5 Star Confused
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
5 Star Confused
Ok, I'm a bit confused. I have a 2012 F250, 6.2L, 3.73 AND a 10K pound 5th wheel. Last summer, the wife and I took it for a 5 state trip and the truck did fine except in the mountains of Utah and Colorado. It took all it could muster to get over some of those grades and honestly, the RPM's it took began to concern me a little (having come from a 7.3L F250).
I have read every post I could find about 5 Star tuners. Some say they help with power, some say they don't. Some say get 4.30 gears, some say just let the engine spin.
Now I'm not looking to soar over the continental divide at 60mph, but any additional h/p would help and frankly, I'm not wanting to spend much time and money on this.
Would getting a 5 star help me get down the road and over some of the steeper hills pulling the 5th wheel or no, an if so, which 87 modules should I buy?
I have read every post I could find about 5 Star tuners. Some say they help with power, some say they don't. Some say get 4.30 gears, some say just let the engine spin.
Now I'm not looking to soar over the continental divide at 60mph, but any additional h/p would help and frankly, I'm not wanting to spend much time and money on this.
Would getting a 5 star help me get down the road and over some of the steeper hills pulling the 5th wheel or no, an if so, which 87 modules should I buy?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 31
From: Idaho
Air Density
Its really simple the 6.2 is normal aspirated engine. The higher you go the less air the truck pulls into the cylinders. At sea level you have 1 bar(30 PSI) air pressure. at 5 thousand feet your have 25 PSI at 10000 you have 20 psi. This is why your truck does not pull as hard at elevation. The states you mention are at altitude. Turbo engines DO compensate for this, but they are still affected.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 22
From: very South Texas
tunes does little up over 6,000 feet. air is needed for power..
gears will help... at even higher rpm's.
and the reason the 6.2L does High rpm's well.....
and YOU from the diesel world is BAD... returning to GAS and mountains...
my opinion... low rpm's and high altitude is the turbo Diesel world.
so, stay in the right lane and hold 4,500 rpm's.
gears will help... at even higher rpm's.
and the reason the 6.2L does High rpm's well.....
and YOU from the diesel world is BAD... returning to GAS and mountains...
my opinion... low rpm's and high altitude is the turbo Diesel world.
so, stay in the right lane and hold 4,500 rpm's.
Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,517
Likes: 910
From: Home Base Nebraska
Before you spend money have you tried using the manual mode on big grades. I have 4.30 gears so my results will be different but I'm also pulling a 16K trailer, the tow haul going up grades is a joke because it holds the gears past peak torque but you can control the power band with the M mode, I try and hold it between 3200 and 4400 rpm. Just today I was in M mode and turned a corner and I didn't go down to 1st because I didn't have to come to a stop, it's amazing how the power comes on at 3200 and builds up to the 4500 range. Coming from a 7.3 it's going to be hard getting used to rpms when pulling grades.
Denny
Denny
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 275
Likes: 6
I have the 5 star tuner and it helps with the shifting and holding your shifts better.. I would highly recommend you watch these couple of youtube videos real quick.. one thing I noted was that the raptor had 4.10 gear and when towing 8k on the ike gauntlet in colorado.. it didnt shift nearly as much as the f250 with 3.73 gears on it..
Personally I would think your better off paying for a set of 4.30 gears and you will love life when you get in the mountains..
Part 1
Part 2
Personally I would think your better off paying for a set of 4.30 gears and you will love life when you get in the mountains..
Part 1
Part 2
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 306
From: Mills River
Ok, I'm a bit confused. I have a 2012 F250, 6.2L, 3.73 AND a 10K pound 5th wheel. Last summer, the wife and I took it for a 5 state trip and the truck did fine except in the mountains of Utah and Colorado. It took all it could muster to get over some of those grades and honestly, the RPM's it took began to concern me a little (having come from a 7.3L F250)...
It might even be worth experimenting with an even higher fuel grade when towing heavy in the summer.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: Central Massachusetts
I have the 5star tunes in my 2016. Ive been impressed with it. Its a different truck. It doesnt add much for hp but changes the way it drives. Personally i think it would be the best $420 you can spend.
I have 373 gearing and im considering going to the 430. I just havent convinced myself its worth the money yet.
I have 373 gearing and im considering going to the 430. I just havent convinced myself its worth the money yet.
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Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,156
Likes: 1,369
From: Chaz
Ok, I'm a bit confused. I have a 2012 F250, 6.2L, 3.73 AND a 10K pound 5th wheel. Last summer, the wife and I took it for a 5 state trip and the truck did fine except in the mountains of Utah and Colorado. It took all it could muster to get over some of those grades and honestly, the RPM's it took began to concern me a little (having come from a 7.3L F250).
I have read every post I could find about 5 Star tuners. Some say they help with power, some say they don't. Some say get 4.30 gears, some say just let the engine spin.
Now I'm not looking to soar over the continental divide at 60mph, but any additional h/p would help and frankly, I'm not wanting to spend much time and money on this.
Would getting a 5 star help me get down the road and over some of the steeper hills pulling the 5th wheel or no, an if so, which 87 modules should I buy?
