Advice sought

[JExpedition07]

I’ve been glancing at 5 star tuning lately and I have a few questions. My truck has always been plenty powerful stock for me but this is something to do just because why not. 5 Star says they offer 87,89,91, and 93 economy and performence tunes for the 05-14 expedition. I’m a bit confused as the tunes are listed for 2005-2014 Expeditions, I would have thought they would be mapped different with the trans change in 07’. The main thing I’m trying to eliminate is the lazy drive by wire characteristics. What is the difference between the 87 vs 91 octane tunes on this engine? Which would make the most sense? It looks as though they let you pick 3. Pretty much a novice when it comes to this and any input is welcomed. Keeping everything pretty stock here just looking for adjustments to the programming.

Anyone have a preferable brand? I was looking at the SCT.

 

[Plati]

I was watching a Congressional hearing on octane level standards a couple days ago. They seem to want to make the minimum octane for gasoline 91 (95 RON) .... to meet new federal mpg standards . I think that's using 15% Ethanol, which bites the big one
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/b...push-congress-higher-fuel-standards/33902227/
interesting, to meet higher mandated mpg standards, require higher (more expensive) octane fuel and new (more expensive) engines. This saves us money? Gotta love the Federal Gvmt

 

[sjwelds]

J, I have a tuner from 5-star, with 3 custom tunes: an 87 eco tune, an 87 perf-tow tune, and a 91 perf-tow tune. I really like the tunes, to me they wake the truck up quite a bit, especially the 91 tune. I would recommend it. Throttle response is much improved as well, IMO.

 

[Adieu]

Its not a particularly lazy drive by wire though...

Which gears do you have?

Have you tried a good oil, some injector cleaner, and good ol 87 from a Mobil station??

You probably just got gunk everywhere and arco in the tank. 5.4 tritons HATE arco

 

[jeff kushner]

J, I have a tuner from 5-star, with 3 custom tunes: an 87 eco tune, an 87 perf-tow tune, and a 91 perf-tow tune. I really like the tunes, to me they wake the truck up quite a bit, especially the 91 tune. I would recommend it. Throttle response is much improved as well, IMO.

Sounds like a ringing endorsement!

Regardless of other factors, 5 Star has one of the best reps for "tunes"....doubt anyone will be left in the cold, under any conditions.

jeff

 

[JExpedition07]

Its not a particularly lazy drive by wire though...

Which gears do you have?

Have you tried a good oil, some injector cleaner, and good ol 87 from a Mobil station??

You probably just got gunk everywhere and arco in the tank. 5.4 tritons HATE arco

3.73 gears, oil is changed with ford 5w-30 every 3,500 miles with a FL-820S Motorcraft filter. Normally use Mobil gasoline it’s right up the street. Drive by wire is pretty lazy on these trucks, there is actually a lot of good reading on that subject on the web. The drive by wire causes a delay in throttle response to your throttle input. Like I said the expy is plenty powerful but why not play around with the tuning a bit?

 

[07xln]

Yeah just put some “good ol 87 in it from a mobil station”

My son just came in the room and asked why I was laughing so hard and what was so funny

I’m all for tunes especially in boosted applications. The gains on a naturally aspirated motor will be negligible and nothing you’ll feel. It should clean up the drivability issues you’re having but most of that will be in the trans tune and drive by wire. It will feel a little faster but that will be all in your head. On a dyno I doubt you’d even gain 10hp at the wheel. With that said I say do it. Just having a better driving vehicle is well worth the cost to me

I’m running an SCT X4 from 5* on my Eco

 

[JExpedition07]

J, I have a tuner from 5-star, with 3 custom tunes: an 87 eco tune, an 87 perf-tow tune, and a 91 perf-tow tune. I really like the tunes, to me they wake the truck up quite a bit, especially the 91 tune. I would recommend it. Throttle response is much improved as well, IMO.

Thanks, Do you know which brand you went with?

 

[sjwelds]

Thanks, Do you know which brand you went with?

SCT X4. I think you get a small discount if you tell them you're a member here.

 

[coolzzy]

I ran the 87 performance tow tune on my F150 with the 5.4 motor and 6 speed transmission. It was a HUGE difference in drivability. Better throttle response, faster shifts, better towing performance, etc. You can and should run their ODLK version, which is overdrive lockout. That was the primary reason I tuned the truck. When tow/haul mode is on, the truck locks out 6th gear which helps highway towing and reduces gear hunting. Turn off tow haul (with the button on the shifter) and truck goes back to 6th gear. One program note though, if you are already in 6th gear and press the tow haul button it will not downshift, the programming only prevents the transmission from upshifting into 6th. No big deal, just something I had to clarify with 5 star.

I had to have 2 or 3 tweaks to the tune after I installed it, I didn't like how long it held 1st and 2nd gear (to 3500rpm),and simply requested stock shift points but retain their electric throttle improvements and the overdrive lockout for towing. It was a towing beast and really showed how great a combination the 5.4 and 6r80 can work together.

 

[AllBoostNoEco]

I’ll add another endorsement for 5 Star. I never had a tune on my 5.4 F-150, but I have had theirs on my 4.6 3V F-150, 5.0 F-150, and now my EB. A noticeable improvement in all of them. I started with an X3, then bought an X4. SCT seems to have Ford nailed, which is why I’ve stuck with them.
Characteristics-wise, differences in drivability between different octane tunes is nonexistent. An 87 tune and 93 tune will drive the same. A tow tune will drive differently than a performance tune, obviously.

The best part about 5 Star is the ease of changing something if you want to. Pick up the phone, call their tech line, tell them what you want to change, and get a new tune emailed by the next day. Sometimes within an hour.

 

[Adieu]

Well around here, NOT using donkey piss gas creates some pretty shocking gains.

Feels like a different truck


....maybe your gas stations are more honest in Texas?

 

[JExpedition07]

I appreciate all the feedback, looks like I’m going to order the SCT with 87 performance/ tow tune from five star and I’ll update soon

 

[bobmbx]

I was watching a Congressional hearing on octane level standards a couple days ago. They seem to want to make the minimum octane for gasoline 91 (95 RON) .... to meet new federal mpg standards . I think that's using 15% Ethanol, which bites the big one
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/b...push-congress-higher-fuel-standards/33902227/
interesting, to meet higher mandated mpg standards, require higher (more expensive) octane fuel and new (more expensive) engines. This saves us money? Gotta love the Federal Gvmt

Just insert "corn subsidies" any time you see "Federal MPG Standards". It'll read much better, and be more accurate.

 

[cmiles97]

That's the great thing about drive by wire, if you don't like how it's working you can change it via software (tuner).

 

[rollinstone]

Opps! I'm a criminal Arco user...lol. What's a better brand? I'd hate paying .50 more per gallon for minimal performance improvement.