
To ascertain whether the Nitro OBD2 benzine actively interacts with the vehicle’s systems, we conducted a CAN bus analysis. The most direct method to verify its operation is to monitor CAN bus traffic before and after plugging in the device. Any genuine performance-enhancing OBD2 device should transmit data on the CAN bus to read engine parameters and potentially send commands.
For our testing, we utilized a 2012 diesel Suzuki Swift, a vehicle known to be compatible with standard OBD2 diagnostic tools. We employed a Raspberry Pi equipped with a PiCAN2 shield as our CAN bus sniffer. This setup, combined with a Python script using socket-can interfaces, allowed us to record all CAN messages transmitted on the OBD2 port.
The testing procedure involved two phases:
- Baseline Recording: We recorded CAN bus traffic with no OBD2 device connected, establishing a baseline of normal vehicle communication.
- Nitro OBD2 Monitoring: We then plugged in the Nitro OBD2 benzine and recorded CAN bus traffic again, looking for any new messages originating from the device.
To ensure the integrity of our setup, we also used a PicoScope to visually inspect the CAN High (CAN_H) and CAN Low (CAN_L) signals, confirming a healthy CAN bus signal within the vehicle.
For accurate sniffing while the Nitro OBD2 benzine was connected, we carefully opened the Nitro OBD2 dongle and soldered wires to the Ground, CAN_High, and CAN_Low pins on its PCB. This allowed us to connect our Raspberry Pi CAN bus sniffer directly to the Nitro OBD2’s CAN interface while it was plugged into the car’s OBD2 port. This configuration ensured we captured any and all CAN traffic, including potential transmissions from the Nitro OBD2 itself.
CAN Bus Traffic Results: Silence from the Nitro OBD2 Benzine
Analyzing the recorded CAN bus traffic revealed a stark contrast. The CAN traffic captured without the Nitro OBD2 benzine showed normal vehicle communication, as expected. However, the CAN traffic recorded with the Nitro OBD2 benzine plugged in showed virtually no difference. Upon close comparison of the CAN bus logs, we found no new messages or arbitration IDs introduced when the Nitro OBD2 benzine was connected.
Here’s a visual representation of the CAN traffic without Nitro OBD2:
And here’s the CAN traffic with the Nitro OBD2 benzine connected:
This finding is conclusive: the Nitro OBD2 benzine does not transmit any messages on the CAN bus. It passively observes the CAN_H and CAN_L signals, likely to detect CAN bus activity and trigger the LEDs to blink, creating a placebo effect of activity without any real interaction with the car’s systems.
Microchip Examination: Deconstructing the Brains of the Nitro OBD2 Benzine
Our CAN bus analysis strongly suggested that the Nitro OBD2 benzine is not communicating and therefore cannot be performing any engine tuning. To further solidify our findings, we proceeded with a chip analysis. Lacking any identifying markings on the chip’s surface, we couldn’t consult a datasheet to determine its capabilities. Therefore, we resorted to decapsulation to examine the silicon die directly.
After carefully removing the chip’s packaging using sulfuric acid at 200°C, we obtained a microphotograph of the die. The image revealed typical microcontroller components: RAM, Flash memory, and a CPU core. However, there was no evidence of specialized hardware like a CAN transceiver integrated within the chip.
To provide a visual comparison, we decapsulated a known CAN transceiver, the TJA1050, a common and widely used chip for CAN bus communication. Side-by-side comparison of the two decapsulated chips clearly demonstrates the distinct design and larger size of the TJA1050 CAN transceiver compared to the Nitro OBD2 benzine’s microcontroller.
The physical size and internal structure of the Nitro OBD2 benzine’s chip simply do not accommodate a CAN transceiver. This microscopic examination corroborates our earlier findings and definitively confirms that the Nitro OBD2 benzine lacks the hardware necessary to communicate on the CAN bus and perform any real-time engine modifications.
Addressing Counterarguments: Playing Devil’s Advocate for Nitro OBD2 Benzine
Despite the overwhelming evidence against the Nitro OBD2 benzine’s effectiveness, some persistent claims and potential counterarguments exist. We address these to ensure a comprehensive and balanced review:
- “It needs 200km to learn driving habits”: This is a common claim by proponents. However, our CAN bus analysis showed zero communication from the device even after plugging it in and driving for a short distance during testing. If it’s not communicating, it cannot be “learning” or adapting. Furthermore, genuine ECU remapping or chip tuning is an immediate process, not something that requires hundreds of kilometers of driving to “take effect.”
- “It uses existing arbitration IDs”: While technically possible, if the Nitro OBD2 benzine were to use the same CAN arbitration IDs as the car’s existing ECUs, it would cause communication conflicts and likely trigger error codes or malfunction. This is an extremely risky and improbable design strategy for a supposed performance enhancer.
- “It relies on broadcasted messages”: This suggests the Nitro OBD2 benzine passively listens to all CAN bus traffic and somehow infers driving habits and engine parameters. However, CAN bus protocols and message structures are highly vehicle-specific and proprietary. For a universal device to understand and interpret every car’s CAN system based solely on broadcasted messages is practically impossible. Furthermore, even if it could passively interpret some data, without actively sending commands to the ECU, it cannot alter engine performance.
These counterarguments, upon closer scrutiny, fail to hold water against the fundamental lack of CAN communication and the absence of a CAN transceiver in the Nitro OBD2 benzine.
Conclusion: Nitro OBD2 Benzine – Save Your Money and Fuel Your Car Instead
Our rigorous Nitro OBD2 benzine review, encompassing PCB analysis, CAN bus monitoring, and microchip examination, leads to a definitive conclusion: the Nitro OBD2 benzine performance chip is a deceptive product and does not deliver on its performance enhancement claims. It is essentially a placebo device with blinking LEDs designed to give a false impression of functionality. It does not communicate with the vehicle’s CAN bus, lacks a CAN transceiver, and its internal chip is a basic microcontroller incapable of performing engine tuning.
As one insightful Amazon reviewer aptly stated: “Save 10 bucks, buy some fuel instead.” This sentiment perfectly encapsulates our recommendation. Instead of wasting money on this ineffective gadget, invest in genuine vehicle maintenance or consider reputable and verifiable performance upgrades if you truly seek to enhance your car’s power or fuel efficiency. The Nitro OBD2 benzine, unfortunately, is not the answer.
