Superchips & towing - Does it help?
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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Superchips & towing - Does it help?
I'm not relly impressed with how my truck pulls a load. Even a 2,000 pound trailer. I have the 04 Screw with a 5.4 auto, 3.73 rear end and 325/65r18 tires. Does anyone have any experience/feedback about towing with the Superchips program? Any noticable improvement?
Thanks
Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 140
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I guess I'm suprised you are uphappy. I've towed an 8,200 lb 5th wheel over 2,500 miles and am reasonably happy. I towed my old 4,500 lb. TT to the dealer when I first got my truck and couldn't complain at all.
I can't answer your question but I do have an observation.
The largest issue I have is towing gas mileage. Obviously, I expected this. I'm getting just under 8 mpg.
Therefore, I'm going to try mods that improve both power and mileage first. Intake and exhaust mods, if effective, improve power and mileage both. A well executed combination of intake and exhaust mod should deliver more that a program change. It will also result in b larger boost in a tuner change.
At 8 mpg, it's difficult to consider a mod. that will require premium gas.
Regards,
I can't answer your question but I do have an observation.
The largest issue I have is towing gas mileage. Obviously, I expected this. I'm getting just under 8 mpg.
Therefore, I'm going to try mods that improve both power and mileage first. Intake and exhaust mods, if effective, improve power and mileage both. A well executed combination of intake and exhaust mod should deliver more that a program change. It will also result in b larger boost in a tuner change.
At 8 mpg, it's difficult to consider a mod. that will require premium gas.
Regards,
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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It's not that it's slow or terrible. It just doesn't seem to pull at all better than my 2000 Silverado with the 5.3 did.
I never did expect much for mileage. It's poor, but I knew it would be. Most of my towing trips are company outings, and therefore I'm not the one footing the gas bill.
I just wish I could pass with more confidence with a load.
I never did expect much for mileage. It's poor, but I knew it would be. Most of my towing trips are company outings, and therefore I'm not the one footing the gas bill.
I just wish I could pass with more confidence with a load.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 140
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Granted I don't pass a lot when towing my 5th wheel, but I do occasionally. I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that the 5.4L will accelerate 13,500 lbs rapidly cause it won't. For me it's mostly about having reasonable expectations under the circumstances.
From what I can see, the weakest link on the stock motor appears to be the intake. Look at the snorkel where it goes through the side wall of the truck. It narrows down to a circle around 2 inches in diameter. My motorcycle has a much bigger intake. Normally I replace the air filter with a K&N, but with the size of the restrictions in the 5.4L both in front and behind the filter, I don't believe a K&N would make much difference.
I'm going to put a Volant cold air intake on mine. It's sitting in the basement right now, but my wifes giving it to me for Christmas, so it'll be a while before I will put it on.
I'm going to use the time to get some mileage history so that I can compare before and after. Also, I have a Car Code virtual dash that is supposed to shows torque output. I've never tried that feature, but I'm going to give it a shot before I mod the intake.
I'll be doing the exhaust next spring. I still have some research to do there.
What I've always heard and figured is that a chip or tune doesn't do much until you've got the engine breathing in and out properly.
Enjoy.
From what I can see, the weakest link on the stock motor appears to be the intake. Look at the snorkel where it goes through the side wall of the truck. It narrows down to a circle around 2 inches in diameter. My motorcycle has a much bigger intake. Normally I replace the air filter with a K&N, but with the size of the restrictions in the 5.4L both in front and behind the filter, I don't believe a K&N would make much difference.
I'm going to put a Volant cold air intake on mine. It's sitting in the basement right now, but my wifes giving it to me for Christmas, so it'll be a while before I will put it on.
I'm going to use the time to get some mileage history so that I can compare before and after. Also, I have a Car Code virtual dash that is supposed to shows torque output. I've never tried that feature, but I'm going to give it a shot before I mod the intake.
I'll be doing the exhaust next spring. I still have some research to do there.
What I've always heard and figured is that a chip or tune doesn't do much until you've got the engine breathing in and out properly.
Enjoy.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 44
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From: San Diego
I used to have your porblem after installing 35 inch tires.
That 3.73 gear ratio is a joke if you installed 35 inch tires and trying to pull weight. I have 35 inch tires & and supership program has not helped much, GEARS did! I regeared to 4.56 and bam! I got my truck back.
Now I am @ 70MPH @ 2200 RPM.
Also Superchips fixed my RPM but not speedometer which is still 15 MPH too fast.
I tow 9000 pounds and this truck will not pull like a turbo diesel, but it gets the trailer over the mountains at around 45MPH now that I regeared.
That 3.73 gear ratio is a joke if you installed 35 inch tires and trying to pull weight. I have 35 inch tires & and supership program has not helped much, GEARS did! I regeared to 4.56 and bam! I got my truck back.
Now I am @ 70MPH @ 2200 RPM.
Also Superchips fixed my RPM but not speedometer which is still 15 MPH too fast.
I tow 9000 pounds and this truck will not pull like a turbo diesel, but it gets the trailer over the mountains at around 45MPH now that I regeared.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 140
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Originally Posted by 14u2nv
yes the tuner makes a difference also you are killing your gear ratio wih the 325 tires imo but even with the larger tires the tuner will be a noticable improvement 
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Upgrades
I pull a 4000 pound TT and found much improvment after I installed an AEM Brute Force Intake and the Magnaflow 3" SS exhaust. Big Big difference.
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