I honestly tried for an hour to not have to add an additional posting, without success.

As I read through all of the info that is being posted, it seems that both the factory supplied computer as well as any aftermarket chip installations have to learn "your" driving characteristics.

As I own a 99.5 Lightning, this subject is as of much interest to me as it is to those of you who use their Fords for towing or 4-wheeling.

Unfortunately for me, buying a Lightning was about as practical as buying a Ferrari, in that 98% of my driving is on 35-50mph surface streets back and forth to my business. To say that my WOT opportunities are limited is the ultimate oxymoron.

Obviously, completely stock, my Lightning is totally awesome, but I get the sense I am "teaching" it all the wrong lessons in that I just can't run over all those folks in their minivans and broken down Hyundai's we have here in Atlanta.

Maybe Mike Troyer can set me straight, but do you have to teach a "Superchip" too, and if I am not out on I-20 running from Atlanta to Birmingham flat out every day will I end up with the "wimp" end of the performance envelope that is potentially available?

Sorry, guys and gals, if I did not present my question in a proper technical way, but I hope you understand what I am asking.

 

I was fixing to post the same question. But here is an additional one. What if our chip has already gone through the learning curve. Can we simply take it out, start up the truck, turn off the truck, pop it back on and then teach it again. Please Help?
Thanks,
Logan

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99 F-150 XLT SC Auto 4.2L V6, SuperChipped as of 6/7/99, P255-70-16, 6.5' Bed, deepwedgewood blue & silver bottom, Cobra 148GTL CB, Line-X liner.

 

The way I understand it, is the computer does the relearning not the chip. The chip supplies the new parameters. I'm sure Mike will set us straight on this.

------------------
'99 WHITE F150 XLT FlareSide SC 4.2 Auto 3.55, Superchip,
Black Westin Nerfs, White Prime Design BugShield,
White Vtech Taillight Covers, White Vtech Sidewinders,
LOTTA SHOW and SOME GO

 

I asked the same questions (sort of). Mike gave me a very detailed response. It was unfortunately in an internet E-Mail and rather than duplicate and maybe misquoting him I'll let him answer...

I will guess though that Learning is ongoing in the sense that if you don't get a chance to do much WOT it won't limit you forever. It likely means that once you DO have the opportunity it may take a little while for the comp to adjust to the new potential and begin providing better results as you give it more chance to learn..

Maestro?

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1999 F250 LD 5.4 4x4 Lariat Supercab. White & Silver
Supercharged, Super chip, dual exhaust, K&N, Hidden Winch, Billet grill, Color GPS, Chrome Nerf & Flaps, clear tail & turn lenses, 9007 headlights, Inyati liner.

 

I've recently had to disconnect my battery causing the computer to "start over" too. The truck actually runs great. The only places I've noticed any problems is my fuel milage went down on that first tank (after reset) and the other day I really needed some speed pulling out into traffic. Went to WOT and it ran really ruff. This tells me that I need to get out and punch it a few times so the computer can get the message!! I know this beast will run, but the computer just has to learn all over again that it can run

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing

 

I didn't want to believe, but this learnig curve stuff seem correct. I just made a second trip of over 400 miles through the White Mountains and you have to pull some long curving hills (I used WOT a couple of times to pass). For the next couple of weeks the truck seems more powerful in town. After driving to work in normal traffic again it seems to lose a little. Seems we need to stay hard on it to keep the best performance. The computer needs more memory line my PC.

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97 F-150, 2WD, Reg Cab,Flareside,Dk Toreador Red, 4.6, 3.55 LS, EGR Bug Deflector, ******* Bed Cover, Bed Liner, XL Full Length Running Boards, Air Aid Kit, Gibson Single Out Cat Back, Superchips, TransGo Shift Kit, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Hellwig 2500# Overload Springs

 

Me too, for two days a week I have to visit 80 stores in four cities, by then my truck "thinks" it's a baby buggy, but when I hit that last stop. I "kick her a## all the way home" and shes all better. Don't forget temp. and air density are a preformance factor. Cooler and drier is better.

 

My truck also seems like it has lost some of it's power and quickness that it had when I first installed the Superchip. Is it possible that it has "relearned" to be stock again?

 

To ALL:

1.) Great Topic! Thanks, Bill!

2.) There's "relearn", and then there is Ford's "Adaptive Strategy". "Relearn" happens whenever you interrupt power to the ECU. For the most part, it's transparent to the driver, except for the basics such as idle speed & quality, and throttle response. Most of the characteristics that will be noticeable to the driver will be done in the first 20 miles or so, even though Ford says to allow as much as several weeks or 600-800 miles to complete.

"Adaptive Strategy" is Ford's design, wherein for the life of the vehicle, the ECU will optimize itself for the manner in which the vehicle is being operated. And yes, if you drive conservatively most of the time, you won't get that last 1-2 percent of raw power that you could get by driving the vehicle harder more often. For example, if you take 2 identical vehicles, one that tows regularly, and one that does not, and put the same load behind each, the truck that's been towing recently will have 1-2 percent more power. It's not a lot, but it is enough for many drivers to notice, and it feels like more torque under load, as opposed to feeling a lot of new-found raw power.

