Hello. I have read alot of posts concerning the MicroTuner and the quality of gas that you buy. I have also read that there are other guys out there hot-rodding on the power gains that they have received from using the Tuner.

I have a 2000 Expedition/4.6L/Auto/3.55LS.... using the latest revision of the MicroTuner from SuperChips... and I found great improvements with the Tow-Perf setting and have been trying to get some decent gains/bragging rights with the all out PERFORMANCE program. I cant yet chirp the tires on this thing.

I am thinking that the quality of gas that I am running may be my problem. MIKE -- if you could repost something here for me about how to obtain the BTU content from my local gas companies I would appreciate that.

I would like to also ask that if anyone around Harrison, Arkansas or Branson, Missouri knows of a good place to get that high octane fuel with a high BTU content I would appreciate that.

All in all I am very happy with my purchase... just would like to have some fun before I have to tow with this truck again.

 

Hi there OE,

Well, the oil companies generally won't tell you what their BTU content is even if you call them - and it's *never* on the pumps, of course. And even with those few oil companies that *will* tell you the actual BTU content, you have no way of knowing if that is accurate or not. It's also a bit of a moving target from one refinery run to the next - the best companies will have a minimum and if that isn't hit, stop the run from being released until it's up to snuff - Chevron is like that for example, which is one of many reasons why we recommend using them first in areas where premium gas is only 91 octane, which is basically most areas west of about Texas.

In your area, stick to Sunoco if available (use their Ultra 94 if available, it's the best pump premium!), Citgo, Shell, Chevron & Texaco - Conoco may also do a good job out there. As always, steer clear of all the no-names, off-brands, and no Exxon/Mobil, either.

There's just no practical way you are going to be able to identify the BTU content of your various fuels there, certainly not with any consistency - about the only way we "laymen" can determine that is on a relative basis, by burning 3-5 tanks of each brand/source and carefully tracking the fuel mileage - at the end of all that, the fuel that delivered the highest mpg under the same basic driving conditions is generally the fuel with the highest energy content. From there it's a matter of the quality of the detergent additives, etc., which are easier to wade thru. Don't forget *not* to let your fuel mileage testing overlap different seasons - mileage always drops in fall as the winterized fuels are phased into use, so don't let that skew your results if you decide to do some informal testing.

That's about the best I can tell you at this point, I hope that helps a little bit & good luck!

 

Mike,

Thank you for the reply. I appreciate it as always.

I have read what you have posted about Exxon/Mobil in the past, and somewhat disregarded it. Here we have a local Exxon company that does well at maintaining everything at all of their family owned stations. Aside from the Murphy Oil at the Wal-marts, these folks seem to set the standard as far as gas pricing...

I will do what you have reccomended, and stay away from them. Unfortunately we dont have a Sunoco here. That is my personal preference as well.

We have both Texaco and Conoco here, and I will give them a shot.

What really started this for me was reading the posts about someone who had an F150 that was equipped like my Expy - and he was smoking tires. I dont want to start that going into the winter months, but its always COOL knowing that you could if you wanted too.

Thanks again Mike.

 

Superchip or not, a better fuel is better for the vehicle.
IMO.

 

Hi OE,

Well, just to share a bit of perspective in that specific regard......................I wouldn't expect to be able to smoke the tires (or even spin them on the straight & level on dry pavement) on a 2.5-3 ton Expedition with the 4.6 (281 cu. in.) motor just from the Superchips tuning - the 4.6's don't have much torque, what torque they do make peaks at over 3000 rpm.

You can have a mod that is the best bang for the buck - which the Superchips tuning is - but it's still about a 10% power gain, in round numbers - and that's only going to be able to do so much for a 2.5 to 3 ton SUV with the 4.6 motor, basically.

There is well over 3000 lbs. of potential with difference from the lightest 2WD short manual-tranny 4.6 F-150 to the heaviest 5.4 4WD FX4 towing package automatic, etc., etc. in the F-150 - thus you can have anything ranging from a "WOW!" type of result to the more normal what you'd expect from another 10% more power in the heavier trucks - noticeable, but not a real "WOW!," in other words. And in the Expeditions, there's no such thing as a "light" Expy - they're every bit of 5000 lbs. with a driver & fuel on board, even in 2WD trim. And a 4WD Expy with some options? It's not hard to hit the 6000 lb. mark.

Sooo..............it all gets down to power-to-weight. It we take a 5000 lb. 4.6 200 Expedition, that means it has about 22.72 lbs. that each horsepower has to haul around - add the Superchips tuning, and that changes to roughly about 20.70 lbs. per horsepower - so even though it's a great bang for the buck, it's still about a 10% power gain. It's going to take more than a 10% power gain to give that particular SUV the ability to freely spin it's tires on dry pavement in a straight line.

You may well already know all of this, but many times people don't when they haven't been here a long time yet, so I'm just trying to share a little perspective - forgive me if it seems obvious.

With regard to using Exxon/Mobil, the issue is simply one of a lower BTU content - Exxon is generally a very clean fuel - Mobil traditionally was not as clean as Exxon, I don't know just how they are at this point since the merger, other than the BTU content issue from Exxon being reformulated year-round. The bottom lien is, it's not an issue of hurting the vehicle, it's simply one of getting absolute best performance and fuel mileage, is why we say to avoid Exxon - Exxon is generally a "clean" enough fuel, no real problem there - I'm just a nut about energy content & Exxon's is a bit lower overall - heck, I don't want anyone to sever any ties with people they know & trust that they're buying gas from.

Have fun,