Which Tune? MPT vs Livernois vs 5 Star vs Unleashed

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JasonH

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They could just not respond to each other. The sniping is getting dull. Beer summit and ride-along?
 

Sunflowergirl

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They could just not respond to each other. The sniping is getting dull. Beer summit and ride-along?
Come on we are in the beginning stages of our relationship still trying to figure each other out before we move in together. Pushing each others buttons is fun! Maybe I should start a thread “16plati vs Lokiwolf”
 

LokiWolf

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Come on we are in the beginning stages of our relationship still trying to figure each other out before we move in together. Pushing each others buttons is fun! Maybe I should start a thread “16plati vs Lokiwolf”
They could just not respond to each other. The sniping is getting dull. Beer summit and ride-along?

HaHa! Always game for a beer!!! Funny part, is we are about 2 hours from each other...totally doable!
 
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Muddy Bean

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Not going to get into a debate on my rotors. Suffice it to say I use my truck in unique ways and put tons of miles on it every year. It also utilizes an invisibrake system when I flat tow it behind my tour bus so I’m experimenting with braking right now.

Anyway, loaded my first baseline tune this morning. Will perform a data log as soon as I can get VCM suite installed. 7211178a9be0360f98cacf0b842a7990.jpg


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Muddy Bean

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Ran the first rev tune. Misfired cylinder 3 immediately. Sent the data log to Adam tonight. Will see what happens next.
2de187b25efe3c05bf933644c3de12d4.jpg


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LokiWolf

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Ran the first rev tune. Misfired cylinder 3 immediately. Sent the data log to Adam tonight. Will see what happens next.
2de187b25efe3c05bf933644c3de12d4.jpg


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How many miles, when was the last time plugs were changed, and what plugs were used.

This is why a logged tune is always better. If there are weak points a tune and logging will find them.

Did the baseline misfire?

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Muddy Bean

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Baseline did NOT misfire. Haven’t had any misfires in nearly a year. Plugs and coil packs all replaced (all six) at the same time 10 months ago. Well under 30,000 miles ago also. I may go back to the stock tune and see if I have a misfire but I doubt I will. what boost numbers should I be running with a relatively aggressive tune? My MAP was at 30psi at one point which sounds insane.


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LokiWolf

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Baseline did NOT misfire. Haven’t had any misfires in nearly a year. Plugs and coil packs all replaced (all six) at the same time 10 months ago. Well under 30,000 miles ago also. I may go back to the stock tune and see if I have a misfire but I doubt I will. Did what boost numbers should I be running with a relatively aggressive tune? My MAP was at 30psi at one point which sounds insane.


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I am not a person that focuses on Boost. It varies so much because of temp, altitude, and demand. Remember MAP is atmosphere plus Boost. It is the total, not boost.

As you push these EB motors gap, and temp of the plug matters. The gold seal of plugs when you start tuning these is the SP542, but they are hard to find now. They are a temp range cooler than what yours came from the factory with. Many people are sourcing the Ford Performance Plug sets(ZFG has them), and there is a NGK version also. Adam can give you the plug gap he recommends. I don’t want to assume what he is recommending now for the 1st Gen EB 3.5.

With only one cylinder reporting misfire, it is most likely that plug.


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Muddy Bean

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Thanks...good info. I’ll see what he says tomorrow. I’m interested in the performance plugs if that’s what’s needed. I really would love to dial this truck in. It’s not leaping out of the stall yet but I can tell already that there’s much more to be had. Turbos are spooling up much more quickly off the line now. I can absolutely hear them now too.


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Muddy Bean

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Sure enough I ordered some colder plugs and will gap them to .024 as he advised. Should fix the misfire. In other news, I just installed both the high and low beam GTR ULTRA 2 LED Bulbs...and for LED bulbs, they are absolutely the best I’ve seen by a long shot.


