Mike,

I'm interested in getting the 1715 Micro Tuner. On the online ordering system, the first item is just listed as "Superchips Micro Tuner for all 1997 & newer Ford F-150 models, including SVT Lightnings & supercharged Harley models". Is this the 1715 model?

The 1715 model will work for a 2000 Expedition with the 5.4L, right?


Thanks.

 

Hi RJ,

Yes, that is correct, that is the 1715 unit, that is the one you need for a Ford Expedition, & they're in stock ready for immediate delivery.

Just FYI in general about how we handle our online orders............ we take a close look at each order individually before processing, to see if there is any mistake or anything mentioned that requires further discussion with the vehicle owner before shipment. Your credit card is *not* charged automatically when you place your order, we process each charge only after reviewing each order individually. For example, we'll look at your year, make & model of vehicle you've listed, and if you have selected the wrong part for that vehicle, we'll give you a call to let you know & ship out the *correct* part for the vehicle you listed.

Thanks for touching base on this, & talk to you soon!

 

Thanks for the clarification. I hope to be ordering one soon.

Does the 1715 have multiple programs (e.g. one for pure performance, one for towing, etc.)?

 

I believe only the Deisel Microtuners have dual programs....The 1715 only has the performance program.

 

Hi RJ,

There is no difference between "Towing" & "Performance" in these F-150/F-250LD/Expedition, etc. trucks (unless you have done some major mods, such as a supercharger), as the requirement for both is the exact same: maximum horsepower and torque al the time at any throttle position or rpm. That is required both for towing and for "performance."

So no, there aren't multiple states of tune you can select from, though there are hundreds upon hundred upon hundreds of different programs in each 1715 F-150 Micro Tuner, only *1* will work in your vehicle, whichever program matches the computer code of your truck, which the Micro Tuner identifies automatically for you, in the background, when connected.

There isn't anything in the way of tuning that can be done to somehow magically make your truck tow better with a "towing" program than with a "performance" program, they're the same thing in these trucks when you don't have a modification like a supercharger, etc.

Now if you had say, a supercharger installed, *then* there would be different things we would do in a "performance" program as opposed to a "towing" program, sure.

The tuning in the 1715 Micro Tuner is the same as it's always been in the Superchip for the F-150, it retunes the engine specifically for premium gas and you get the appropriate increase in power and performance from that and all our other changes.

 

Thanks again Mike!

One last question. A lot of people are worried about trying to get all of the 87 octane gas out of their tanks before installing a Super
Chip or Micro-Tuner. I've read that filling up 91 octane gas with a 1/4 tank of 87 octane still left in there will dilute the 91 octane gas.

Couldn't someone just throw in a bottle of Octane 104+ boost to solve this problem?

 

Hi RJ,

Please don't use *any* octane booster unless your only other choice is walking. Octane boosters generally leave residue behind, deposits than run pink to reddish to purple, coating spark plug insulators, O2 sensors, etc. Yes, they all claim not to harm O2 sensors or catalytic converters, but using octane booster can indeed shorten the service life of spark plugs & O2 sensors. The catalytic converters will be fine. Bottom line, don't use octane booster.

The way to handle this is to simply let your present tank of 87 octane run down until the low fuel light comes on, and then fill it up with premium. Then you're ready to install the Superchips tuning right away.

When the low fuel light first comes on, you still have about 3.5 gallons left in the system, so there is some dilution of the incoming premium gas. But as long as you are using good quality premium gas, between that and your knock sensor you won't get any detonation.

Then just keep doing that same thing, run each tank down until the low fuel light comes on, and fill it up with premium. In 2-3 tanks you'll have all the 87 out of the system.

Octane "mixing" is generally pretty linear, I.E., add 5 gallons of 100 octane to 5 gallons of 90 octane and you end up with 10 gallons of 95 octane. So adding 21.5 gallons of 91 octane to 3.5 gallons of 87 octane will yield 25 gallons of approximately 90.44 octane, for example.

Just run 'er down till the low fuel light comes on & then fill it up with premium, basically, and you're ready to install the Superchips tuning.

 

Thanks Mike!

I wasn't aware of the problems an octane booster could cause.

I just filled up with 91 octance during my last fill up in preparation for the Micro Tuner. I haven't bought the Micro Tuner yet though, but I'm getting ready.

 

Hi RJ,

Just took a look at your sig., that looks like a very nice Expy you have there. Those EB models are top of the line of course (and expensive!). I'll bet it looks sharp with those wheels & tires, I wish more Expedition owners would modify them. F-150 owners do mods frequently, but Expy's are usually the family station wagon & as such, we don't see very many modified. There's another fellow that drops by here from time to time with a *very* nice Expy, goes by the screen name Family Ride.

Nice to see another Expy being modded & good luck with yours!

 

Mike,

Thanks for the compliment! Yeah, the Expedition is used as the family hauler a lot, but there's no reason why it can't look go and perform well. One reason I didn't want the air suspension is because it makes the Expedition sit too low, plus I've seen Expy's with the air suspension that don't sit even (back lower than front or right side lower than left side). I wanted the body to sit higher so I could put some meaty tires on there. 33x12.50 was the biggest I could go without a lift. Even with those, I had to trim the lower valence on the front bumper. But they make the Expedition look nice, especially from the front and back.

I dont' take the Expedition off-road as much as I would like. When I had the exhaust done, I did plan ahead and had the pipes exit just behind the rear tires at an angle (one on each side). That way I wouldn't reduce my angle of departure. I've had the stupid tow hitch dig into the ground multiple times, so I could imagine what would happen if I had my exhaust exit straight out the rear.

My next mod will be the Micro Tuner 1715. After that, I'll probably put a lift and maybe go with 35x12.50 tires.

 

Hi RJ,

Sounds like all the right things have been taken into consideration, & you've got a good plan there. I'm sure you'll also be installing the required 4.56 gearing for those 35" tires when they go on.

You make an *excellent* point, and one that Family Ride has espoused here with regard to his Expedition. You *can* still have all the family-related functionality you could ever want *and* do some nice modifications to improve performance too, so that everyone enjoys the vehicle more. More power to you!

Have fun,