EXPY Tunes

[Mike Wolfe]

Hi All
The thread I started regarding the 5 star software has gone completely off subject
Started this thread so we have a clean one to offer my experiences with their software
Loaded the 5 Star 93 octane performance/tow software & in NORMAL mode the throttle response is vastly improved. Trans shifts much better now & as far as I can tell no skipped shifts anymore. Before tune trans would jump from 1st to third to 5th & lug engine at light throttle. Mileage seems to be better as well. Have not tried to find an accurate way to measure 0-60 times etc yet.
So far pleased with the improvements
Has anyone else tried their software?

 

[Rotorhead451]

Mighty quiet on this thread. I'll go on record as saying that I'm about 80% persuaded to try this. I have an appt at the dealer next Wednesday on lateral re-focusing my headlights, and possibly the "recall" on the ASS While there, I'll ask around about their protocols on Tuning

 

[Garrett]

I’m doing after I get my wheels.

 

[rumline]

It turns out that Bill Clinton came up with the perfect protocol, just for the wrong thing. "Don't ask, don't tell" perfectly describes what you should do regarding a tune and your dealer. Dealers are pretty bigoted when it comes to tunes; they just won't appreciate your point of view.

But seriously, don't ask them about it. Tuning your engine and/or transmission will absolutely give Ford grounds to deny warranty coverage for a powertrain-related issue. The thing is, they're not likely to discover it unless something goes catastrophically wrong where they need to go digging around in the computer. If you have a common issue that they've already published a service bulletin for, and your symptoms match it, they'll probably just do the fix and that'll be the end of it. If your tranny blows up because you've been riding it like a rented mule, lo siento señor.

Everybody has to make their own decision if the risk is worth it to them. But don't involve your dealer in the decision-making process.

Mike, I'm sorry to take your new thread off the rails slightly, but this is a common issue on every forum that just goes with tune discussions.

To get things back on topic I will likely tune mine whenever I save up the pennies to buy one. Staying tuned for feedback from others who have taken the plunge....

 

[Mike Wolfe]

It turns out that Bill Clinton came up with the perfect protocol, just for the wrong thing. "Don't ask, don't tell" perfectly describes what you should do regarding a tune and your dealer. Dealers are pretty bigoted when it comes to tunes; they just won't appreciate your point of view.

But seriously, don't ask them about it. Tuning your engine and/or transmission will absolutely give Ford grounds to deny warranty coverage for a powertrain-related issue. The thing is, they're not likely to discover it unless something goes catastrophically wrong where they need to go digging around in the computer. If you have a common issue that they've already published a service bulletin for, and your symptoms match it, they'll probably just do the fix and that'll be the end of it. If your tranny blows up because you've been riding it like a rented mule, lo siento señor.

Everybody has to make their own decision if the risk is worth it to them. But don't involve your dealer in the decision-making process.

Mike, I'm sorry to take your new thread off the rails slightly, but this is a common issue on every forum that just goes with tune discussions.

To get things back on topic I will likely tune mine whenever I save up the pennies to buy one. Staying tuned for feedback from others who have taken the plunge....

That is ok
At least we are not off subject in my opinion

 

[5150 pops]

Hi All
The thread I started regarding the 5 star software has gone completely off subject
Started this thread so we have a clean one to offer my experiences with their software
Loaded the 5 Star 93 octane performance/tow software & in NORMAL mode the throttle response is vastly improved. Trans shifts much better now & as far as I can tell no skipped shifts anymore. Before tune trans would jump from 1st to third to 5th & lug engine at light throttle. Mileage seems to be better as well. Have not tried to find an accurate way to measure 0-60 times etc yet.
So far pleased with the improvements
Has anyone else tried their software?

I have been tempted to do so, as they're relatively close to me. The problem I have is, they haven't published any before and after graphs of their tune on the expedition. Some fella named Tim told me to expect about a 40hp gain, when I inquired over the phone, which hp/$ is a bit WEAK IMO.

As far as repeatable testing, I have a simple OBDLink MX module I got off Amazon that does the trick. It can and does data logging on user defined parameters, AND has gauges that are user defined as well (INCLUDING THE ALMIGHTY BOOST), AND it also will also log...
60' ET
330'
1/8 MILE
1/4 MILE
0-60 as well as in 10 mph increments up to 100mph or beyond.

