Installed the Superchip and all I can say is WOW! The installation was pretty straight forward. The only thing that surprised me was when I started the motor after reconnecting the battery. All the gauges swung all the way to one side before starting. Spoke with Mike and told me that happens anytime the computer resets. Kind of caught me of guard being the first time I did that but hey, it works.

I have two more upgrades to go this week, Airraid and Gibson Swept Side tomorrow. So far, on a scale from 1-10, I rate this first modification as a 9. You can tell the difference in the shift points right away (Make sure you disconnect and reconnect the battery during the install).

I'll keep you all posted on my feedback on the intake and exhaust mods if it's worth the money.


Blue2000Expy

 

Hi Blue2000Expy,

I was glad you called yesterday to check on that right away. That is perfectly normal, and happens when you do a re-set, or change the computer's program like that.

As far as what to expect from the Airaid and the Gibson exhaust, here is what we see on the dyno: Airaid kit, 12 hp on the 4.6, and 14 hp on the 5.4 motor, at the flywheel. On the Gibson exhaust, 10-12 hp on the 4.6 and 12 hp to sometimes as much as 13-14 hp on the 5.4 motor, again, at thw flywheel.

One thing to remember from your breathing mods is that while they are good horsepwoer gainers, they don't add a lot of noticeable torque on the low end like the Superchip does, but that is perfectly normal too, it's a breathing mod, and that is their basic characteristic. Breathing mods work best when the motor is breathing hard, so the more throttle you give it, the more you should notice those breathing mods at work. You should notice them all the time, but even more so when the motor is working hard, is what I'm trying to say.

They do compliment the Superchip very nicely, and are actually cumulative in their gains as opposed to a tendency to cancel each other out like some mods can, so you've made some great choices that we're sure you'll enjoy quite a bit.

Have fun,

------------------
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
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Mike,

When you say at the flywheel what does that translate to at HP at the wheels?

Blue

 

Knock off about 20 percent, maybe more with an auto, maybe less with a manual.

 

Thanks Mike.

I installed the Airraid and Gibson yesterday. I noticed improvements to thr throttle response and overall torque with these additions however, I do have a concern about using the Airraid. It does everything that I hoped it would but I'm a bit concerned about having warm air going into the motor. I know that there's a sensor that adjusts for any increase in air temperature however, will my motor get damaged from hot air? Does hot air impact gas mileage?

Since resetting my computer yesterday, my average gas mileage is now 12.3 vs. 13.1 before all of these upgrades including the Chip. Do you know how long it takes to get a good avg. gas mileage reading?

thanks in advance

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2000 5.4 Expedition -Eddie Bauer 4x4. Wedgewood Blue.

Mods include:
-SuperChip
-Airraid intake
-Gibson Sweptside 3" Catback

 

For example, an automatic powertrain will lose 65 hp from the flywheel rating to the power measured at the rear wheels, and a manual will lose 32-35 hp, or about half that amount. So on the 5.4 automatic F-150's that is about a 25% loss, and on the manuals about 12%- 13.5%.

------------------
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
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

You're probably just using more throttle now, checking out the effects of your mods. None of those 3 mods tends to reduce mileage, all of them tend to have a positive effect, not negative, so it can only be either you're driving it with more throttle than normal, or, the fuel formulation you are using is a lower energy content.

On the 1999 & later vehicles, what we've observed is that about half of the ultimate fuel mileage benefit from the Superchips coems in pretty much right away, within the first couple of thanks of gas, and the rest of it tends to come in more slowly, and can take as long as 1500-2000 miles in some cases.

Remember that improved gas mileage is a by-product of the increased spark advance used on part-throttle, so your gas mileage with the Superchip is going to depends on your right foot, the overall load on the motor, and the energy content of your fuel supply, basically. Anytime you are not using heavy throttle, the engine is going to be a little bit more efficient with the Superchip than without it.

In cruising situations, most people report back picking up anywhere from 1.5 to as much as 2.0 more mpg. However, there can certianly be situaitons in which the mileage is not increased, and that is going to be due to either how much throttle is being used, the load the vehicle is under, or the energy content of the fuel being used.

And how people actually calculate their mileage varies a bit as well. What we advise is to fill up at the same station that you used to buy your regular gas from, and let it stop at the first "click" of the pump, never top it off. This will get you the most consistently accurate results. Some people figure it in terms of # of miles per tank, which is not very accurate, it's best to keep a running track of # of gallons used at each fillup versus the # of miles driven, that way it's always consistent, and you can fill up at any time, no matter how much fuel is still in the tank.

That may sounds very simplistic, but you wouldn't believe the number of different ways people figure their mileage.

Now with specific regards to the Airaid unit and the Gibson exhaust, we generally don't see much in the way of real mileage gains from them, though there have been some people who reported back getting as much as 2 more mpg with the Airaid kit alopne, though we've never been able to duplicate that. I'd say if you get .5 more mpg from the Airaid and the Gibson both combined, you've done well.

It's very common during the first month or so after installing these mods for people to get less mileage, simply from them checking out how the vehicle performs now with those changes, and using more applications of heavy throttle than normal. Then after the novelty wears off a bit, and they get back to more "normal" driving, they see the mileage go back up.

Your 5.4 4x4 Eddie Bauer Expedition is a very heavy vehicle, weighing well over 6000 lbs., so you may simply have too much overall load on the motor for it to give you much of an improvement in mileage, only time will tell, I'd say.

Please feel free to give us a call if you'd like to go over this in more detail,

That's about as much insight as I can give you on this, I hope that helps.

------------------
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
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer