My 0.02!

if your computer tries to advance the spark until it gets knocking then it resets itself just before the knock, THEN in the long run, once your computer determines that it can run better (because you've been putting in higher octane) it will run better MPG.

If you run low octane usually, and check your mileage, then run one tank of higher octane, you will NOT see any improvements, in fact, it will probably run worst.

Unplug your battery for 30 minutes, then run your truck on high octane for 2-5 tanks and your computer will have set itself up for the higher octane gas and you will get increased MPG.

The superchip forces the computer to run with a spark advance required in higher octane so it doesn't have to "learn".

If you don't superchip, and you manage to get your trucks computer to learn to run with the higher octane, keep in mind that if you ever kill your battery, you'll have to go thru all this again. Also, your computer, regardless of the current setting once in awhile will try to advance the spark further, even tho your already running higher octane.

With the chip, this is set and does not get played with, which should give you more consistent MPG.

Keep in mind, that everything I've said here is my opinion based on all the stuff that I've read about the superchip and the MPG

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David
'99 F150 XLT SC, STYLESIDE
4X4 ORP 5.4L, AUTO,
139wb, Rhino, K&N,
BugGuard, RainGuards
Superchip

 

I have a question. What happens if you buy a superchip (which requires the use of premium unleaded fuel) and you decide to run regular unleaded instead (for cost reasons). The engine has a knock sensor which, when using the factory chip, retards engine timing until the "pinging" ceases. Does the superchip ignore the knock sensor? If I run regular unleaded in a superchipped truck, will I damage the engine? Or does the superchip work like the stock chip and retard timing and simply not produce the added performance?

I would seriously consider trying a superchip (Superchips brand) and take advantage of their 30-day money-back guarantee if I was able to run regular unleaded in my truck if I so desire. Here in Virginia, super-unleaded sells for about $0.20 more per gallon than regular unleaded. Multiply that by a 25 gallon tank and you've just spent an extra $5.00. Multiply that by a years driving, say a fill-up every two weeks (which is conservative at best!), and that's a cool $130 extra spent each year.

--Steve


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1998 F-150 Super Cab XLT, 4x4, SWB, StyleSide, 5.4L, E40D Automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Med Graphite Cloth Captain's Chairs, P255/70R-16 OWL AT Tires, 3.55 LS Axle, Cab Steps, Tow Pkg, Power Color-Keyed Mirrors, Fog Lights, Cast Aluminum Wheels, 6-Disc CD Changer. Aftermarket: Pendaliner SR, Keyless Entry, Delta Deep Aluminum Toolbox, Gibson Swept Side Stainless Steel Exhaust, Airaid FIPK, Banks E40D TransCommand, Custom CB and Amateur Radio Installation. See me and my truck at http://bluecrab.richmond.edu/crab-1.htm

 

Steve Z: from what I understand about the superchip, it really needs the high octain to actually work. If you put in the chip and ran reg gas, I think it would act like it didn't have a chip in it, except for the knocking. Basicly a waste of $$$ and chip. Personally for the cost of $130 yearly (about $12 a month) I think it's worth all the added bennies the chip adds to my beast. Before chip, my truck couldn't beat the turtle going downhill. At least now I can pass other's (if you get my drift)

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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
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

If all you want is great gas mileage then just do what I did. Get some big tires and rims. I was getting 17 mpg before, now I'm getting nearly 22 mpg. Also, everything is closer now. It used to be 10 miles to work, now it's only 8 !

 

I think this is what youre looking for spaceace. Enjoy!

Ford Tweaks Engines for Premium Power Payoff
USA Today

Consumer groups insist there is no benefit in using premium fuel if the owner's manual specifies regular. But many Ford, Mercury and Lincoln trucks, and the 1998 Lincoln Town Car that goes on sale in December, have a feature that makes their engines more powerful and improves mileage slightly if you use premium. That's so even though the engines are designed for regular, and advertised poweris obtained using regular. Ford engineers David Amos, Gary Barringer and Gary Brewer came up with the clever gimmick brainstorming. The magic gadget is a knock sensor similar to those on many engines, but set to work differently. Other knock sensors work in the negative. That is, they tone down some engine computer settings when the engine starts knocking, quelling the commotion at the expense of engine power. But Ford's has headroom built in. It will work like the others, but if you use premium, it'll also step up settings to exploit premium's properties. Amos says it adds five to seven horsepower to the nominal 205 hp in the overhead-camshaft Explorer/Mountaineer V-6. And he says premium improves fuel economy in that engine 0.8 to 1 mile per gallon. Ford can't advertise the higher horsepower and fuel economy numbers unless it's willing to specify premium fuel, which marketers fear could scare off buyers. The sensor also is on all trucks using Ford's 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter V-8s and 6.8-liter V-10. That's most F-series V-8 pickups, all Expedition and Lincoln Navigator sports utilities, and some Econoline vans. And it will be on the 4.6-liter '98 Town Car.


This tweak only works on the overhead cam engines as far as I know.

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

Nice article. I have tried to run premium already. No gain....a loss if anything(.5MPG lower). I'm wearing the battery post off from the resets. I live in oxygenated gas territory. I doubt there would be much of an improvement with the blended fuel.

 

Steve Z, after looking at your signature, why worry about $130/year?????? If the chip did nothing but eliminate the top speed limiter(main reason I bought it) and tighten up the shifts(something I didn't know it would do when I bought it), it was worth the money.

Now, saying all of that I have to add that my truck is a weekend only vehicle. If I had to drive it everyday I would worry more about economy than performance and I wouldn't have bought the chip, heck, I probably wouldn't have bought the truck, I'd be driving a Honda.

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98 Nascar Edition, Superchip, Airaid, Flowmaster 70 series, bedliner, in bed tool box, Profile bug deflector and window vents, Class III receiver hitch.

 

Ah... You guys are driving the wrong vehicle if you're worried about gas milage...

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98 SC/XL/4.2/5 speed/3.08/MoonLight Blue Metalic/Mobil One Synthetic/235.70S.16 Michelin XC LT4/AR-136 Wheels/Chrome Nerf Bars/Bug Shield/Aluminum Tool Box/K&N/Superchip/NOS maybe.

DAMN FLEXING DOOR CRACK!

Ford Engineering, reinforce the curve in the door! The cracks will stop.

 

Ah... You guys are driving the wrong vehicle if you're worried about gas milage...

------------------
98 SC/XL/4.2/5 speed/3.08/MoonLight Blue Metalic/Mobil One Synthetic/235.70S.16 Michelin XC LT4/AR-136 Wheels/Chrome Nerf Bars/Bug Shield/Aluminum Tool Box/K&N/Superchip/NOS maybe.

DAMN FLEXING DOOR CRACK!

Ford Engineering, reinforce the curve in the door! The cracks will stop.

 

I rarely do this. (Raoul please don't disagree).
All of us purchased a truck, let us spell that TRUCK, to perform certain duties.
Those duties may be to be cool, we may wish to haul or tow stuff, impress the public or whatever. I may be totally wrong, but I suspect that few of us purchased a Ford truck and expected really good gas mileage.
As have many, I have added a lot of performance enhancing items to my personal Lightning and guess what!
I have a little more performance and I have more or less the same fuel consumption.
Bottom line for me is if you buy a truck, you more or less forget gas mileage, or at least you put it rather low on your list of pritorities.
Been wrong before, could be now, but those are my thoughts.

Bill Murray

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Bill Murray
99.5 Lightning
Oxford White
Bedrug/ARE LSII lid

Tow Package CD Player
Superchip
HobbyTownUSA Graphics
Identical 1/10 Scale Tamiya RC Truck incl. graphics.
Truck interest e-mail:
fastwhitey@myf150.com
4 heavy decals!
Kennesaw (Atlanta) Ga.

 

So true.
If you buy a full size truck don't expect escort MPG.
Compact trucks actually get pretty decent MPG.

 

I knew that from the very get go. I get crappy mileage, but hey, I'm ok with it, not a big deal. I understand that it's not a Geo Metro. But I'm happy, and love my little 'ol truck.

------------------
Arlington Texas (DFW), member of Fordified.
Mudder,Black 98 Styleside S/C F150 4x4 0RP 5.4 3.55ls, Magnum bug shield, Grizzly roll bar,2 Baja lights, 4 165 watt KC lights (I can light up the night with these), Manik grille guard, Westin step bars,Sonic aluminum treadplate 36" tool box, Flowmaster dual exhaust, K/N air filter, 265/75/16 BFG AT/S, American Racing Baja wheels, a Mobil Speed Pass on the back window, a F150 Online sticker, and a Stone Cold sticker on the front windshield. . More to come for the 3:16 machine: Ramsey Pro 8000 winch is here, and will be on as soon as the hidden kit gets here, 4 more KC lights, shocks, and tail light guards. If you would like to see pics, email me at mudder46@hotmail.com or see pics at me and pony's new website www.angelfire.com/ok3/ponysix8, and to hear the exhaust http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/ponysix8/images/T005.wav

 

For those whom think higher octane gets more HP and mileage without a chip. READ THIS FAQ COMPLETELY. Maybe this will stop all the crap being spewed by the anti-chippers.
http://www.jmas.co.jp/FAQs/autos/gasoline-faq/

Just a excerpt.........
"6.13 Can higher octane fuels give me more power?

If you are already using the proper octane fuel, you will not obtain more
power from higher octane fuels. The engine will be already operating at
optimum settings, and a higher octane should have no effect on the management
system. Your driveability and fuel economy will remain the same."
.
.
.
Hold on boys and girls, the rollercoaster is about to begin...
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1999 F250 SD CC, LWB, 5.4L, Auto, 3.73, 4x4, Power TT mirrors w/ marker lights, White, Full Tint, PendaPro SR, Flowmaster Delta 40 series, K&N filtercharger, Superchip(Airbox reinstalled, no improvement found with out it.)




[This message has been edited by spaceace (edited 10-21-1999).]

 

I already tested that 'better mileage' theory w/ higher octane. drove up to KC, Mo from Tulsa, OK and probably got same mpg. but then again maybe it had to do w/ mom driving 85mph for 350 miles. got less mpg when we did the same trip again, this time we went 90 mph all the way there. hey, she was consistent......

 

I read that months ago. I think the chip is a personal desion and don't mind if others don't chip their vehicals, if fact I"ll be delighted to "toast" them at the lights!