Good Day to all, I have a 2012 F150 FX2 this is the 20th Ford F150 I have had. While driving in West Texas legal speed limit is 80, was passing a semi and the truck cut out at 90. I was told there was a governor on the truck, only after this happened. I would like to know if there is a way to remove this speed limit governor and who/where I can take this to be removed. Will the removal of this governor impact any other stuff on the truck or will it just let the truck go like a F150 V8 engine is supposed to d. Like all of my past trucks?

 

Welcome Lance!

Subscribing to see where this goes.

 

How old were your past trucks? My 97, 06 and '11 F150s all had speed limiters programmed into the PCM. I doubt the dealer would disable that for you. The only other option that I know of is an aftermarket programmer (tuner). I went with the aftermarket programmer on my 06 and 11 F150s. However this option could void the factory warranty if there is an issue and the dealer blames it on the programmer. You gotta pay to play. However, I added programmers on my trucks for better performance and the ability to recalibrate my speedometer for larger tires. I wasn't really concerned with top speed.

 

My first F150 was 1986 and every 3 years I get a new one, I traded in a 2010 F150 XLT for this FX2. I have not experienced in the past trucks where the truck engine automatically slowed down to keep me under 90 mph. I actually in the past trucks have driven up to what the speedometer said they would go with no issues. It is not that I drive that quickly all the time, however if the need is there to get around slower traffic on the highway, I would like to know that the truck has the ability to pass and get back in to my lane quickly and safely without the engine slowing down at 90.

 

I've read that the shut of speed is 95 MPH. But this may vary depending on which tires and gear ratio you have.

 

I've always seen the limiter at 97-98 indicated (which is 95 ground speed, confirmed by RADAR - my radar).

It's *highly* unlikely that a dealer will change this for you due to liability concerns. The best answer will be an aftermarket tuner. I'm not saying don't do it (I'm perfectly comfortable with my truck running at normal West Texas speeds), however, it would be prudent to keep in mind that you're driving a vehicle that is not aerodynamically tuned for high speeds, and likely has tired that are rated for 100MPH or less. You'll be OK in short bursts, but if you blow a steer tire passing that semi at 100+, it's going to be a Bad Day.

 

I just discovered this morning that my 2010 also has a cutoff of 95mph. While I understand this is for safety, it would be nice to have the ability to drive as stupid as I want as long as I'm not a danger to others around me. I wasn't sure if assigning a MyKey with unlimited rights was the ticket around the speed governor, but it would be nice to remove the restriction.

I'm not keen on having my truck pulling hard in 4th only to have the truck shift to OD and then cut fuel to the engine to keep me at 95 or below. So, if anyone has a solution short of a tuner, please let us know.

 

A tuner is the only option. And the only way you wouldn't be a danger to others would be if you were on a closed track.

Do you take your truck to the track?

 

I would not remove the governor. While the engine is definitely capable of more, the driveline components may or may not be. The speed limit Ford sets their vehicles at nowadays isn't arbitrary, it's carefully calculated based on component testing.

For example: The V6 Mustang is limited to 110. The driveshafts have been regularly known to let go around 135, which is extremely dangerous and causes a lot of damage.

 

Yup, that's a great point. That guy found out exactly what "driveshaft critical speed" means.

 

I don't know why, but EcoBoost trucks are limited at 100, while 5.0's are limited to 95. Anyone know why Ford even bothered to give the EB a 5 mph greater top speed? I would be curious what the top speed is on 3.7 & 6.2 trucks as well? I think Limiteds come with Z rated tires but I can't remember exactly. Also trucks like the Tremor, Raptor & lightning were built for speed, so I'm curious what those got limited too as well.

You guys think 95 mph is bad, I had a 2011 Ford Ranger Scab, 2.3, auto in my fleet three years ago, it was governed at 86. If you were already going 76 ish and needed to pass someone, forget it.

That said, tested my '05 Dodge Ram, 2500, Cummins in the middle of the desert coming back from Texas to California and indicated a top speed of 112. Found out Dodge disables the cruise control above 80 too.

 

I fully understand the potential implications of removing a governor, especially regarding what equipment is engineered to do. I also understand what safety is and how I'm not in a race truck or a track. Quite frankly, it is my life and my vehicle. If I want to be stupid when there are no other people on the highway, I should be able to. Plain and simple.

If that sounds pompous and crass, then I apologize.

 

Okay then, you need a tuner.

Ha ha, and maybe a lawyer

 

Now that was funny!

I just like to hit the century mark from time to time, that's all. No extended 100+mph runs for me. Just enough to wake yourself up and stretch your vehicles's metaphorical legs.

 

My programmer will allow the top speed limiter to be "raised". It won't completely defeat it though. I have ran it to 120, and it didn't cut out, I have never taken high enough to see exactly what it is. Don't really trust the tires that much, not to mention the stock brakes are not really designed for that. But to answer your question, yes a programmer can raise the top speed for you. Just be sure to remove the tune before being dealer serviced. If they run the truck on their machine, and you still have the tune in it, you programmer will no longer work. I'm not really worried that the dealer knew it was tuned, I am sure they can tell regardless, I just don't want to ruin a $350.00 tuner.