Calibrations Available from 5 Star

[Mike Wolfe]

Asked some questions of 5 Star
Here is their response
Planning to order this from them soon
Should really improve throttle response & probably improve fuel mileage if you don't play with the added performance.
Hi Michael,


The nGauge is currently the only tuner with support for your application. The 10 speed brought along many changes in the tuning world and that meant support for custom tuning taking longer to come around. So for now, this is all we have available. It can be unplugged once you are finished programming the vehicle, and it does not have to remain plugged in to run a custom tune.


Shifting is part of the tune changes, along with throttle response and the additional hp and tq. If you wanted it to shift at a certain point after getting your tune, you could request a revision for that. I would recommend running the tune to see how it suits you and go from there.


The hesitation is also part of what the custom tune addresses. It will be much improved over stock. Throttle response as a whole will change.


On 87, around 40 hp and 60+ tq to the wheels. 93 octane will get you closer to 60 hp and 80-100 tq to the wheels.


Happy to help further if needed, just let me know.


Thank you,

 

[Randy Schmidt]

Did they let you know a cost? Mid $600 fish if I remember correctly.

 

[JExpedition07]

Mid $600 fish if I remember correctly.

They give you a $600 fish with the tuner? Your gonna be eatin good

 

[Mike Wolfe]

Did they let you know a cost? Mid $600 fish if I remember correctly.

$650.00 with free shipping (reg $679.99)
Ordered it today
5% discount if you use 5star as a coupon code
Ordered it today
Also eliminates the A.S.S. system if you want

 

[Garrett]

So what exactly does this do. Asking because I really know nothing about tuning at all.

 

[MonkeyBrains]

So what exactly does this do. Asking because I really know nothing about tuning at all.

It tweaks or “tunes” the onboard software that controls most functionality of the vehicle. When Ford optimizes the system, they tend to play it a bit conservative and often take a one size fits all approach. Sometimes they limit performance or functionality between different editions of the same vehicle. For example, the Platinum Expedition has a bit more horsepower due to the tuning they have done for that model. You can achieve that on your Limited Expedition, for example, and probably more with a third-party tuner such as this. Many of these will provide options to tweak your Expedition to do better in certain ways. They often have a program to load that will give better performance with improved throttle response, more aggressive shifting or whatever. They often have a mode for better mileage or other settings to change. It’s usually best practice to restore your vehicle to factory default programming before you take it in for service...

 

[Garrett]

Good to know! I’m interested. Would this benefit a platinum owner too? I would love dumping the auto stop/start.

 

[Mike Wolfe]

I have used Livernois calibrations on my last 4 ECO Boost Ford vehicles
performance, throttle response & overall driveability is dramatically improved
Fuel mileage is always better in my experience
Ordered the 5 Star calibrator & software for the 2018 EXPY today
several options available
Plan to use the 91 & 93 octane calibrations
Not interested in the 87 octane version although it also improves things as well just not as much
Platinum engine is the same as the XLT & Limited with different ECU calibration
So yes it will benefit from the 5 star software
All my vehicles have passed state inspections with the recalibrations & have never changed back to stock when taking to the dealer for service

 

[Randy Schmidt]

Good to know! I’m interested. Would this benefit a platinum owner too? I would love dumping the auto stop/start.

You would see improvement in HP and TRQ. Approx 40 HP and 60 TRQ. You would see better throttle response and gas milage as long as you are in the throttle all day long. The difference is very noticeable. The better the fuel octane, the more you gain from the tune. I had a tune on my GL550 and saw huge gains in HP and TRQ. Meaning, over 100 HP and over 150 TRQ gains. That was a TT V8 though... I hope to get a little bump in each category so that towing is slightly improved.

 

[Mike Wolfe]

Hope to see at least 60WHP & 100WTQ with 93 octane calibration
That is about what I gained on my 2011 F150
My 2013 Taurus SHO with the PP will do 0-60 in 3.8 seconds & quarter mile in 11.9 seconds
That is with completely stock vehicle & Livernois 93 octane calibration
Supposed to produce 475 Crank HP with that calibration
Normal driveline losses are typically 25% so If I gain 60WHP & 100WTQ that would equate to about 80chp & 135ctq
That is only 455hp though

 

[Garrett]

Thanks guys! So how exactly does it work? A computer system you plug in directly to the vehicle?