I'm fairly certain the "performance" datalog can be manipulated to log a whole lot more.

As far as octane goes...it's been well established that Ford's tuning strategy in the recent years has in fact included octane tuning as standard from the factory. The higher the octane pumped into the tank, the better the performance of the Ford vehicle. If you top off a 23 gallon tank of 87 octane with 4 gallons of 93 octane, no chance you will notice a difference. However, if you top off a tank of 87 octane which includes 10% ethanol, (that only has 50 miles to empty left) with 93 octane, and then repeat the exact same fill up the next two tanks, there will be little doubt left in your mind, that there is a noticeable difference in power, running 93 octane.

The main problem that can catch people off is if your "testing" this with your expy's intercooler already heatsoaked, you'll think to yourself I'm full of crap.
The intake air temp if warm will pull the timing that pcm added from the additional octane, so an accurate "test" would be comparing a cool morning 87 test, with a cool morning 93 test.

 

[5150 pops]

That is ok
At least we are not off subject in my opinion

I'm not trying to sell anyone on the OBDLink MX, merely pointing out it is relatively inexpensive, for what can be done with it. As long as you have an Android phone. Not compatible with ANY Apple product, though it is Windows compatible so you can use your laptop with it, or notebook, etc. There's another company that sells something very similar to this but itsi a little over double thatthe cash, that works with IOS...

http://www.ot-2.com

All that being said, I bought mine originally, to have access to read and clear codes on all our vehicles. I am totally NOT saying that it is as accurate as a dynamometer, or timing lights at the dragstrip. I do hope, that it IS at least consistent in the calculations it does provide.

All things equally considered, if I conduct my little "off public highway sorties" at exactly the same area, time after time, with only one change, I suspect/expect the differences to be somewhat indicative of relative progress.

 

[5150 pops]

The last pic (in the above prior post) was the first time after filling up with 93 octane, with zero ethanol, with about 2-3 gallons of 87octane with the common 10% ethanol.
The following is after a couple of refuels also 93 octane, with zero ethanol. Note that each of these were done at exactly the same spot, in sport mode, auto start stop off, traction control off, 4wd auto, letting the tranny shift on it's own, not loading the tranny via the brake, and around 5 miles after a dead cold start, with stop and go traffic early in the morning to get to my "spot".

Obviously the hp and tq figures (note where the peak are shown via red arrow indicators) are crank or flywheel computed. The max boost is also interesting, as I've read there is a momentary "over boost" built into the programming for Sport mode of 2-3 lbs for about 10 seconds or so.
If there were 20pounds available all the time, I'd be happy happy happy, to say the least.

 

[1955moose]

In my day, when you bolted on horsepower, $20.00 to $30.00 per horsepower was the ratio you shot for. Keep in mind that was you bolting up your own parts, cams, heads, pistons, etc. Nowadays 50 hp is at least that $30.00 ratio. Like my old friend Happy Harold said on the placque of his garage, it costs money to go fast, how many dollars worth do you want?

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[5150 pops]

Also want to mention...look at the 1000ft marks, more than the 1/4 mile. Reason being, I have no idea where exactly the 1320 foot mark is, from where I start. In all likelihood, I'm already coasting by the time I've passed the 1320 mark, to not draw unwanted attention to myself. I need to take this thing to the dragstrip to find out without any doubt, how quick this party bus is, or is not, before I start swapping parts.

 

[5150 pops]

In my day, when you bolted on horsepower, $20.00 to $30.00 per horsepower was the ratio you shot for. Keep in mind that was you bolting up your own parts, cams, heads, pistons, etc. Nowadays 50 hp is at least that $30.00 ratio. Like my old friend Happy Harold said on the placque of his garage, it costs money to go fast, how many dollars worth do you want?

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

There in lies my problem, 40hp with better shifting and maybe 80ft/lbs for $650.

 

[Mike Wolfe]

Interesting information
Not sure I want to pop for another $180.00 to run those tests
At this time can just tell you the "SEAT OF THE PANTS" feel of increased performance is really noticeable
Transmission shifts in normal mode are greatly improved
To me the improved performance is definitely worth the $650.00
would do it again in a heartbeat
would bet my 0-60 times are over a second less than those noted above also

BTW my average fuel economy was 18.2 mpg for the first 4400 miles
After the software upgrade my average is 19.8 mpg for the last 600 miles
That includes mixed driving of freeway speeds of typically 85 mph & a lot of idling while in the stores shopping for groceries (wife & dogs in car and 110 degrees outside) & other trips at 55-65 mph.

