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I agree! I own 1997 F250 4x4 w/460. Auto. that tows a travel trailer. This particular vehicle needs more help than the rest! Yet there seems to be little info on it (Chip wise). I heard that the SChips 1715 will not work because of the port location/configuration? Now what? Thanks:)
Any 1987-2003 Ford with an EEC-IV or EEC-V can be chipped, including the 460. The reason you don't see information for it is because less than 1 in 100 chips sold is for the 460. You can only cram so much information on a site before people don't read it at all because its too wordy.
The reason is because 90% of the chips sold are for vehicles 3 years old and newer. The other 10% is split among all the 1988-2000 applications. There just aren't many people with 460 V8s asking about chips, just as there aren't many with 302 V8s and 351 V8s asking about them.
The 460 gains roughly 24HP and 45 ft/lbs torque. You may pick up a couple of miles per gallon but it requires premium fuel. Works under all driving conditions at all RPMs and throttle positions.
I have to run premium (octane 91) all the time to avoid ping when towing -- I never use 5th gear towing. According to the owners manual, octane 87 is required. Here where I live at 5300 ft. elv., regular is 85.5, and the middle grade is 88. Most often when I am loaded heavy or towing heavy I run at higher elevations. Does this indicate an existing problem?
What does a Diablo chip cost? How difficult is the installation?
It just ocurred to me that I purchased that truck in November of '94 with 33k miles on it. It has always ran strong, and gotten good fuel economy (12-14mpg, 8.7 worst pulling a double). Is it possible thta it was already "chipped" when I bought it?
Last edited by llasalle; Sep 11, 2003 at 10:59 PM.
If you're having to run premium with stock tuning something is wrong, could be any number of things. See if you're getting codes (not likely but its a start).
Installation is simple, just pull out the computer (we supply instructions), clean the grease off the connector and plug the chip module into it. Takes about 30 minutes.
I do have to run premium to avoid ping under heavy engine load, even climbling mountain passes running empty.
Please note that as you increase in altitude, octane requirement decreases because of the lower atmospheric partial pressure of O2. That is, in my estimation why the oil companies can get away with downgrading regular to 85.5 and medium to 88. When I have ocassion to travel to low altitudes I find regular at 87, medium at 89 and premium at 91 or 92.
Were performance chips available before I bought my truck in November of '94. If so, how do you determine if you have one?
If you're currently running premium then something else is wrong. Its unlikely that you have a chip installed. If you did it would ping all the time. Octane requirements go down for chips as you gain altitude. You can see the chip attached to the outside of the computer box if you have one.