Mike,

I installed my Superchip this weekend including the disconnect of the battery.

The power increase is absolutely noticeable, I'd say 18-25 HP seat-of-pants. I am extremely pleased with this performance.

However, my gas mileage got shot in the head. This is what I did to test it: At the time I installed the Superchip, the idiot light for the gas said "low fuel" already. I ran it down another 15 miles after installing the chip. Filled it with premium, drove it home, and disconnected the battery again, overnight. I connected up the battery in the morning, topped the tank to the neck with premium, and took the same freeway run as I always do on Sunday mornings (0730 PST--no one's on the freeway then--cruise control @ 70mph for 47 miles). Mileage went from 17.34 to 15.39mpg.

Also, I don't feel any of the firmer tranny shifts that most readers talk about. Does the pc need time to learn? and how can I tell ifthis chip is correct for my truck? Aside from checking the hood, is there a way of confirming that Ford hasn't flashed the computer with something 'slightly compatable' with the NAB4 ver. Superchip? This is not to bitch--when it comes down to it, had I known the mileage would be this bad (vs. the HP I've gained), I'd have done it anyway.

Lastly, if I change to 4.10's will the chip need flashing? (so much for gas mileage...)

Thanks, fish.


P. S. I read in your post to ALLFORD, you said, "One thing to watch for when you install the 4.10's is to see if you bounce off the rev limiter on the 1-2 full-throttle upshift..." What does it mean 'see if you bounce off the rev limiter'? Will I actually see the tach kick back and feel the RPM's-increase ending abruptly?

[This message has been edited by gofish (edited 09-04-2000).]

 

Hi fish,

It sounds to me like you probably just need to give it more time (miles), that's all. You can't make mileage comparions in the first few miles like that as they aren't very accurate usually.

Also, when you fill up, do NOT "top off", let the pump stop on the first "click", and then do not put any more in, as you can cause damge to emissions controls systems by "topping off". Also, letting it stop when the nozzle kicks off is much more consistent for accuracy.

The Superchip isn't going to cause a *decrease* in gas mileage unless you either drive it harder checking out the new performance level (most likely from the sound of it), or the premium fuel you used has a particuarly low energy content.

It could also get much worse gas mileage if the computer code was not correct, but if that were the case, you'd know it from the truck not running right and being down on power and running very rich, you'd smell the gas, it would be very evident that something was wrong from the way the engine would run.

It sounds to me like you just need to give it more time, and check your mileage over the next 500-1000 miles, as the fuel trim curves adapt to the new programming.

Good luck!

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

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 09-05-2000).]

 

Mike,

Thanks for the reply. Actually, I babied that run just to measure mileage, but I'll wait a while before checking again. I'd bet my last dollar that the chip is the correct version. I'm not experiencing any bad symptoms other than the mileage.

I think we got caught up in the mileage question. Would you read the "P. S." in my first post again and explain what you meant about the "bouncing off the rev limiter"?

Thanks, fish.

[This message has been edited by gofish (edited 09-05-2000).]

 

Hi Fish,

OK, understood. Given the very small distance traveled and the method you used for filling up, I'd say it's probably just more time is needed and more distance to calculate accurately & consistently. It's either that or a problem with that premium gas used having a low energy content, and consistently tracking your mileage is one of the best informal indicators of actual energy content of teh fuel. This has really only become somewhat of an issue of the past 18-24 months, as the Feds have mandated reformulated gasolines for use in areas that do not reach "attainment" in their air quality standards, as the Feds have just started monitoring this year-round over the past couple of years. They divide each state into multiple geographical regions, and monitor the air quality of each region. Any region not reaching attainment has a few options for improving their air qualty, the easiest of which is just to mandate reformulated gasolines. They don't stop and think that if you have to burn *more* fuel due to a lower energy contant, you're just polluting the air that much more, but that's the Feds for you, they'll figure that out sooner or later.

I agree, since you're not getting any other symptoms like I described, you most likely do have the correct computer code. It would only be wrong if your vehicle's computer had been reflashed at the dealerhsip at some point during it's life, and that happens sometimes, but you usually know that this has happened, as it's always notated on your copy of the service paperwork.

With regards to the term "bouncing off the rev limiter", you have the correct understanding. This can happen sometimes if say, you install 4.10 gears and don't compensate in the program. For example, on the WOT 1-2 upshift, because the engine now gains rpms quicker due to the gear change, the engine hits the rev limiter before the automatic transmission can complete it's upshift. So the engine "bounces off" the rev limiter, then the transmission completes it's upshift, and then the engine starts pulling hard again. Easy to fix.

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

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 09-06-2000).]

 

Mike,

Thanks for the quick reply. A pleasure doing business with you. fish