OK I have a question that I posted on engines and was referred here...I have a 99 F150 with the 5.4...no problem with power except when towing. I'm pulling a 29 foot RV about 5500# and I keep going between 3rd and 4th gear with the 3.73 rear end so my mileage plummets from 17 to 9! I don't want to get a superchip if I have to run premium all the time but someone mentioned that I could get a flip chip? What happens if I run reg unleaded when not towing and just fill up with premium when towing? Have at it Mike and thanks....
Jonathan

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99 F150 4X4 Ext Cab Black and Tan Lariat, Every Option except engine block htr
1997 Eddie Bauer Explorer AWD V-8 every option
91 F150 Rare Nite pkg Ext Cab 4X4 Still my favorite sigh..

 

Dear 91 Nite,

Glad you dropped by!

OK, first things first, you may well already know this, but just in case...make sure whatever you do, that you do NOT allow your transmission to cycle in and out of Overdrive. If it starts doing that, and this is going to happen if you drive anywhere but absolutely flat lands, take it out of Overdrive until your load decreases. You can tow in Overdrive safely anytime that your load is not high enough to make it cycle and "hunt" between 3rd and 4th gears. It's this cycling in and out of Overdrive under heavy load that causes acceletated transmission wear, not the act of towing in Overdrive itself. I don't mean if you go up an hill, it drops out of Overdrive, and stays in 3rd until you crest the hill, that's fine. I mean a situation where it's really cycling in and out of Overdrive, that's the real tranny killer.

OK, now on to what you *really* wanted to know....

A number of people in your exact situation have done just that, used the Superchip Flip Chip set up with one program for regular, and one program for premium, just as you suggest, this has become very popular for people who are towing. How we set it up is like this; in Position 1, we program the engine for regular gasoline, and we can sometimes pick up a few horsepower, but very few. Engine tuning aside, we still make all the other modification we make normally, like the changes we make to reduce slippage in the automatic transmissions. Basically, the only difference between the 2 programs is that you can run in Position 1 on regular 87 octane gasoline. So you get the benefit of the removal of those shift delays, on both upahift and downshift, top speed limiter removed, all the transitional spark retasrds pulled, etc. On the automatics, you will still get better performance even on regular gas, not from iuncreased engine power but from all the other improvements to the factory program.

Then when you want to tow, just fill it up with premium, and flip the switch to engage the program for premium gasoline. Keep in mind that the program change does not take effect in real-time, as the current program is stored in volatile memory, and remains there until new instructions execute unless you disconnect the battery for a few minutes. So it will take 50-100 miles of driving before you will start to feel the effects of the increased engine power, so keep that in mind. Now if you wanted to do a quick disconnect of the battery when you did this, you could clear that volatile memory, but this is neither required nor convenient, I'm just making you aware of this technique to improve short-term results.

Just give us a call and we'll be happy to go over all the details with you!

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System

 

Hey Mike,

It'll be 2 weeks tomorrow since I called you and ordered my flip chip. It has yet to show up. Can you give me any idea how much longer. Thanx.
Mark


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2000 reg cab sb XLT 2WD
5.4
silver
3.55 LS
4 wheel antilock discs
K&N
17x8 TSW Trackers
285/60-17 Pirelli Scorpion Zeroes
Downey SST Tonneau
Gibson Stainless Split Rear Catback
2 inch drop shackles
Ford factory fog light kit




[This message has been edited by 2000regcab54 (edited 05-31-2000).]

 

Thanks Mike,
I have a temp gauge on the tranny and a whooper of a cooler but thanks for the advice as probably alot of people don't know about not letting the tranny hunt.
I can handle disconnecting the battery as I don't tow every week and that would be my besst bet. What's the cost for a flip chip..is it 225.00 like the others?
THanks
Jonathan

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99 F150 4X4 Ext Cab Black and Tan Lariat, Every Option except engine block htr
1997 Eddie Bauer Explorer AWD V-8 every option
91 F150 Rare Nite pkg Ext Cab 4X4 Still my favorite sigh..

 

HI 2000regcab54,

What I suggest anytime you have a question like this is to contact me directly, as I have no idea whose real name is tied to what screen name, there are just too many to remember! So please forgive me, a few people I can remember, but most I don't so just touch base with us on that. Give me a shout so I'll know who you are, and we'll check on it right away for you, ok? We're here until 7 pm Eastern.

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System