What Chip/module To Use?!
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Member
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Plano, Texas
What Chip/module To Use?!
I have a 2001 w/ a 5.4L on board, and no other modifications but dual exhaust. Iv'e always heard that a chip or a module is a must, but where do i start. Everybody says that hypertech or Jet performance chips are the best, but there are so many out there. I'mot really looking for giant horsepower gains, but ive heard that if you run 93 octance, it can work out pretty well. but with gas prices increasing, and im well on my way to saving up for a lift to run 35's, im really looking for gas mileage increases, in there are any that offer that. Can you help me out please?! any reccomendations would help, as im looking for anybody who has used it for horsepower gains, or just to recalibrate their computer for tire/wheel changes. Thanks!
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Joined: Dec 1969
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From: Nor-Cal,USA
First of all I suggest you stay away from the JET I had one and it sucked. Secondly no chip will improve your gas mileage period and most chips require 92 octane or higher to work properly however Mike Troyer can give you a chip that will run on 87 and give very slight HP increase and will also upgrade the shift firmness in the tranny. So you would probably be best to call him about what it is exactly you want.
Richard D.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=2479
Richard D.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=2479
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Hi SWAMPR,
You're right there are a lot of different chips out there. And the vast majority, like Hypertech and Jet, are not very good. They're generic, meaning they aren't made for your individual vehicle, instead they are compromised to run on all similar vehicles and thus can cause anything from a small power gain to an actual loss of power. Also, they only work at full-throttle, so you get no improvement in areas like normal driving, towing, etc., you have to have your foot buried in the throttle to get anything out of them, adn that's *at best*.
There is only 1 chip that tunes each vehicle individually according to it's exact PCM software revision, that tunes for maximum horsepower and torque *all* the time, at any throttle position, at any rpm, and that is still 50-state CARB & EPA emissions approved, and that is the Superchip. Which is why most people here that use a performance chip are using the Superchip.
If you want to take some time reading the threads in this section, you will find many Superchips owners and you can see just exactly what they think of them.
With regard to fuel mileage, most Superchip owners do see some small improvement in mpg & many have reported that here over the years. However, it's not going to make up for the fact that you have to use premium gasoline, you will have some small increase in how much money you spend for gasoline, usually a couple of bucks a week driving 15K-20K miles a year.
Remember, the job of a performance chip is to increase power and improve performance, not improve mpg. The fact that we do see some small improvements there with good fuel quality is just a *by-product* of the increased spark advance used on part-throttle as part of the performance tuning for premium gasoline. Thus, your mpg results will depend on how you drive the vehicle, it's condition and the quality (energy content) of the premium fuel you feed it as compared to the energy content of the regular gas that was previously being used. Some people using low-energy fuels and thus see mpg drop slightly, or stay the same. Drive it harder and the mpg will drop, too.
By and large, mpg improvement in the F-150 platform from the Superchips tuning will average within a range of .7 mpg to 1.5 mpg in the F-truck platform. Some people get zero gain, which can only happen from 1 of 2 causes, either driving it harder or using fuel of lower energy content. And then a few have reported big mpg gains, 2.5 mpg and more. On average, it falls within a range of about .7 mpg to 1.5 mpg for those who do see an improvement, so it's not going to be large, or make up for all of the cost difference between regular and premium.
The bottom line is, you don't buy a performance chip for the sole purpose of improving fuel mileage, you buy a performance chip for more *performance*, not for more mpg. Getting a small improvement in your cruising mpg is just a by-product of the performance tuning on part-throttle, and depends on variables beyond our control.
Now what we *could* do is to make a Superchip for you for use on 87 octane, and of course the power gain would be small, maybe 5-7 HP or so. You may see some small improvement in mpg, as we can add a *little* bit of timing in for 87 octane, but not much. Again, doing a special Superchip for use with 87 octane for you isn't going to allow you to save a significant amount of money in gasoline.