 

[Blackscreen67]

Factory they're programmed to making peak power with only 11psi.

 

[Blackscreen67]

If you can for best rating of horsepower at the wheel.

Brake boost next time to around 3k rpm allow that pulling sensation to start and then give it hell for a true 1320 / quarter mile.

I'm think a 13 is obtainable.

 

[Mike Wolfe]

Just went out to try a couple WOT runs in sport mode
94 degrees here, 780' altitude, 35% Relative humidity.
Not sure of barometric pressure
Torque stalled it to 2500 rpm then WOT & let off the brake simultaneously
I am pretty sure 0-60 times are close to 4 seconds but no way to verify it
Probably 1/4 mile in the 12's
WOT upshifts occur at 5200 rpm according to vehicle tach
Going to ask 5 star for updated software that will change WOT upshifts to around 5800 rpm

BTW Innovate motor sports is one of our customers
They purchase the linear O2 sensors from us

 

[5150 pops]

Just went out to try a couple WOT runs in sport mode
94 degrees here, 780' altitude, 35% Relative humidity.
Not sure of barometric pressure
Torque stalled it to 2500 rpm then WOT & let off the brake simultaneously
I am pretty sure 0-60 times are close to 4 seconds but no way to verify it
Probably 1/4 mile in the 12's
WOT upshifts occur at 5200 rpm according to vehicle tach
Going to ask 5 star for updated software that will change WOT upshifts to around 5800 rpm

BTW Innovate motor sports is one of our customers
They purchase the linear O2 sensors from us

I thought the N-Gauge device that comes with tune, could datalog?
The OBDLink MX is only ~$70 on Amazon.
Unless you're an Apple user, then yes the only device I know of is the ot2 thing I posted before

 

[Mike Wolfe]

Have to check into that
Only used it to download the original PCM programming& then in stall the 5 star 93 octane performance/tow calibration

 

[5150 pops]

If you can for best rating of horsepower at the wheel.

Brake boost next time to around 3k rpm allow that pulling sensation to start and then give it hell for a true 1320 / quarter mile.

I'm think a 13 is obtainable.

I agree, in the right conditions- low humidity, <80°F, I likely have a high thirteen second vehicle, so long as I'm running 93 octane.
I'd be surprised it wouldn't be, especially if I go to the dragstrip on a Friday night, with less than 1/4 of a tank of gas back there too. All of my "logging for speed" has been done on a freshly topped off tank.

I have never launched a turbo vehicle before, and since I'm not at an actual track, I've just grannied it off for consistency's sake. I don't want to load the transmission for too long before tearing off, as then the ECU/PCM would pull timing as well. It's all very unscientific, to be honest, as I have a finite period of time to try and launch, when there's "nobody" around, so trying to get all my ducks in a row, is tough without being at a proper place like the dragstrip.

Fwiw, there are three 1/4 mile tracks within an hour of where I live, all are well under 300 feet above sea level, including my "spot".

 

[5150 pops]

Have to check into that
Only used it to download the original PCM programming& then in stall the 5 star 93 octane performance/tow calibration

For sure you can datalog, as evidenced by the vid below, but I also think you can get performance data too, 0-60...1/4mile, etc

 

[Blackscreen67]

Just went out to try a couple WOT runs in sport mode
94 degrees here, 780' altitude, 35% Relative humidity.
Not sure of barometric pressure
Torque stalled it to 2500 rpm then WOT & let off the brake simultaneously
I am pretty sure 0-60 times are close to 4 seconds but no way to verify it
Probably 1/4 mile in the 12's
WOT upshifts occur at 5200 rpm according to vehicle tach
Going to ask 5 star for updated software that will change WOT upshifts to around 5800 rpm

BTW Innovate motor sports is one of our customers
They purchase the linear O2 sensors from us

I like your enthusiasm, but you would need over 600hp to click those numbers off.

Remember, a track hawk weighs the same as the expedition and cuts a high 3- low 4 0-60, and 11.7ish in the 1/4 on a good day.