Tuners / Performance Chips
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Freshman User
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Tuners / Performance Chips
Gentlemen-
Thinking about trying to tweak a few more miles per gallon out of my 96 F250 4x4 351. I've seen "performance chips" that boast 20-30% more MPG. I've also seen Engine "tuners" that boast similar MPG increases and more horsepower. I'm not naive enough to believe that these products deliver 100% on their promises, but am definitely curious. Anyone have any experience with this stuff and or recommendations? The chips are like 30$ and the Tuners are like $300. Such a large price difference makes me very suspicious. Thanks!
Thinking about trying to tweak a few more miles per gallon out of my 96 F250 4x4 351. I've seen "performance chips" that boast 20-30% more MPG. I've also seen Engine "tuners" that boast similar MPG increases and more horsepower. I'm not naive enough to believe that these products deliver 100% on their promises, but am definitely curious. Anyone have any experience with this stuff and or recommendations? The chips are like 30$ and the Tuners are like $300. Such a large price difference makes me very suspicious. Thanks!
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 960
Likes: 3
From: Saint Charles, Missouri
In all hobesty, the only time a chip will show mpg improvement is with a deisel. Had one on a 2002 f150 5.4 and it did nothing but get it from 15mpg to maybe 17. Not worth the 300 IMO. But, on my 97 stroker, it made a world of difference
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
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Just advance the timing up a few deg , from 10 to 12 - 14 deg btdc , as long as it dosn't ping underload , this will be a good improvement , also a good coil and wires like MSD with some autolite or motorcraft copper plugs.....Lew
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
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Here are my thoughts. All these things are a waste of money including chips, throttle body spacers, CAI, KN, snake oil plugs Tornado etc. The programmers are much more useful on OBDII vehicles. They do next to nothing for OBDI vehicles. I'll never buy a chip or programmer for anything I own.
By the way, I do not think any chip is going to give any increase whatsoever in fuel economy.
I think your best bet is to advance the timing slightly like Lew said and give a it tune up with good Motorcracft of BWD parts. I do think that the upgraded coil is good, but do not think it helps any on a stock truck. I have had mine both ways and saw virtually no difference in fuel economy or performance etc. It actually fires up quicker with the Motorcraft coil. Fresh fluids and filters as well as throttle body cleaning and a new O2 sensor should help alot if it hasn't been done in quite a while.
By the way, I do not think any chip is going to give any increase whatsoever in fuel economy.
I think your best bet is to advance the timing slightly like Lew said and give a it tune up with good Motorcracft of BWD parts. I do think that the upgraded coil is good, but do not think it helps any on a stock truck. I have had mine both ways and saw virtually no difference in fuel economy or performance etc. It actually fires up quicker with the Motorcraft coil. Fresh fluids and filters as well as throttle body cleaning and a new O2 sensor should help alot if it hasn't been done in quite a while.
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Thanks for the replies. If I advance the timing up a degree or two, it won't mess with the computer or make it throw out any codes? I'm pretty sure my truck has OBD II, I'll double check.
I'm planning on giving it a good tune up. I just got it last week. I replaced my 94XL 2WD with 245k on it with a 96XLT 4WD with 155k on it, which is a nice improvement for me. How much worse mileage should I expect from the 4WD?
I know that a big truck will never get good mileage and I already have a Ford Focus that gets 30mpg, but I still think it's worthwhile for my wallet if nothing else to try to improve my mileage.
I will try your suggestions before buying any snake oil products...
I'm planning on giving it a good tune up. I just got it last week. I replaced my 94XL 2WD with 245k on it with a 96XLT 4WD with 155k on it, which is a nice improvement for me. How much worse mileage should I expect from the 4WD?
I know that a big truck will never get good mileage and I already have a Ford Focus that gets 30mpg, but I still think it's worthwhile for my wallet if nothing else to try to improve my mileage.
I will try your suggestions before buying any snake oil products...
Last edited by Mongrel; Feb 2, 2011 at 03:51 PM. Reason: typos
The Southernmost Mod
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 6,902
Likes: 20
From: Caracas, Venezuela
Yours isn't OBDII, the only OBDII trucks were from the 96 on. Also, when setting the timing, doing the tune-up, check for the six litre tune up. And remember to remove the SPOUT before moving the distributor.
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Thanks again for the info! I posted another thread about the transmission slamming into reverse, but don't know how to link to it from here. But anyway that's wjhat happens. I put it into reverse and it waits a full second, then violently slams into gear. What's up with that? Is it fixable or is the tranny getting ready to go on me? My other 250's tranny was rebuilt just before I bought it and this one had a recent fluid change, so no clues there. I am expecting to rebuild the tranny at some point, I just hope not too soon. Either way, my devotion to the F250 and all of its greatness shall not waiver....
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,462
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From: Hartford, AL
I wouldn't invest in a tuner or chip for what you are wanting. There are gains to be had and they are VERY useful in tuning OBDI vehicles, but nothing will cure a bad mechanical or poorly serviced motor. Tuning is key when mods are made to a motor.
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73 Fomo-
What mods? I plan on advancing the timing and putting a hotter coil on it and doing an overall tune up, per suggestions from the other guys. Is there anything else I could do? The engine seems to run really well. I just got the truck, but it's really clean and well taken care of. I'm not trying to fix any problems, just trying to optimize an old engine platform.
-Mongrel
What mods? I plan on advancing the timing and putting a hotter coil on it and doing an overall tune up, per suggestions from the other guys. Is there anything else I could do? The engine seems to run really well. I just got the truck, but it's really clean and well taken care of. I'm not trying to fix any problems, just trying to optimize an old engine platform.
-Mongrel
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,462
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From: Hartford, AL
You can advace distributor max about 4 degrees, install new coil, and install new plugs and open gap .050 to .052. I wouldn't tune the eec unless you installed bigger cam, better heads, headers, etc. Slight mods you can get by without. Tuning is an investment and can grow and change with your ssetups, but you are looking at 600 min to get into dyi tuning. A chip to max current setup would require some dyno time, so you also would spend 400 to 500 for a good chip tune. The eec adapts fairly well to mild changes if it is mass air. Just that final 10 percent is in the details.