Ecoboost Bullydog Tuner
#31
11-25-2011, 09:11 PM
#32
12-03-2011, 12:27 AM
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Ford has gotten fed up with underwriting people monkeying with their product and the issues it can cause. How many people have change the pulleys on a Lightening ran a bad tune and popped the motor? How many Powerstrokes have gone boom because someone ran too much boost on the stock head bolts? The list goes on and on of ways people have abused the system. As a result they have cracked down on this abuse. It was dragging down their reliability numbers and adding a lot of cost to their warranty budget. To combat this the EB has an encrypted ECM and a counter on it too. A dealership can change the ECMs software to another factory tune no problem at all. They do not want people cranking up the power on the EB and tearing up driveline components. They have too much invested in this motor to let someone else tarnish their reputation.
I'm not anit-tuner in the least bit, so far this is the only F-150 I have owned that has not had the ECM tweaked. All of my other F-150s have had terrible shifts and bad throttle response in factory trim. However, this one is good enough from the factory that I really don't have a huge desire to mess with it. I do wish it was a little bit sharper on mid to full throttle upshifts but not enough to risk voiding my warranty.
I'm not anit-tuner in the least bit, so far this is the only F-150 I have owned that has not had the ECM tweaked. All of my other F-150s have had terrible shifts and bad throttle response in factory trim. However, this one is good enough from the factory that I really don't have a huge desire to mess with it. I do wish it was a little bit sharper on mid to full throttle upshifts but not enough to risk voiding my warranty.
I agree with everything except the shifting. I had a 6 speed in the 07 Sport Trac with the 4.6 V8. It was royal pain in the ***. The trans in this Eco Boost is light years ahead of that mess I had.
Other that when you are pulling 1.71HP per cubic inch out of an alum engine that you want to run 200K miles you don't need aftermarket tuner manuf's screwing with your work.
If you want to wring more juice out of it do it after you expect Ford to pick up the pieces.
I have tendency to think about it in marine terms. You take a naturally aspirated GM Detroit diesel 6V-71 it will run 15000hrs putting out 250hp... Let Johnson and Towers tune it with a bigger blower, aftercooled turbo and bigger injectors and pull 485hp out it, it will need rebuilt in 2000hrs..
#33
12-09-2011, 12:16 PM
#34
12-10-2011, 03:12 PM
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The engine isn't maxed out, the PCM just has it cut back to save components. Check out this short vid I did, it shows throttle position, boost, etc. Throttle position never goes 100% & it cuts back early before each shift.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrhEgxQd7Qs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrhEgxQd7Qs
#35
12-10-2011, 04:03 PM
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#36
12-10-2011, 06:15 PM
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#37
12-10-2011, 08:10 PM
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This forum has been in opperation for more than a decade. There are thousands of people here who have modded thier trucks. Look at the percentage of denied warranty claims and/or mechanical failures. If you want to play it safe, that's your perogative. Some people don't leave thier house because they are afraid that something bad will happen to them if they step foot outside of it. Most people take the risk of leaving the protection of their house every single day.
I don't have an EB F150. I just have the base 3.7 but I purchased a flash tuner with a mild tune. I'm pleased. This tune merely removes many of the restrictions, retards and delays that the factory tuning contains. I've installed tunes on many of the vehicles I've owned without it ever causing a mechanical failure. I've also modded vehicles and then had work done under warranty, on unrelated componants.
Tuning and any form of modding, including changing your stereo, contains risk. Just use a little common sense and chances are you'll enjoy your vehicle many miles/years.
I don't have an EB F150. I just have the base 3.7 but I purchased a flash tuner with a mild tune. I'm pleased. This tune merely removes many of the restrictions, retards and delays that the factory tuning contains. I've installed tunes on many of the vehicles I've owned without it ever causing a mechanical failure. I've also modded vehicles and then had work done under warranty, on unrelated componants.
Tuning and any form of modding, including changing your stereo, contains risk. Just use a little common sense and chances are you'll enjoy your vehicle many miles/years.
#38
12-13-2011, 08:24 AM
#39
12-14-2011, 09:49 AM
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Exactly! Drag racing your truck is like beating your dog. If you want to race, get a Mustang.
#40
12-14-2011, 10:08 AM
I have found a lot of these things to be snake oil. Gain 8hp here, add 20 torque here. I fell into the trap on my 07 chevy I had. Did nothing noticeable. My take on it, is the factory would includes these things as options if they were so great. Ok so now you have an ecoboost with 385hp, wow, come race my camaro with 450hp once. You get vehicles to serve a purpose. a truck is not a hot rod, it's there to bring you to work, tow things, and throw **** into it, a sports car is a waste of money but its there to look cool and go fast. The two dont mix.
#41
12-14-2011, 01:04 PM
#42
12-14-2011, 10:12 PM
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Your dog is not a machine. Trucks are durable machines, with solid platforms and often with strong drivetrains. They are often much cheaper than vehicles more commonly associated with drag racing. They are the perfect platform for thoes of us who cannot afford the sports or mucsle car to have some fun.
You might not want your truck to have good performance, but many do.
#43
12-14-2011, 10:57 PM
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#45
12-18-2011, 07:30 PM
bring it, I can round up enough Ford, Dodge, and Chevy trucks that will smoke your lil' "race car" and then tow it back to your place with ease that these owners will be fighting eachother for the pleasure of showing you tail lights...
don't be writing checks with your mouth/keyboard that you can't cash