4.6L Programmer Suggestions?
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New User
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Minnesota
4.6L Programmer Suggestions?
I'm fresh to joining this forum, because I've always seemed to find an answer without needing to join. But, I'm a little lost with this one. From what I've found, we all realize the 4.6L is a turd, but my wife saw a 06 stepside, and left me no option. Now I'm stuck filling it's guzzling throat. 11 mpg on I-90 down to Chicago... Its got narrow 35's, 2-1-2 exhaust, and a leveling kit, my 5.4L had 4" lift and wide 35's and I got 18 with it, help from a cold air and a Bully Dog. Is there any help for my wallet in this case? It seems like its always trying to downshift on the slightest hill. I'm looking for suggestions for a programmer at this point, and should I pickup the gears, maybe an electric fan also? It shifts fine, just serviced it+plugs and wires, its just gutless on the bottom end.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 799
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From: East L.A.
"we all realize the 4.6L is a turd" No we don't.
I don't believe the 4.6L should get that bad mileage... Mine (4x4, 3.55, 265/17s) gets 19-20 mpg on interstates when kept under 70 mph, and still at 16-ish mpg at over 70.
I'm thinking I agree on the tire size as the culprit. The price that goes with lift/big tires.
Tell her to get a job and buy her own gas!
An Edge or something like it will help with the shifting some, and help the throttle response a lot. I have a Gryphon and it did help the 4.6L with those items. It also indicates a [false] 2 mpg improvement. Actual (hand calculated) mpg stayed about the same with mine.
I don't believe the 4.6L should get that bad mileage... Mine (4x4, 3.55, 265/17s) gets 19-20 mpg on interstates when kept under 70 mph, and still at 16-ish mpg at over 70.
I'm thinking I agree on the tire size as the culprit. The price that goes with lift/big tires.
Tell her to get a job and buy her own gas!
An Edge or something like it will help with the shifting some, and help the throttle response a lot. I have a Gryphon and it did help the 4.6L with those items. It also indicates a [false] 2 mpg improvement. Actual (hand calculated) mpg stayed about the same with mine.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2014
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This question is right up my alley. My 2005 150 has 35x12.5 17s with an Edge programmer. This helped slightly but the biggest improvement was going from factory gears to 4.88 & 9.75 diff. The truck is a rocket now.
The Edge programmer is the cheaper improvement over the cost of gears.
The Edge programmer is the cheaper improvement over the cost of gears.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 336
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This question is right up my alley. My 2005 150 has 35x12.5 17s with an Edge programmer. This helped slightly but the biggest improvement was going from factory gears to 4.88 & 9.75 diff. The truck is a rocket now.
The Edge programmer is the cheaper improvement over the cost of gears.
The Edge programmer is the cheaper improvement over the cost of gears.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 776
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A 4.10 would be acceptable if he was not going to tow heavy loads much and keep the truck as a "Pavement Princess". I would suggest a 4.56.
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Senior User
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Definitely dont agree with the "pavement princess" 33's hauling 9k worth of horses and tack getting 10mpg while I get 21 mpg driving sensibly on the highway being able to drive 30+ mph on a frozen chizel ploughed feild hauling farm equipment into the feild. All in running 3.73 and always washing and waxing my truck and im always in the feild. Sorry but I definitely do not agree with stree princess
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2014
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Definitely dont agree with the "pavement princess" 33's hauling 9k worth of horses and tack getting 10mpg while I get 21 mpg driving sensibly on the highway being able to drive 30+ mph on a frozen chizel ploughed feild hauling farm equipment into the feild. All in running 3.73 and always washing and waxing my truck and im always in the feild. Sorry but I definitely do not agree with stree princess
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2012
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35's???
If you do not have a programmer now how are you compensating for the speed o error with the tall tires in your calculation of mileage? Yes the tires will slow down the truck too. Mine gets 16 town and 19 highway. I took the tall tire off and now it goes uphill better. Your speed o must be off 20% so your mileage will be off the same.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
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If you do not have a programmer now how are you compensating for the speed o error with the tall tires in your calculation of mileage? Yes the tires will slow down the truck too. Mine gets 16 town and 19 highway. I took the tall tire off and now it goes uphill better. Your speed o must be off 20% so your mileage will be off the same.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2014
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The truck had an Edge programmer with 35s and factory gears. Blew up those gears and installed 4.88s with the same programmer and re-programmed that Edge programmer.
The programmer did not re-calibrate the dash speedo. Perfect example, today the Edge read 112km/h and dash speedo read 90km/h.
The programmer did not re-calibrate the dash speedo. Perfect example, today the Edge read 112km/h and dash speedo read 90km/h.
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