I am thinking about getting a computer programmer for my Excursion. I need some feedback on what the best bang for my buck would be. I very rarely pull trailers, but I do alot of highway driving with the truck loaded. I am looking for an increase if fuel economy mainly.

Any thoughts?

 

Both Superchips and Diablo make tuners for your truck....

with judicious driving you will get a boost in the mpg as well.....
or at least stay at the same mpg with a BIG increase in the hp and wow factor !

http://www.motorhaven.com/customer/home.php?cat=8

 

I have a 2000 X w/7.3 PSD and have the hypertech programmer III. I tow a 33' camper with it. There are many programmers out there, but I can only tell about the Hypertech since it is the only one I have owned. I average 16 city and 21 highway, and have not had any problems with it. I do not know about the others, but Hypertech is 50 state legal.

 

Andersda437,

I'm curious what you did to your Ex to get that mileage? I'm stuck around 13.9 (by hand calc) in town. I was hoping for 15-16. Did the programmer do the trick for you?

Larry

 

Yea...The programmer makes the difference. I am looking at putting on a 4" exhaust to lower the exhaust gas temps a little and for the ooo and aaahhh factor. I can usually get around 12 on the highway when I tow my camper. All figures are by calc...not dummy monitor in overhead console.

Darren

 

Towning only drops me down to 12.8, but for the X, I ain't town much. Maybe 3500 lbs with the pop-up & gear.

I'll upgrade the exhaust to 4" when the muffler goes bad. I'm also thinking of putting in a K&N breather.

 

My camper weighs 6300# dry around 7000# ususally with what we normally put in it. I also carry wife, 4 kids, & dog who thinks he is one of the children. I can't complain about mileage. I traded in a 96 E150 conversion van because it got 6 mpg towing camper and had trouble going thru mountains with it. The only complaint I have is that I can't keep the wife out of it.....LOL

 

Many of the X and Super Duty owners here swear by their Diablo Predator. You not only get a tuner, but a code reader as well. I think the same applies for the Superchips Microtuner, but I'm not sure. Either way you go you'll be happy, it's just a matter of preference.

 

As stated, a lot of folks love the Diablo Predator and the Superchips Microtuner. But those aren't the only progammers out there. You'll have as much fun as a kid in a Sears Christmas catalog as you try to decide on which programmer you want. A few of them now have the ability to give you realtime data and can be used as "digital gauges". Of course you'll pay a bit more for those programmers. Happy shopping.

 

That's not true, you don't have to pay more. The Predator does have realtime data and can be used as digital gauges. However, the trucks don't supply information such as EGT because there isn't an EGT sensor on the truck.

The Predator has:
1. Power tunes.
2. Code reader. Its gives text, not just a code.
3. Live sensor reader.
4. Sensor logging for downloading into your PC.
5. Back-lit screen
6. Update the unit via web downloads
7. Save your stock program to your computer
8. Ability to load custom programs

There are no programmers as feature rich.

 

I have looked at article on the Preditor, but I only paid $100 for mine when I bought my X. So, I will stay with the Hypertech for now....

 

Did you buy it used ?
What HP claims did it come with ?

 

The previous owner of my X bought it new and he gave me the original receipt with the programmer when I bought the programmer from him. The only way I would buy one used is if I could have the original receipt with it, because Hypertech does not warranty second hand equipment. I had a problem with the programmer right after I bought it. It said mismatched VIN, which normally means it was used on another vehicle. I talked to the guy I bought it from to see if this had been the case and he said it had only been used on the X. He did say that the last time it had been used his mechanic reprogrammed the X for him. I got him to contact Hypertech and they gave him and RGA number to send it back. When it came back he said that the Hypertech rep had the programmer preload fo my vehicle with the vehicle info I was asked to provide him. To my amazement, they had not reprogrammed my old one but had sent me a brand new one. The old one only had 1 stage plus shift adjustment, while the new one has 3 stages. So I really can't complain about my deal, but I do like the fact that the Preditor is able to connnect to a pc and can be reprogrammed.


Darren

 

OH...
that explains it !!!

Typically I've found you GET what you pay for....
so if it's cheap - it's usually CHEAP

more and more these days....
you don't get something for nuthin !!!

 

Webmaster, et all,

My bad. I didn't expound in my earlier statement. I had stated "you'll pay a bit more for those programmers". That is a valid statement. The keyword in the statement is "those". I am not in any way discounting what features the Superchips or Diablo tuners give the customer. But if the customer wishes to have EGT readings, one has to have a sensor to get those readings. The other programmers to which I was referencing, though not by name, come with an EGT sensor. And the customer will pay more.

You are correct in stating that the customer doesn't have to pay more. Unless the customer wants EGT readings in addition to the other information the Predator provides. Then the customer has to go buy additional products. But that is their choice. They do not have to pay more. Alas, the many, many choices we have. The good thing is that there is hardly a bad choice. Sometimes there may have been a better choice. But I don't see any of them as bad.

Again, I agree with you, in that the Diablo and Superchips tuners give us additional power and a wealth of information. All for a very low price. Either of these would be one of the better choices we could make. And we've all made one great choice already, by owning a Ford PSD.

And thank you for monitoring these forums. For filling in the blanks. For providing corrections and expounding on statements made here. You, along with many others, provide a great service to all of us. Thank you.