Getting Ready to Tune My Ford Expedition Platinum Max 4X4 w/ Tow Package and 3.92 Gears - A Few Questions

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Alex Taylor

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Hi there,

I'm getting ready to tune my 2020 Ford Expedition Platinum Max 4x4, 3.92 gears with Tow Package with 22's. It is 400 HP stock and 450 ft/lb torque. My goal is to do this all in one shot and try to get to 600HP/TQ on 91 Octane gas (Arizona only has 91 sadly) so any and all guidance would be appreciated.

Here's what I have for my list to buy is there anything I'm missing?

- 5 Star Tuner & Tunes
- Catted Downpipe
- Whipple Mega Cooler
- Performance TS 160 degrees (I live in AZ so cooler is better in my view)

Questions:

- Should I get better spark plugs for the above set-up? If so any recommendations?
- I currently have a drop in K&N filter, would it be better to get a full K&N CAI or are gains negligible as I already have a drop in filter?
- Bigger Throttle Body? Not sure if they make one or if one is needed so figured I'd ask here.
- Oil catch can?
- Any other mods you'd collectively recommend with peak HP being my goal?
- Are there recommended installers in AZ / Phoenix Metro area that could install all of this for me in one shot?

Lastly is it possible to get to 600 HP at crank with the above or would I need 93?

Thanks in advance to all.

Alex
 

fanningc89

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I'm new to the 3.5 platform but from my experience with a 5.0 f150 i had previously I would suggest staying away from 5 star and had the s&b kit that was really nice. A lot of the mustang guys in my area like bama tunes and another from Florida I can't remember the name of. Catch can for sure should be first mod. I've been told to just stay with oem plugs for simple bolt-ons.
 

apex96

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I'm new to the 3.5 platform but from my experience with a 5.0 f150 i had previously I would suggest staying away from 5 star and had the s&b kit that was really nice. A lot of the mustang guys in my area like bama tunes and another from Florida I can't remember the name of. Catch can for sure should be first mod. I've been told to just stay with oem plugs for simple bolt-ons.
Catch can is not needed on the second gen 3.5 motors as they use port and direct fuel injection. Also 5-Star is a perfectly capable tuner, they maintain all factory fail safes and their tunes are reliable. Also like many other tuners, you can datalog and send the tune in for modification if desired and 5-Star will work with you to adjust the tune to your liking... Modifying or replacing the existing factory cold air intake system is also a waste unless you want to hear more intake noise.
 

Tuck

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I would talk with 5 star or a good mechanic in your area. Adding 200hp to an engine may require some internal upgrades (pistons, rods, cams, etc). Stock components may not be designed to that level of stress and you may not be able to get there with tuning and bolt-on parts alone. I'm not a a tuner or certified mechanic but I would find out the answers to those questions before you stress your engine that much. If I remember correctly when I was looking into getting a tune for my Raptor they told me I could reliably tune that engine (3.5L eco at 440hp) to a little over 500 before I'd have to start looking at beefing up internals. That may have just been the shop trying to get business but it was enough to keep me in the canned tune range below 500hp. There are a number of mechanically inclined people on here who can help you get to where you want to go without blowing up the engine.
 

bbenz3

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My experience is coming from a first gen 3.5 F150 but quite a bit is the same.

Questions:

- Should I get better spark plugs for the above set-up? If so any recommendations?
--- The stock are probably fine but I would talk with your tuner. I'm running the 93 Performance Racing tune from MPT on my F150 with stock plugs. Biggest issues is ensuring the proper gap (0.028-0.030). You could end up needing colder plugs and NGK should be one option but I can't seem to find a location that shows a compatible model (I think this is simply just not common so it isn't listed but should work) however, the Ford performance M-12405-35T plugs should work.

- I currently have a drop in K&N filter, would it be better to get a full K&N CAI or are gains negligible as I already have a drop in filter?
--- Negligible gains and only needed if you begin to starve the engine (600 HP at the crank will probably get you to that point though).

