Have a F150 Lariat, 5.4L, 3:73, max tow vehicle.
Drives nice but interested in anyone with recommendation on a powertrain tuner. Would like to firm up shifts and more power staying with 87 octane fuel.
Probably dreaming.
What say ye?

 

SCT XCAL3 with custom tunes from 5Startuning.com

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...tar-tuner.html

Plenty of positive reviews on this and other F-150 sites.

 

sct xcal 3

 

Mike at 5Star tuning has some great results.

 

Thank you Guys
We can help out give us a call tomorrow we can talk shop..
Big areas to remap for are Drive by wire and transmission strategies.

Mike

 

IMHo, there are plenty of persons who advertise their programs to be the best and even offer custom tunes, custom tunes are nothing more than either (1) unethical business practices where the seller is stating in essence that they will sell you a tune that's ok, but if you pay me even more money I give you a tune that actually does what its suppose too, but I either didn't know what I was doing the first time or I really didn't spend enough time to do it right, the 1st time.

Imagine, this is 1980, you take your vehicle in for a tune up, you pay the bill and you get in a find out that it runs ok, but not as well as you expected, then told, Oh, I can do a custom tune-up for more $.....basically, add one more dgree of ignition timing and turn the fuel fixture screws another 1/32 of a turn! Give me a break! Your parents would have that guy hung on the end of a pole! You couldn't even do that from a local business standpoint as the Dept of Consumer Affairs (Auto Division) would pull your license for fraud- no ifs and's or butts!

No one and I mean no one can Custom Tune your vehicle without (1) an interface connected directly to your vehicle to watch it/tune it with software- run or (2) have a dyno with tuning software. Basically they took a vehicle like yours, played with it, maybe even used a dyno.......butwhere were they...Florida, Arizona, New York? Was it hot/cold, dry or raining.........all of these effect the requirements for a "vehicle tune"....and a tune that is good in South Florida is not going to be the best or near correct tune for say, Big Bear (7,000 foot elevation) of Palm Springs.

I don't have anything against nor am I speaking specifically about any of the vendors mentioned & I want to make that clear.

But in all reality, very few actually have credentials in these areas- but that’s not to say that some of these “geniuses” haven’t really caused damage to a few vehicles- just jump over to flatratetech.com and read just some of the comments from the MSE techs!.

The parameters that can be adjusted are set by the OEM vehicle software.....…NOT THE TUNER........There is absolutely, positively no “magic” in what they are doing anyway.

IMHO, if you live near any major city there are excellent tuning specialists with dynos who for the same price (if not less) will tune your vehicle taking into consideration your specific needs including environmental conditions, for your specific vehicle. IMHO, the best bang for the buck- a real tune for your vehicle!

If you are comfortable and understand how to tune a vehicle, you can also do this yourself. There are several software programs available, that “Speak Common English” that will allow you to tune your vehicles ECM. One company is HP Tuners, they have a website….they offer two core programs, one for those who are doing dyno tuning and one for the home-garage mechanic (which is priced at about the same as most of the “canned tunes on the market) …this version limits the span of adjustments as a safeguard against doing something outside of the oem scope……basically, keeps you from doing something “too stupid by accident” (grin).

 

I've driven and been in vehicles that run Mike's tunes. After running a tuned 6.4, there is no question that you want a good support network behind the tunes you get.

Mike is that guy from my limited experience. I have not seen one person who regretted talking to Mike or buying his tunes.

 

I run Mike's tunes. Hell I even run his 93 octane tune with these current fuel prices. Worth it and I would do it all over again. Great guy. Great service. Great tuning. Cannot speak enough towards Mike and his work.

 

Wait for it....

 

For the same reason that people use to pay extra for the (I don't remember the exact phrase but iwas something like) "performance Tune-Up" as compared to the "regular Tune-Up" at "Tune-Masters"... Typically that just meant they used a little bit better quality ignition points/condensor/wires, same plugs, spend an extra 30 seconds tuning the carb...and there ya go- A CUSTOM TUNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like I said, these guys were regulated by the Bureau of Automotive repairs (which they are not), every one of them would be out of business for 1. Failing to put in writing a guarantee of their work & deliverables- yeah they guarantee they will replace you/fix your tuner if it fails....other than that, it's all brochure. The tune I have in mine costs $335, is on a module, and done with the vehicle running and connected to a datalink interface (of which i have the ability to perform the same basic adjustments like the flashpack etc- because the tune was also provided in a hand held, flashpack type unit- yeah 2007).......and funny, it ran neck & neck (0 to 30 mph & 0-60 mph & 30-75 mph) to a 2008 5.4 (same truck) with an SCT custom program!!!! MPG's as close to the same as you can call it!

 

Good info from all. Thanks.
Still listening.

 

I run an Edge Tuner and you can see below my truck. I run it in level 1, just the program that it came with, no custom tune. It works and gives me smoother shifts and maybe a bit more power/MPGs, neither is much to talk about. Chris

 

SCT x3 with custom tunes. I echo Mike's statement about drive-by-wire and transmission strategies. Big gains in driveability to be had there and the result is well worth the money, imo.

 

+1 for Mike @ 5Star. I run a Performance/Tow 87 tune and I like it alot (also have a 91 Perf/Tow I havent tried yet due to high gas prices). No funny shifting, more power, and the one time I needed his help when I first got the X3 he was there- live and in person- to talk me through it on the phone. Money well spent IMHO.

And Mr Charlie, you make me LMFAO!!!

 

Another praise here for Mike at 5Star tuning. Day & night as opposed to the way it ran stock compared to now.