If you want to do modifications to improve your mpg, take a look modifications that will be more productive in that area, such as our electric fan kit, which gets you 15 hp at the wheels and anywhere from 1.0-2.5 more mpg overall. And our underdrive pulley set is another way to reduce parasitic losses too, and will yield 12 hp at the rear wheels and a bit more mpg.
We'd like to see you using a Superchip, but if you are looking to save money on gasoline, that's really not the way to do it, there are *other* modifications that will give you better mpg results. Feel free to give us a call & we'll be happy to go over that with you, ok?
Best of luck,
You're right there are a lot of different chips out there. And the vast majority, like Hypertech and Jet, are not very good. They're generic, meaning they aren't made for your individual vehicle, instead they are compromised to run on all similar vehicles and thus can cause anything from a small power gain to an actual loss of power. Also, they only work at full-throttle, so you get no improvement in areas like normal driving, towing, etc., you have to have your foot buried in the throttle to get anything out of them, adn that's *at best*.
There is only 1 chip that tunes each vehicle individually according to it's exact PCM software revision, that tunes for maximum horsepower and torque *all* the time, at any throttle position, at any rpm, and that is still 50-state CARB & EPA emissions approved, and that is the Superchip. Which is why most people here that use a performance chip are using the Superchip.
If you want to take some time reading the threads in this section, you will find many Superchips owners and you can see just exactly what they think of them.
With regard to fuel mileage, most Superchip owners do see some small improvement in mpg & many have reported that here over the years. However, it's not going to make up for the fact that you have to use premium gasoline, you will have some small increase in how much money you spend for gasoline, usually a couple of bucks a week driving 15K-20K miles a year.
Remember, the job of a performance chip is to increase power and improve performance, not improve mpg. The fact that we do see some small improvements there with good fuel quality is just a *by-product* of the increased spark advance used on part-throttle as part of the performance tuning for premium gasoline. Thus, your mpg results will depend on how you drive the vehicle, it's condition and the quality (energy content) of the premium fuel you feed it as compared to the energy content of the regular gas that was previously being used. Some people using low-energy fuels and thus see mpg drop slightly, or stay the same. Drive it harder and the mpg will drop, too.
By and large, mpg improvement in the F-150 platform from the Superchips tuning will average within a range of .7 mpg to 1.5 mpg in the F-truck platform. Some people get zero gain, which can only happen from 1 of 2 causes, either driving it harder or using fuel of lower energy content. And then a few have reported big mpg gains, 2.5 mpg and more. On average, it falls within a range of about .7 mpg to 1.5 mpg for those who do see an improvement, so it's not going to be large, or make up for all of the cost difference between regular and premium.
The bottom line is, you don't buy a performance chip for the sole purpose of improving fuel mileage, you buy a performance chip for more *performance*, not for more mpg. Getting a small improvement in your cruising mpg is just a by-product of the performance tuning on part-throttle, and depends on variables beyond our control.
Now what we *could* do is to make a Superchip for you for use on 87 octane, and of course the power gain would be small, maybe 5-7 HP or so. You may see some small improvement in mpg, as we can add a *little* bit of timing in for 87 octane, but not much. Again, doing a special Superchip for use with 87 octane for you isn't going to allow you to save a significant amount of money in gasoline.
If you want to do modifications to improve your mpg, take a look modifications that will be more productive in that area, such as our electric fan kit, which gets you 15 hp at the wheels and anywhere from 1.0-2.5 more mpg overall. And our underdrive pulley set is another way to reduce parasitic losses too, and will yield 12 hp at the rear wheels and a bit more mpg.
We'd like to see you using a Superchip, but if you are looking to save money on gasoline, that's really not the way to do it, there are *other* modifications that will give you better mpg results. Feel free to give us a call & we'll be happy to go over that with you, ok?
Best of luck,
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Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 38
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From: Plano, Texas
thanks a bunch
All of that info really helped me decide that superchips would be the best buy for the money and time. Is the number that you posted where i can get into contact with you mike? if so, i would greatly like to give you a call to go over the legistics of the superchip. Thanks again!
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Joined: Dec 1969
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From: Nor-Cal,USA
