Max Microtuner & lousy MPG
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From: Medford USA!
Max Microtuner & lousy MPG
I've been running the Superchips Max Microtuner on performance mode with nice noticable performance gains, and not too much dif, maybe a little less mpg.
Put it to the real test the last 4 days. Loaded the "tow/haul" setting into it, (been running 91 octane-as that is all we have out here), loaded the camper and went to the coast.
The engine pinged a lot, more than any other time I've had this truck (3 1/2 years now). Mileage SUCKED. I'm usually travelling at high elevations (4000-6000') and average with the stock program 10.5-11 mpg with the camper on.
Now I'm driving at SEA LEVEL , running at the same speeds or less(60-63 mph) and get a whopping 8.5 mpg through 3 tank fulls. The WORST I've ever had with the STOCK program was 8.8 at 65 mph into a 40 mph headwind at 5000'.
I just loaded the "87 tow" program in and will try that.
The mileage trade off is no where near worth the slight performance gain. This tuner may end up another "boat anchor" on the shelf in the garage.
I am NOT happy right now
Put it to the real test the last 4 days. Loaded the "tow/haul" setting into it, (been running 91 octane-as that is all we have out here), loaded the camper and went to the coast.
The engine pinged a lot, more than any other time I've had this truck (3 1/2 years now). Mileage SUCKED. I'm usually travelling at high elevations (4000-6000') and average with the stock program 10.5-11 mpg with the camper on.
Now I'm driving at SEA LEVEL , running at the same speeds or less(60-63 mph) and get a whopping 8.5 mpg through 3 tank fulls. The WORST I've ever had with the STOCK program was 8.8 at 65 mph into a 40 mph headwind at 5000'.
I just loaded the "87 tow" program in and will try that.
The mileage trade off is no where near worth the slight performance gain. This tuner may end up another "boat anchor" on the shelf in the garage.
I am NOT happy right now
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Long Beach, Ms.
Where are you getting your gas? If the motor is pinging the octaine is not high enough. Any time that you get performance you will trade off mileage. There is just so much energy in a gallon of gas and using it to make hp/torque means visiting the pumps more often. I see that you state that you got "nice noticeable performance gains" in your opening sentence then at the end describe "the slight performance gain", which is it? And now to address the MPG drop. You say that there is "not too much dif, maybe a little less mpg" then you say later that you "get a whopping 8.5 mpg" "The WORST I've ever had with the STOCK program was 8.8 ". I think that one possible reason for the MPG drop is that you are having to push more air at sea level than at 5,000'. Also what speed do you travel when you are at altitude? You may be driving closer to the 65mph speed at sea level than when you are winding thru the mountains.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
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From: Enjoying the real world.
Blame your gas. Its really designed with 92 in mind. 91 is the bare minimum, and that won't work if the fuel is oxygenated.
How are you calculated mileage? If you're using the mileage computer forget about it, its readings are not acurage with a tuner installed (neither is it without the tuner but its worse with it). You need to calculate mileage by hand and that will take several tanks because there's no way to compensate for the slight amount left in the tank between fill-ups.
How are you calculated mileage? If you're using the mileage computer forget about it, its readings are not acurage with a tuner installed (neither is it without the tuner but its worse with it). You need to calculate mileage by hand and that will take several tanks because there's no way to compensate for the slight amount left in the tank between fill-ups.
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From: Medford USA!
Originally posted by shorebird
Where are you getting your gas? "nice noticeable performance gains" in your opening sentence then at the end describe "the slight performance gain", which is it?
Where are you getting your gas? "nice noticeable performance gains" in your opening sentence then at the end describe "the slight performance gain", which is it?
Nice performance gain was with the "performance setting"
Slight gain was with the "tow/haul" setting.
As for sea level pushing more air..no way would that reduce mileage. High altitude degrades mileage, not the other way around.
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From: Medford USA!
Originally posted by webmaster
Blame your gas. Its really designed with 92 in mind. 91 is the bare minimum, and that won't work if the fuel is oxygenated.
How are you calculated mileage? If you're using the mileage computer forget about it, its readings are not acurage with a tuner installed (neither is it without the tuner but its worse with it). You need to calculate mileage by hand and that will take several tanks because there's no way to compensate for the slight amount left in the tank between fill-ups.
Blame your gas. Its really designed with 92 in mind. 91 is the bare minimum, and that won't work if the fuel is oxygenated.
