Sorry if this is a overasked question, but I couldn't find the answer anywhere.

I just ordered a Diablo Sport Predator Flash Tuner for my 2003 F150 5.4L V8 Supercrew. After ordering it, I got curious, I wont have to run premium octane gas in it, will I? I want to be able to still run 87 octane, because gas prices here in Alaska are so high already, premium will kill my wallet. Besides, they only go up to 91 octane here.

 

A Diablo Sport Predator does not exist for the F150 yet, they are working on one now. Anyone who is advertising it is advertising vaporware --- some companies have listed one for over a year but it doesn't exist. I've been in touch with the programmer writing the tunes for it and its not yet available.

The only Ford gas tuners from Diablo are for the Cobra and Lightning, with GT and F150 versions in the works.

When they are released, yes, you will need to run premium fuel to get a power increase.

Diablo Sport chips for the F150... yes, those do exist (and yes, they require premium as well).

 

So you think this product is bogus?

http://www.truckperformance.com/prod...oductID=558903

I hope not, because I ordered one, I'm curious what in the world they will be sending me. When I called them I asked the person about it, and he said that the tuner had a setting for 87, 91 and 93 octane. He must be confusing it with another tuner?

With that in mind, if I do have to cancel that order, can you recommend a good tuner for a 2003 F150 5.4L Supercrew? Something that I can run off 87 octane gas? I'd appreciate it.

 

Yes. It is bogus. Grannetelli, a Diablo distributor, has listed this item in their dealer catalog for about a year. Misinformed dealers who don't know their product lines, such as this one, have listed it.

Notice it says out of stock... it has said that for a year on several sites. You won't be getting it any time soon, hope they didn't charge you first.

Here's Diablo's phone number: 800-531-5484

Ask to speak to tech support, or submit a question their web site: ww<!-- -->w.dia<!-- -->blosport.com

The tuner available for your truck is the Superchips Microtuner 1715: http://www.motorhaven.com/customer/home.php?cat=169 I supports 87 octane and premium. There is no specific 91 or 93 setting, just two premium settings for 91 or greater (one of the settings is a little richer for towing). You get no performance increase worth noticing with the 87 octane setting.... no such thing as a free lunch with gas tuning.

Naturally, because I'm with MotorHaven, I'm biased, but I recommend you buy a Microtuner or Diablo chip from us, since we actually know the product line.

 

So no performance increase with using 87 octane? So, basically, if you live where I live and can only get 87 octane, there really isn't any reason to use the tuner? Or did I misunderstand your reply.

Thanks for the reply, it is good to know that about the tuner I supposedly ordered.

 

It gives a slight increase, mainly at wide open throttle. It's not much, estimate about 4-7 HP, and most people wouldn't notice the change. The 87 octane tune is there to increase the shift firmness, change the shift patterns, raise the speed limiter and adjust the speedometer for tire size/axle change.

 

Well, I went ahead and called up the company I ordered from and canceled that order. I appreciate the info a lot, thanks for the help.

By the way, one of their representatives told me that specific tuner is supposed to be available at the very end of April. Do you know if that is correct or not?

 

As long as I'm asking questions, I might as well ask this one too...

I'm getting some Gibson headers for my F150... now I've been reading a lot that most tuners/chips can be set to be more effective if you add headers, but it seems things like exhaust and air filters dont effect the way the chip causes the engine to operate? Is that correct?

Let me just describe my scenario real quick Hope you can help, again.

I have the following...

Borla dual rear exit exhaust.
Gibson stainless steel headers.
K&N 77 Performance air filter intake system.

So, with only being able to use 87 octane, would a chip help me at all with this setup? Or is it still pretty pointless to have a chip at 87 octane, at least as far as actual horsepower is concerned?

 

I've been talking directly with the person writing the tunes for the F150 Predator quite often --- again today. End of April is optimistic, early May is a better time frame. I know the specifications on it but I can't post them here. Call me and I can give you some hints and let you know about specials we're not allowed to advertise. 770-918-8400 (9am - 5pm, Eastern Standard Time) Ask for me specifically when you call because no one else here has the scoop on it. One thing I can say... it has a tune option no one else has that's going to surprise a lot of people!

Exhausts and intakes don't impact the chips or tuners because the O2 sensors and MAF sensor allows the computer to adjust for airflow changes. Long tube headers require custom programming because they throw off (and sometimes eliminate) the O2 sensor reading.

 

For anyone interested, I called Ken, he's awesome. I'll definitely purchase my tuner through him when it comes out in a month or two or three.

 

Yeah... Diablo has something up their sleeve!