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JasonH

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Muddy Bean

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So I’ve been delayed in getting my first rev data log completed because of the misfire. I finally was able to get ahold of some colder plugs. Incidentally a local ford dealer had 8 of the sp542 plugs still in inventory so I bought all 8. They are rare as hens teeth nowadays. Anyway, changing plugs and tore coil packs, had to replace those...drama. All is back together and I’ll hopefully pull a log tomorrow and maybe get another rev from him before the weekend is over. Already I’m seeing much higher boost instantly. Which is a nice upgrade. f650192ab45f1fec5952f980fd4f9d6b.jpg82ca1cc5e97fb61bb091c1adc1c79044.jpg26744356996f33abb478be0933f4a79a.jpgc7c9e7b1356b73b5ee9fdd663a98ad10.jpg


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LokiWolf

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So I’ve been delayed in getting my first rev data log completed because of the misfire. I finally was able to get ahold of some colder plugs. Incidentally a local ford dealer had 8 of the sp542 plugs still in inventory so I bought all 8. They are rare as hens teeth nowadays. Anyway, changing plugs and tore coil packs, had to replace those...drama. All is back together and I’ll hopefully pull a log tomorrow and maybe get another rev from him before the weekend is over. Already I’m seeing much higher boost instantly. Which is a nice upgrade. f650192ab45f1fec5952f980fd4f9d6b.jpg82ca1cc5e97fb61bb091c1adc1c79044.jpg26744356996f33abb478be0933f4a79a.jpgc7c9e7b1356b73b5ee9fdd663a98ad10.jpg


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Those aren’t SP542, but look like the NGK equivalent. What were they gapped at out of the box?

What did Adam have you put it at?

My 17 even idled better stock on the SP542’s gapped correctly.


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Muddy Bean

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Correct, the SP542’s are still on their way to my friends shop. I just went ahead and put the NGK’s in for now. They are what Adam recommended as an alternative to the SP542’s. The NGK’s were gapped to .034 out of the box. I set the gap to .024.


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LokiWolf

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Correct, the SP542’s are still on their way to my friends shop. I just went ahead and put the NGK’s in for now. They are what Adam recommended as an alternative to the SP542’s. The NGK’s were gapped to .034 out of the box. I set the gap to .024.


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Nice!


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joethefordguy

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I just got an SCT Livewire TS+ tuner. still on the first tank of 87 octane gas with the performance tune and upped the shift firmness ++.
I'm curious why SCT isn't mentioned here. is it a generational thing? I'm running this on a 2nd Gen motor.
 

LokiWolf

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I just got an SCT Livewire TS+ tuner. still on the first tank of 87 octane gas with the performance tune and upped the shift firmness ++.
I'm curious why SCT isn't mentioned here. is it a generational thing? I'm running this on a 2nd Gen motor.

SCT has access to WAY less tables than anything HPTuners based(NGauge, MPVI2, RTD). Most people serious in tuning EcoBoosts SCT is not the way to go. Basic tuning, sure. Anything advanced, Nope...


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joethefordguy

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SCT has access to WAY less tables than anything HPTuners based(NGauge, MPVI2, RTD). Most people serious in tuning EcoBoosts SCT is not the way to go. Basic tuning, sure. Anything advanced, Nope... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I looked at HPTuners, and I agree it is a far more advanced, and aggressive, tuner than anything else I saw. I did not choose it because I thought it was a good way for me to get in over my head, especially because the interface looked less than user friendly to me. I am not a mechanic, I am a parts changer with some theoretical knowledge of engines. I've been in the business long enough to know the limits of my abilities. I've swapped engines, but really, how difficult is that? The only rebuild I ever attempted failed.

As well, I am not tuning an ecoboost. I am working on a 2nd generation (2004) 5.4L 2V engine. It's never going to see WOT or even high RPM unless I decide to pay for a dyno run.
My primary aim for this engine it to get the best low end torque and fuel economy for the money. If I ever do get into the motor, it will not be to increase high RPM performance. This vehicle's primary use is a dd and overland offroading; not extreme 4x4 hijinks. My first choice in conquering difficult terrain is to go around. I intend to get to the destination however long it takes, not break my truck conquering terrain as fast as possible.
the main limitation I've run into so far is that I can't get it to show the gauges I want. I want to be able to see amps and engine vacuum. I've contacted a custom tuner about that, waiting for an answer now.

thanks for responding. I love this forum. I'm on it to learn from other people's experience.
 
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