How are you calculated mileage? If you're using the mileage computer forget about it, its readings are not acurage with a tuner installed (neither is it without the tuner but its worse with it). You need to calculate mileage by hand and that will take several tanks because there's no way to compensate for the slight amount left in the tank between fill-ups.
All of my mileage calculations are always hand done...never the mileage computer. I've calcualted EVERY fillup with this truck since it was new manually. I KNOW what it gets and what it doesn't get on a consistent basis. When I pull up to the pump I can tell the attendant within 1/2 gallon of how many gallons this rig will take based on the fuel guage position.
I knew based on the odometer vs. fuel guage position that this program was not performing decent economy at all (by decent I mean based on the stock performance).
Since then, I am trying the 87 octane position (tow program) and see what happens.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
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From: Enjoying the real world.
Superchips doesn't make any recommendations for fuel, Diablo Sport recommends Mobile and Amoco gas because they tend to give the best results (Diablo is even more sensitive to octane).
Please, no need to shout some of your words at me.
Please, no need to shout some of your words at me.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: San Diego
I sent my "1715" back to Superchip last week. I too was experiencing "pinging" while towing my 11,000lb toybox. The problem arose between 3500-4500 rpm's. Always while pulling up a grade, 91 octane (california) and never over 3,000 feet in altitude. They said that the program has been modified since my purchase (early model) and that I shouldn't have any more problems. I'll let you know.
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Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Long Beach, Ms.
Take a look at this post; Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums > Performance, Engines and Troubleshooting > 4.6L, 5.4L Modular V8 > Better mileage at Altitudes > 7000 feet
Last edited by shorebird; Feb 10, 2004 at 11:05 AM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
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From: Enjoying the real world.
Unfortunately, there's no way to compensate for altitude. Every 1000 feet equals about 3% power loss. 
Just about anything you do to help power at altitude applies to sea level as well.
Just about anything you do to help power at altitude applies to sea level as well.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: San Diego
My problem was with detonation, not power loss. Update since last post; Superchip confirms that the program in my "1715" is from last September. They acknowledged a problem with detonation in that program. They updated to the most current program and are shipping the unit back, today. They were very helpful.
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From: Hamilton, ohio
i have noticed that some of the companies that are making the chips recomend a lower thermostat so detonation does not happen. but i m alos seein on here that alot of peopel are recomending to not get the lower thermostat
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I noticed another thing to think about also with regards to octane. If you are towing with a tank full of 91 octane and go to a lower altitude it will effectively lower your octane rating. There is a reason 91 is the highest offered in most higher altitude areas simply because very few vehicles have the compression to effectively burn a higher octane fuel. So if towing a heavy load to a lower altitude, some octane booster may not be a bad idea untill you find a gas station with 93 or higher.
If this doesn't make sense to anyone I'll elaborate on the principals; higher octane= slower burn, higher altitude=less air (at sea level about 15psi at 4800ft about 12.5 psi) if you have less air, everything will burn more slowly and given the fractions of seconds duration of combustion time, it makes a significant difference. This may explain the problems Outpost mentioned, as he said he went to the coast from 4-6000ft. In doing so he raised his effective compression ratio.
If this doesn't make sense to anyone I'll elaborate on the principals; higher octane= slower burn, higher altitude=less air (at sea level about 15psi at 4800ft about 12.5 psi) if you have less air, everything will burn more slowly and given the fractions of seconds duration of combustion time, it makes a significant difference. This may explain the problems Outpost mentioned, as he said he went to the coast from 4-6000ft. In doing so he raised his effective compression ratio.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
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From: Enjoying the real world.
The companies that recommend a lower degree thermostat don't do it because of detonation. They do it because they only tune at WOT throttle and changing the termostat is a way to cheat at other throttle positions at the expense of mileage.
Yes, that's correct about octane and altitude. Keep in mind that when most octane boosters say something like "raises octane 5 points" they mean "0.5", not "5.0".
Yes, that's correct about octane and altitude. Keep in mind that when most octane boosters say something like "raises octane 5 points" they mean "0.5", not "5.0".
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From: Medford USA!
Just a mileage update to my original post. I am now trying the "87 octane tow program". With this setup I just got 11.53 mpg measured at the pump with mostly in town driving... a far better number than the 8+ with the 91 tow program (albeit with the camper on)
