Can someone please explain the advantages/disadvantages of having the new 1715 microtuner instead of the flipchip? Both will let you burn either 87 octane or premium fuel, so something else must be driving the decision. What is it?

Thanks,

John

 

The microtuner will allow you to scan for codes. It is a simple plug in and follow the menue. It will allow you to custom tune your truck, within certain limitations as set out by the manufacturer. You can change them s you see fit. A chip is permanantly afixed to the PCM and it requires removing the PCM and cleaning some contacts. The chip is used were someone has modifications that need to be adjusted for that are byond the capabilities of the tuner or doesn't want to pay for the Microtuner and all it bells and wistles. A chip is cheaper but it doesn't have the ability to scan for codes. Once a chip is burned it is set in stone unless you send it back to be reburned. A flip chip is one that allows you to carry 2 programs on one chip. So you could say have one for towing and one for daily driving. Set one for low octane and one for high. But you are still limited to 2 choices. wIhile my truck was still under warranty I liked the chip because uninstalling it wss easy. Reach in and pull it off.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Hi John,

Welcome to F-150 Online!

The best thing for you to do is to simply take the time to read all of the information has already been posted here many, many times - hundreds & thousands of times literally, as each new person comes here & wants to know the same things. You'll get much more info by taking some time to read what so many of us have already posted, than by asking all that to be posted all over again, just to let you know a bit about how to best get info on all of "the basics," as we refer to those matters that virtually every "newbie" here asks. You'll want to get familiar with the search feature, the icon to access it is in the upper right hand area of your screen here - that's your key to instantly unlocking any info you could ever want, as it's all here!

You should also take a look over on our web site at www.TroyerPerformance.com - click on "Shop" once the home pages loads, and that will take you to a screen where you will see all the individual parts sections - Intake, Exhaust, etc. - and you'll find the Superchips section there. Click on the link right there that says "List by Vehicle Type," and then you can select just the FoMoCo applications. Read up on Part#'s 1100, 1300 & 1715 - those are the 3 different Superchips products that can be used on your vehicle - that will give you a good overview of the differences between those products.

The primary thing to remember is that if you are every going to do modifications that require custom engine tuning to compensate for, then you need to stick with the traditional Superchip module instead of the Micro Tuner. The Micro Tuner cannot be used for heavy mods like a supercharger, nitrous oxide, ported cylinder heads, MAF changes, injector size changes, etc. The Micro Tuner is for stock to lightly modified vehicles (you can do modifications like an intake kit, cat-back exhaust system, electric fans, underdrive pulleys & larger throttle body & still use the Micro Tuner's programs).

The primary "advantage" of the Micro Tuner over the traditional chip is features - an easier installation and the additional features, the built-on OBD-II code scanner, the ability to adjust shift points & shift firmness levels, the ability to recalibrate the speedometer in 1999 & newer models for changes to tires size or gear ratio, etc.

By the way, the Flip Chip is not a standard product that always has the same 2 programs allowing for a dual octane capability - that is just our design, we're the ones who made that particular configuration of the Flip Chip popular - the Flip Chip can actually contain *any* 2 programs, so it can be used for a dual octane scenario, or if someone wants towing & performance programs, or a street & strip type of combo, etc. - the Flip Chip doesn't care what 2 programs it contains, that's a matter of what each customer actually *needs*, rather than being a fixed configuration. One very neat thing about the Flip Chip is that it's price also includes the cost of any custom tuning needed at time of purchase (except superchargers, those tunes cost a bit more), so for anyone that needs custom tuning, the Flip Chip is actually the cheapest way to get that custom tuning. I know this can be a bit confusing, it's a lot of material to digest at one time.

The new 1715 isn't shipping quite yet (it will be within days), and *that* is the one that has the 87 octane program, and it also has 2 additional programs - premium gas towing & premium gas no-towing, or "max" performance. So it's being updated to become a 3-program unit, whereas the current 1715 has 1 performance program, the premium gas towing-compatible program.

Please feel free to give us a call to go over any of this in detail, or to go over anything else performance-related about your vehicle, we'll be happy to help!

Thanks for dropping by & we hope you'll hang out here with us in your spare time!