Triton performance upgrades?

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blkmonday

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I have a 2014 limited with the Triton v8 all stock 65k. It's a big sluggish truck with poor fuel economy as expected. What can anyone suggest for a few easy horsepower upgrades? Cold air intake? Coil packs? Anyone have success picking up a few extra horses to make this motor wake up a little?
 

JExpedition07

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First thing is to make sure it’s in good tune and air filter is clean.

What’s your rear end gear ratio? The 5.4 was available with 3.31 and 3.73 ratios. The 3.31 provides better fuel economy and is a cruising gear (taller). The 3.73 is a torque multiplier and provides stronger acceleration. The 2 behave differently.

Most of the “sluggishness” you feel is likely not the engine but the drive by wire and or rear axle ratio. The drive by wire and torque management can cause acceleration delay and downshift delays as well as limiting torque output at certain rpm to protect the trans. A tune from a company like 5 star will remove much of the dbw delay and adjust the torque management so the engine can put down more power and on command
 
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1955moose

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You've got the Pinnacle of the 5.4's. I've never heard a member here complain about the 310 hp motor. I would check items like fuel pressure, fuel trim, exaust back pressure, and run on an advanced scanner. A 5 star tune along with a better breathing air filter, will make it spunkier, but I'd make sure your stock motor and related components are at 100 percent first. You might have one of the cats plugged up.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk
 

jeff kushner

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I owned a couple of the 5.4's and they are good engines but be realistic in your expectations for any power upgrades. To me, it was going to take a lot of cash to get there and it wasn't worth it. 5-6HP is not worth spending money on. As JE states, the RBW can be "cleaned" up with Tuning for smoother running but won't really be able to add anything.


jeff
 

JExpedition07

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I owned a couple of the 5.4's and they are good engines but be realistic in your expectations for any power upgrades. To me, it was going to take a lot of cash to get there and it wasn't worth it. 5-6HP is not worth spending money on. As JE states, the RBW can be "cleaned" up with Tuning for smoother running but won't really be able to add anything.


jeff

5 Star shows the 5.4 3V picking up some decent power on an 05’ but it’s a different case there as the older 4 speed trans was equipped. Not sure how accurate their graphs are for any engine as they are trying to sell their software. More of the gains come from dbw and trans calibration changes I’d guess. The 5.4 3V Triton from 05+ breaths quite better than the 97-04 2V version and puts down 40-50 more hp stock. Plus it has the addition of Variable Cam timing.

The torque management does indeed limit the power output. On the older 4 speed trans on the 05-06 trucks it was set relatively aggressively to protect the trans...6 speed equipped trucks run a lot better, not sure what gains they make. Most say it’s night and day better after the tune on a 5.4 like most other powertrains.
 
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johnboneske

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Here is an 87 octane tune, pretty good and with 3.31 gears:


Can't imagine my Expedition running that good! Although I have the old 2 valve engine in my 2003, and had that same one in my 1997. Do you know what improvements a 5 star tune does to it?
 

Adieu

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Here is an 87 octane tune, pretty good and with 3.31 gears:


Daaamn that's SLOOOOW.... takes almost 11 seconds to 60mph despite a revved up highish RPM launch

A stock 5.4 expy/gator is ~8 seconds from idle, +/- depending on equipment, axle, and 4x4 or not
 
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JExpedition07

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Daaamn that's SLOOOOW.... takes almost 11 seconds to 60mph despite a revved up highish RPM launch

A stock 5.4 expy/gator is ~8 seconds from idle, +/- depending on equipment, axle, and 4x4 or not

He spun the rears LOL. My short bus with 3.73s is rated for 7.5 seconds.
 
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