I have read every post I could find about 5 Star tuners. Some say they help with power, some say they don't. Some say get 4.30 gears, some say just let the engine spin.
Now I'm not looking to soar over the continental divide at 60mph, but any additional h/p would help and frankly, I'm not wanting to spend much time and money on this.
Would getting a 5 star help me get down the road and over some of the steeper hills pulling the 5th wheel or no, an if so, which 87 modules should I buy?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 861
Likes: 7
From: AZ
Its really simple the 6.2 is normal aspirated engine. The higher you go the less air the truck pulls into the cylinders. At sea level you have 1 bar(30 PSI) air pressure. at 5 thousand feet your have 25 PSI at 10000 you have 20 psi. This is why your truck does not pull as hard at elevation. The states you mention are at altitude. Turbo engines DO compensate for this, but they are still affected.
I would try the tunes since it's the easiest, and if you're still not happy do gears, and why not go with 4.56s if you're spending the money.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 305
Likes: 1
From: Delphos, OH
I came for the world of 7.3 as well. From the reading I have done, I think the 7.3 produced max torque at around 2000 rpm where the 6.2 does it at 4500 rpm's. So if you're towing and going up a grade it wouldn't be a surprise to have the truck up in the 4K range nor would it concern me other than worrying about running out of gas before I crest the hill.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 974
Likes: 11
I'm a V10 guy myself, so take my comments with a grain of salt.
In all my reading here regarding 5Star on the 6.2L -- it's going to change (improve) the way the truck drives. Specifically, it'll improve the tranny behavior a bunch. 5Star might give you a little extra hp, but you're probably not likely to notice that difference pulling a 10k 5-er over high elevation mountain passes in the western US. For that load at that elevation, sounds like you need some new gears. But...
How likely is it that you're going to be pulling this load over the mountain passes? Was this a one-and-done sorta deal? Or, will you be going back year after year?
If this will be a regular occurrence, then splurge on the gears. If you go this route, though, I (personally) would seriously consider going deeper than just 4.30's. Again, depending on how often you'll be pulling these grades, I'd suggest you look at 4.56's or even beyond.
In all my reading here regarding 5Star on the 6.2L -- it's going to change (improve) the way the truck drives. Specifically, it'll improve the tranny behavior a bunch. 5Star might give you a little extra hp, but you're probably not likely to notice that difference pulling a 10k 5-er over high elevation mountain passes in the western US. For that load at that elevation, sounds like you need some new gears. But...
How likely is it that you're going to be pulling this load over the mountain passes? Was this a one-and-done sorta deal? Or, will you be going back year after year?
If this will be a regular occurrence, then splurge on the gears. If you go this route, though, I (personally) would seriously consider going deeper than just 4.30's. Again, depending on how often you'll be pulling these grades, I'd suggest you look at 4.56's or even beyond.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 31
From: Idaho
5 Stars
5 Star turns are great on the v10. BUT at 8 - 10 thousand feet, it just does not have the power to pull well. We use the V10 in the desert at sea level and it does great. When in the mountain you can feel the power loss. It feels like a different truck at 8 thousand feet.
Like other have said gearing will help the most. My V10 has 4.10 and I would like it something like 4.5x
I run both diesel and gas motors. I love the v10 for what it is.
Like other have said gearing will help the most. My V10 has 4.10 and I would like it something like 4.5x
I run both diesel and gas motors. I love the v10 for what it is.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
My take is that 5 star helps by "improving" the gear shifting pattern for some, and the better throttle responsiveness. I do not think anyone thinks it gives significant change in HP or torque on a 6.2 gasser.
I think using manual gear control does help in the mountains, both up and down the grades. Getting the 4.30 or higher will surely help, but you will still need to rev above 3500 when climbing hills.
I think using manual gear control does help in the mountains, both up and down the grades. Getting the 4.30 or higher will surely help, but you will still need to rev above 3500 when climbing hills.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,156
Likes: 1,369
From: Chaz
Yeah from what I've read the 5 star improves the transmission shifting mainly. If I jump from my F150 to my F250 the transmissions are obviously calibrated totally differently for different drivers and conditions.
I would do the gears. If it isn't a daily I would even look for even deeper than 4.30. But are deeper than 4.30 even available?
I would do the gears. If it isn't a daily I would even look for even deeper than 4.30. But are deeper than 4.30 even available?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 32
From: Maryville, TN
Yes, Yukon is cutting 4.56 and 4.88's. My 4.88's are ordered and about to go in. There is no carrier break for the rear end, the front requires the thick cut gears.
For those wanting to go deeper than 4.30, hypertech makes an inline module(sold by 5 star) that goes behind the cluster. This will adjust for the gears greater than 4.30 and tires taller than 35". That's the limits of the SCT tuner. I will add the 5 star SCT tuner, which can be ran with the hypertech module after my power train warranty expires.
For those wanting to go deeper than 4.30, hypertech makes an inline module(sold by 5 star) that goes behind the cluster. This will adjust for the gears greater than 4.30 and tires taller than 35". That's the limits of the SCT tuner. I will add the 5 star SCT tuner, which can be ran with the hypertech module after my power train warranty expires.