Micro Tuner 1715 and fuel efficiency
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, AZ
Micro Tuner 1715 and fuel efficiency
I'm looking into getting the SuperChips MicroTuner 1715 for my 97 f150 4.6l auto and I'm looking for fuel efficiency for now. I'm getting 12 MPG right now, but that's before a tune up and an oil change. I usually get about 15 MPG in town. What kind of increase in MPG would I be looking at? Thanks in advance 
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 994
Likes: 0
From: Sparks, Nevada
Hi
Try back seach on old threads. Some maybe still stored?
As i recall any mpg gain with schip is because of the retuning. No set numbers...to many variables (truck/engine/r.a/tranny etc) and we all drive different.
Best i got with schip (not mt) was .90mpg increase. That was hiway..not in town.
It maynot be cost effective to buy a schip or mtuner for the sole purpose of mpg? (i know i didnt)...thats not its main purpose. Just a benefit that you may/maynot get increase in mpg. But definitely get hp/tq increase along with a/t shift imporvement.
Just simply reply.
Good luck....OT
Try back seach on old threads. Some maybe still stored?
As i recall any mpg gain with schip is because of the retuning. No set numbers...to many variables (truck/engine/r.a/tranny etc) and we all drive different.
Best i got with schip (not mt) was .90mpg increase. That was hiway..not in town.
It maynot be cost effective to buy a schip or mtuner for the sole purpose of mpg? (i know i didnt)...thats not its main purpose. Just a benefit that you may/maynot get increase in mpg. But definitely get hp/tq increase along with a/t shift imporvement.
Just simply reply.
Good luck....OT
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, AZ
that's what I figured, but I just thought I'd ask. I'll probably just get one anyways for the performance gain. I noticed most people did not lose any MPG when they used the microtuner, or any other chip for that matter. I should probably just buy a Honda CRX for a daily driver if I want to save on gas. Thanks for the reply.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi SoA,
I agree, I wouldn't install the Superchips tuning (which is basically the same in the traditional Superchip module and in the Micro Tuner) for the *sole* purpose of improving gas mileage.
Though you generally will pick up some mpg gain, it's not going to be enough to offset *all* of the additional cost of premium gasoline. Worst case scenario, you may spend as much as $100 per 10,000 miles driven more for gasoline using the Superchips tuning on premium gas as compared to runing on the factory program on 87 octane. For most people driving 15K-20K miles per year, they don't spend more than about $2-$3 per week more for gas to use the Superchips tuning.
The potential for improving mpg comes as a by-product of using more spark advance on part-throttle, as part of our performance tuning for premium gasoline. The engine will run a bit more efficiently, so you can usually see some small gain. The range runs from a low of about .7 mpg to as much as 3.5 more mpg (if the planets are aligned & the gods smiling, etc.)
The only way your mileage can go down using the Superchips tuning is if you drive it harder checking out the new performance levels (which most peole do for at least a little while), or if you use premium gas that is not up to snuff, that has a lower energy content (# of BTU's per gallon) as compared to the 87 octane fuel you were using previously.
You'll generally see the most mpg gain on the highway, and anytime you are "cruising." I wouldn't count on seeing much mpg increase in city traffic, there's too much accelerating & decelerating to see much effect there in most cases.
The bottom line is, I'd say to use the Superchips tuning for the *performance* gain, and any mpg gain is icing on the cake.
I agree, I wouldn't install the Superchips tuning (which is basically the same in the traditional Superchip module and in the Micro Tuner) for the *sole* purpose of improving gas mileage.
Though you generally will pick up some mpg gain, it's not going to be enough to offset *all* of the additional cost of premium gasoline. Worst case scenario, you may spend as much as $100 per 10,000 miles driven more for gasoline using the Superchips tuning on premium gas as compared to runing on the factory program on 87 octane. For most people driving 15K-20K miles per year, they don't spend more than about $2-$3 per week more for gas to use the Superchips tuning.
The potential for improving mpg comes as a by-product of using more spark advance on part-throttle, as part of our performance tuning for premium gasoline. The engine will run a bit more efficiently, so you can usually see some small gain. The range runs from a low of about .7 mpg to as much as 3.5 more mpg (if the planets are aligned & the gods smiling, etc.)
The only way your mileage can go down using the Superchips tuning is if you drive it harder checking out the new performance levels (which most peole do for at least a little while), or if you use premium gas that is not up to snuff, that has a lower energy content (# of BTU's per gallon) as compared to the 87 octane fuel you were using previously.
You'll generally see the most mpg gain on the highway, and anytime you are "cruising." I wouldn't count on seeing much mpg increase in city traffic, there's too much accelerating & decelerating to see much effect there in most cases.
The bottom line is, I'd say to use the Superchips tuning for the *performance* gain, and any mpg gain is icing on the cake.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Tude,
Well, in all candor I really couldn't tell you my friend, as I have no idea what screen name belongs to what real name with the almost 40,000 registered members of this site off the top of my head, so please accept my apologies. If you have not gotten a respose back, then I have not read it yet.
The reality is that we get *many* emails every day, so it can take 1-2 weeks to get a response back in email from us. Especially this time of year, gearing up for racing season which starts March 1st, and with all the 2003 model year R&D we're involved in, email responses are going to be slow.
As we have always said, anytime anyone wants to communicate with us in any kind of timely manner (or about anything detailed or to get Tech Support, tracking numbers, etc.), that will always need to be done by phone, & thanks in advance for your understanding. Just give us a shout & we'll be happy to help any way we can, ASAP!
Well, in all candor I really couldn't tell you my friend, as I have no idea what screen name belongs to what real name with the almost 40,000 registered members of this site off the top of my head, so please accept my apologies.
If you have not gotten a respose back, then I have not read it yet.The reality is that we get *many* emails every day, so it can take 1-2 weeks to get a response back in email from us. Especially this time of year, gearing up for racing season which starts March 1st, and with all the 2003 model year R&D we're involved in, email responses are going to be slow.
As we have always said, anytime anyone wants to communicate with us in any kind of timely manner (or about anything detailed or to get Tech Support, tracking numbers, etc.), that will always need to be done by phone, & thanks in advance for your understanding. Just give us a shout & we'll be happy to help any way we can, ASAP!