They must have overlooked it then because, I had a very lengthy discussion with Mike himself a few months ago regarding tunes as well as the how and why about the 6.0. Something he was very adamant about was that he will not write a tune for someone running a PHP FICM tune.


Very much so...


Running the latest strategy vs the earliest strategy for my truck there are some very noticeable differences.


-Better power
-Better fuel economy
-Much better shifting.


The shifting is incredibly lazy and sloppy on VXDB1MZ, with Gearhead, KEM, and TSD SPD tunes. Keep in mind, Matt, Mike, and Chris increase the shift pressures, but still it's incredibly lazy and inconsistent. When you put the truck in reverse there's a delay then it goes into reverse. Same when you put the truck in drive. Forward gears are inconsistent even after plenty of time for learning and performing the shift relearn.


-Power is good, but it just always seems like there's a lot left on the table. Turbo spool is lazy even when paired with the Atlas 40 and even an early non-inductive heating flash. The only way VXDB1MZ has no problem fueling is if you're running a full fuel tune like SRL Extreme or TSD SPD. Even with a full fuel tune, fuel economy is about 15 mpg unless you're on a long drive, then and only then does it go higher.


Compared to VXDA1M2 (first strategy for an Excursion with a 2005 engine)


-It snaps right into gear. reverse is almost instantaneous, the same goes for drive. The forward gears and much firmer, consistent, and crisp compared the VXDB1MZ.


-I'm in the process of measuring fuel economy and sorting out a questionable injector, but it's already looking better than VXDB1MZ.


-Power and turbo spool are light years better, especially since I paired it with what was probably the original FICM strategy. When I step on the pedal, the truck goes....when I mash the pedal, the truck takes off like a scalded ape.


For a 2006 truck, YJZ0 aka VXCF4HB works very well with for power and fuel economy stock and even tuned. YJZ0 is paired with AMZ2AL12, a strong, yet non-inductive heating strategy. Which as I mentioned is a non-issue, especially since we have AR9100. It also plays quite well with the Atlas 40 as a buddy of mine had this on his 2006 F350 SRW and even lifted he pulled off 19 mpg easily.

 

A problem I would note with the early programs, which I still have, is if you use T-H that on the first or second deceleration event you can get a very hard downshift at low speed. Enough to chirp the rear tires and on one occasion my wife thinking we hit something.

 

I just had the most current Ford FICM update done yesterday.
The update notes stated something about:" assisting with cold starts..."
This is the first FICM update from Ford.

In Time, will tell.

 

Thanks for the info.

Just called KEM and confirmed this, nowhere on the website does it say this, and they had no problem taking my $100 when I had the Atlas 40 listed as one the mods to my truck. They won't get anymore of my money.