Will have to do this after I get my wheels.

 

[Mike Wolfe]

Go to https://5startuning.com/product-cat...b/2018-expedition-3-5l-eb-tuners-programmers/
When you place the order You will need to fill out a questionnaire
after payment they will send you the calibrator
You will be instructed to connect the calibrator & find the vehicles ECU calibration codes (very easy to do)
You then email that information to them & they will send you the software via email
a copy of the instructions follows

Prior to building your custom tune files, we will need a complete “read” of your factory program before sending over your custom tunes.


The read must be uninterrupted and may take up to 16 minutes. The key must remain on the entire time. Please do not subject your vehicle to any “voltage spikes” while reading or tuning. This includes rolling down the windows, turning on the air, radio or opening the door.


**It is extremely important that you start by reading your STOCK FACTORY program. Before you begin, remove any custom tuning that is currently on the vehicle and set it back to the stock tune. It is also equally as important to have your vehicle on a trickle charger when reading and tuning your application.**


Step 1: Plug your nGauge into the OBD2 port the vehicle you intend to tune. (With the lights, radio, A/C off and the doors closed), use the menu on the screen to select TUNING, then proceed to select the PCM type and choose READ VEHICLE.


Step 2: After your vehicle has been successfully read, turn the key off, wait 10 seconds and then start the vehicle.


Step 3: Disconnect the nGauge and email the stock file to [email protected]. The stock file will be located on the STOCK FILES folder on the micro SD card, which is mounted in the nGauge and will be named StockFile.stk. This operation is supported via Windows or OSX.


Please allow 24-72 hours for creation of your custom tunes.



How do I load tunes onto the HP nGauge?


Step 1: Upon receiving your custom tune files and stock file.enc, download to your computer's download folder or desktop.


Step 2: Remove SD card from nGauge and insert into your computer.


Step 3: Drag and drop all files, both custom and your new stock.enc file into the “Custom Files” folder on your nGauge's SD card.


Step 4: Eject the SD card from your computer.


Step 5: Reinsert SD card from your computer into the nGauge device.


Step 6: Connect the nGauge via the OBD2 port, turn the key on or press your push button start (do not start the vehicle) and press TUNING > Load Tune.

• If you’ve loaded multiple custom tunes (.enc files) onto the nGauge, you can arrow left and right to select the tune you want. Press the check box to confirm and the tune will load.

• Step 6 can be repeated any time the tune needs to be swapped or stock.enc file needs loaded to the vehicle.

 

[Mothnuts]

Good to know! I’m interested. Would this benefit a platinum owner too? I would love dumping the auto stop/start.

You should be able to disable the auto stop/start with Forscan.

 

[Mike Wolfe]

Yes you can but you can't improve performance with it
Once you have experienced the difference in a reprogrammed eco boost engine it will hard to accept the OEM calibration as acceptable

 

[Mothnuts]

Yes you can but you can't improve performance with it
Once you have experienced the difference in a reprogrammed eco boost engine it will hard to accept the OEM calibration as acceptable

Yeah, sorry, didn’t mean to imply it was a replacement for a tuner, but just as a way to get rid of the auto start/stop and double honk.

 

[Garrett]

Thanks guys for the help! I’ll be doing this.

 

[CobraO]

I also had 5* on my 2011 F-150. It made a huge difference to the point I was afraid of breaking something with the 93 performance tune.

 

[Randy Schmidt]

@Mike Wolfe You get that tune from 5Star yet? Curious to see how you like it.

 

[Mike Wolfe]

got the calibrator today
Have to get the stock cal codes & email them to 5 star
Then they will send me the new calibrations to load on the calibrator

 

[Randy Schmidt]

got the calibrator today
Have to get the stock cal codes & email them to 5 star
Then they will send me the new calibrations to load on the calibrator

Let us know how the process goes and what you overall thoughts are please...