- Bigger Throttle Body? Not sure if they make one or if one is needed so figured I'd ask here.
--- I'm using the BBK 1822 throttle body. I don't know for sure that this would fit but I don't think that they changed anything with it. According to the BBK website there is a Ecoboost Raptor variant that lists 3.5 Ecoboost 17-20 compatibility. I definitely noticed a difference when I installed the larger TB but I didn't have a tune on my truck at the time and therefore don't know how much it would be noticed with the tune. (I would highly recommend keeping your current TB in case the electronics fail. The BBK uses OEM electronic sensors which seem to fail but can easily be swapped without replacing the whole unit.)

- Oil catch can?
--- While this was in my opinion vital on the first gen Ecoboost engines, I don't think it is something absolutely necessary on the second gen due to the dual fuel delivery system. It wouldn't hurt but would only help marginally.

- Any other mods you'd collectively recommend with peak HP being my goal?
--- May want to look at installing a meth kit and upgraded BOVs that have a little better response.
----- Stuff I've read but haven't fully researched... you may also need an upgraded fuel delivery system but this may not be as critical with the second gen so research this. Additionally, you may need to upgrade your turbos but that is quite expensive compared with most other mods.
 

blackedoutlimited

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I would talk with 5 star or a good mechanic in your area. Adding 200hp to an engine may require some internal upgrades (pistons, rods, cams, etc). Stock components may not be designed to that level of stress and you may not be able to get there with tuning and bolt-on parts alone. I'm not a a tuner or certified mechanic but I would find out the answers to those questions before you stress your engine that much. If I remember correctly when I was looking into getting a tune for my Raptor they told me I could reliably tune that engine (3.5L eco at 440hp) to a little over 500 before I'd have to start looking at beefing up internals. That may have just been the shop trying to get business but it was enough to keep me in the canned tune range below 500hp. There are a number of mechanically inclined people on here who can help you get to where you want to go without blowing up the engine.
Not true, my 2016 ran e30 which added almost 150hp over 87 and I ran that daily for 50,000k+ miles. Not one issue. All stock internals. Doing the same now on my 2020 f150, e50 stock internals. Not one issue
 

blackedoutlimited

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Hi there,

I'm getting ready to tune my 2020 Ford Expedition Platinum Max 4x4, 3.92 gears with Tow Package with 22's. It is 400 HP stock and 450 ft/lb torque. My goal is to do this all in one shot and try to get to 600HP/TQ on 91 Octane gas (Arizona only has 91 sadly) so any and all guidance would be appreciated.

Here's what I have for my list to buy is there anything I'm missing?

- 5 Star Tuner & Tunes
- Catted Downpipe
- Whipple Mega Cooler
- Performance TS 160 degrees (I live in AZ so cooler is better in my view)

Questions:

- Should I get better spark plugs for the above set-up? If so any recommendations?
- I currently have a drop in K&N filter, would it be better to get a full K&N CAI or are gains negligible as I already have a drop in filter?
- Bigger Throttle Body? Not sure if they make one or if one is needed so figured I'd ask here.
- Oil catch can?
- Any other mods you'd collectively recommend with peak HP being my goal?
- Are there recommended installers in AZ / Phoenix Metro area that could install all of this for me in one shot?

Lastly is it possible to get to 600 HP at crank with the above or would I need 93?

Thanks in advance to all.

Alex
Few things Alex, those numbers are crank, not wheel. You’re looking at about 360/350 at the wheel for hp and tq on stock file (5800 rpm) while max output is 370/420 in the power curve. A simple 91 octane performance only tune will get you to 380/410 to the wheel easily. To answer some other questions, the catted DPs, IC and tstat are all great first upgrades, do them at same time to save yourself a headache of having to datalog each performance upgrade separately (I’m assuming you know about datalogging your tunes?)

Unless you go to 93+ octane, or add more mods, stock plugs are great.

Stock Intake is actually better than a k&n as the k&n is open too and only sealed with weatherstripping. Keep your drop in and save $300 for something else. Gains are super negligible.

No need to upgrade TB

No need for catch can, 2nd gens are both DI and PI. If it helps you sleep at night, a simple JLT passenger side can is plenty. $150 and I’ve had 2 on different vehicles now. Love it.

Only other mod that would be worth spending money on is meth injection.

I think with the plan you have and a well revised 91P tune from 5 Star you can definitely hit 600 crank!!
 
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