So I am looking at ordering a FICM tuner from PHP so I can try the Atlas 40 and 80 tunes and purchase one of them but before I do I would like to hear your thoughts on the subject.
I am NOT studded and NOT burning coolant at this point and am hoping to hold on as long as possible before I have to get my hands dirty.
I do tow a boat about 45 min to an 1 hour 1/2 one way a couple times a year but that is the extent of my towing for the most part.
I don't have a tuner for the PCM so am thinking to get the 80 and forego the tuner I'm hoping the 80 will feed my need for power or will the 40 suffice.
I have the VCX4 calibration but not sure on the FICM strategy.

Thoughts please and be honest.

 

I went through the same thought process. I hardly ever tow. I am not studded either. When I had my FICM worked on I finally decided to play it safe and stay with a calm tune, the PHP Atlas 40.


I do plan on towing a travel trailer soon, and I do not have a EGT gauge yet.

If you get an EGT gauge, and only tow light, then I would go with Atlas 80. And not romp on it too much.

But if you want to play it safe, ave confidence in your stock studs, still have good pep, and a little more power, then I would go with the PHP Atlas 40.

I am not into big horsepower, but that is just me. I am happy with a truck for longevity.

Good luck with what you choose.

- Preston

 

If not studded, stick with 40. Ed at ficmrepair.com will tell you the same. 80 is too much for tty head bolts.

 

I run the 40 and Unlimited tow tune. Runs great. I am doing nothing but towing 14,000# currently.
Not studded.

 

PHP prints a warring in BOLD CAPS to not install the Atlas80 without studs.

 

I do concur. But then again, its all about how to user pushes the truck, too.

But the temptation would be too great with the Atlas 80. That's another reason I stuck with the 40.

 

More than happy with the 40, don't tow much but it made a noticeable difference to be sure

 

Well I may just go with the 40 because the temptation would be there and I have very little self control lol. Just don't want to pay for it and it not be what I was hoping for. I did read a 40 page thread from powerstrokenation when they first came out with the tunes and some were not impressed but I think PHP tweaked it a bit. Guess I'll order it and go from there.

 

I had the Atlas80 in a 2004 F250 EC LB 4x4 with the manual ZF6, it was un-drivable on a wet road in direct drive.

 

And those wet roads we pretty common in your neck of the woods.

 

I thought FICM tunes didn't increase cylinder pressure only the length of the burn. PCM tuning which advances timing is more the culprit behind head gasket issues.

 

More fuel means more time to burn it.

 

Yes, which increases EGTs. PCM tuning will advance timing AND increase fueling. From everything I've read and the 4 tuners I've dealt with and asked direct questions, that's what increases cylinder pressure leading to head gasket failure.


The guy who wrote the PHP FICM tunes posted this on another forum:Or, Ed from FICMrepair....8. Should I be concerned with my head gaskets with these tunes?


Not trying to be argumentative. Just trying to learn. Personally, I think anything higher that the 40 combined with a PCM tune is pushing your luck on a truck running stock TTY head bolts. The HGs are prone to failure prone enough stock. You might be ok with the 80 but then you would probably want PCM tuning for the tranny to handle the power.

 

Running the Atlas 80 will over ride the PCM fuel tune. The Atlas 40 works on top of the PCM tune.

 

Or, in front of as the case may be. FICM has all the control over the fueling. Most writers tune around that by fooling the ICP sensor.