Hi folks. I bought a 5 star tuner from Mike and this week I have put 1,000 miles on it towing with my E350 V10 van with 6.8 two valve, 4.10 rear end and weighing in at 17,200lbs GCWR. I own two vans, one is a 2002 completely stock with 4.10 and 4R100 tranny, 4 speed. So the two vans are identical accept for the torqueshift in the 05 that I am driving this week.
I have noticed a lot more power on 89 performance towing with OD locked out. On the 4R100 I would lock it out all the time, it would only do overdrive on flat ground with tail winds and didn't like it much.
I have been in overdrive most of the 1,000 miles on the interstate and am very happy with the performance.
Mike warned me when I talked to him on the phone when ordering the tuner that at these specs I would not see a lot of fuel mileage improvement which was very honest of him and its true. it does about the same as the other van did pulling the same load, but the power is much better.
I tried the 91 performance and ran 93 octane fuel for one tank but didn't notice much if any difference accept that the motor sounded more stressed, which would be the timing advanced more. so I put it back on 89 and am very happy. I like the tranny shifts, the lock out of overdrive ability and the power. Definately much more mid range power for towing.
Just thought I would let you know
Andrew.

 

I do lots of towing at about 16-17K GCW with my V10 E350.
Need to get a tune, but I keep putting it off...

Did you get the Live wire so you could monitor, or just the X3?

 

LiveWire is free, you just need the USB cable for the X3, and that's a standard mini-USB (the square kind you'd find on an HP printer or such) to regular-USB cable.

 

Your thinking Live Link which is a free datalogging software vs the Live Wire which is a flash device.