So adaptive strategy is at work all the time, not just when you interrupt power to the ECU.

And to answer Bill's question, the harder you drive the vehicle more often, the more power it will have when you do so, but remember that we're only talking about a few percentage points here, it's not a 30 hp difference. It's enough to feel for those who are pretty well attuned to their vehicle and the way it responds; some people don't pay that much attention to the tactile data. It's not enough to spoil the vehicle's performance, it's merely that last few percent. In other words, it's not enough of a difference to drive the vehicle harder than you normally would, unless perhaps you are on your way to the drag strip for some 1/4 mile times!

I hope that helps,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

Dear Cruzer,

No, it is not possible that you've lost anything unless you drop back to a lower octane gas. Let's not overestimate the effects of relearn and/or adaptive strategy, as it's only a couple of percent that we're talking about here, and that's only under very heavy throttle.

What has happened is that you've gotten used to the performance of your truck with the Superchip now, that's all. Take it out and run for a week or two, and then put it back in. You'll feel the difference, and you'll never take it out again most likely!

The performance gains of the Superchip do not ever "fall off". As long as it's present, and the proper fuel is being used, it's always going to do what it does. Remember, that is coded! Meaning, the lines of programming info in the Superchip do not change, ever, unless the program is altered by a Superchips programmer for whatever reason. No matter how you drive your vehicle, the Superchip is working at all times.

The only affect that driving conservatively is going to have is to not allow that last couple of percent of additional horsepower when using premium gasoline under a hard load, that's all. And a few good hard pulls at WOT will take care of that pretty quickly, so we're not talking about a *big* difference in performance.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

Thanks for the reply Mike. I'm glad to hear the chip, like you, is always working and the power loss is only my imagination. I guess I should try the "chip removal" test for reassurance.

 

cruzer,

I too have thought about pulling the chip to check the difference, but hesitate for fear I won't have enough power to back out of the driveway!

------------------
'99 WHITE F150 XLT FlareSide SC 4.2 Auto 3.55, Superchip,
Black Westin Nerfs, White Prime Design BugShield,
White Vtech Taillight Covers, White Vtech Sidewinders,
LOTTA SHOW and SOME GO

 

Thanks to all of you who responded to my question. So typical of this Board, and so untypical of some of the other brands boards that I visit for fun.

I am now satisfied that I can live with a plus/minus 2% difference in performance which will negate the need for me to find long lonely straight stretches where I will flog my Lightning to death to get that last ounce of ooomph.

Mike, I am of the age that I cannot totally agree that "ain't computers great", in that in the 1950's and 1960's when I was really into this stuff, if you modified something, it was 'modified". There were no computers trying to override what you did to your vehicle. As a former automotive executive, I am totally aware of CAFE, the EPA and all of that, but, as I suspect you have, I could spec really high performance vehicles that would not only meet but exceed todays emission standards and deliver very acceptable mileage to boot.

The 427 Chev that you and I still have to talk about met the CT emission tests as long as I kept it up, and on a trip it would deliver 19 MPG, consistent with todays vehicles if you consider weight and engine displacement. I guess it was a matter of the individual owner maintaining the vehicle in a proper manner, something that the computers seem to have made redundant. 100,000 mile tuneups are Starwars to me!

On the other hand, maybe you are the Luke Skywalker for those of us who are forced to buy these Government Engineered vehicles and will lead us out of the wilderness.

Ain't progress painfull?

------------------

Bill Murray
60 going on 17 w/my:
99.5 White Lightning
Bone Stock for now.
Stay tuned.

 

Ok, maybe Mike's right. A quick test on the way home last night revealed that it's still quite easy for me to pass other vehicles. I punched it at a stop sign and was able to spin the back tires as well. This was something my "pre-Superchip" F150 could not do.

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'99 F150 XLT,Wedgewood Blue, 4.6 V8, SC, Penda liner, K&N filter,
Superchip

 

Dear Bill,

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, with regards to whether or not computer controlled vehicles are genrally capable of delivering better performance *and* mileage than yesterdays non-fuel injection non-computer controlled vehicles, and the parts last longer. Spark plugs that make good power for 30K miles is the first thing that comes to mind, having grown up changing plugs every weekend in my street racer. To me, one who has done a lot of both, there's no comparison. Even back in the heyday of the 60's musclecars, you didn't have what you have today; that is, with the 60's equivalant of $20K in today's US dollars, you couldn't walk into any Chevy store and walk out with a Camaro LS1 capable of turning 13.8 1/4 mile times, run 160+ mph top speeds, and get 28 mpg on the highway, even more mpg if you use 6th gear. *That* is what I'm talking about. Today we have the ability to control all those tuning parameters so very precisely, there is no comparison. A late 60's 427 Chevy cop car getting 19 mpg? Easy, if you really know how to tune. With a little updating, it should be able to return 30 mpg @ 55 mph. My 300+ hp Lincoln Mark 8 gets 26 mpg @ 85 mph with the A/C on, and it isn't *well* tuned. Anything is possible.

Bests,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com