Hope it is just the gas.................
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Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 38
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From: Arlington, TX USA
Hope it is just the gas.................
Just got my new superchip today. Installation was a snap. But my first impression is not so good. I took the truck out for a short test drive and could not tell much if any difference in HP.
I still have 1/2 tank of 87 octane to burn. Could it be the gas? Can I fill up with 93 now or should I wait until I burn more of the 87 out(that won't take long at 14mpg)?
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Mike Kimbro
1999 F-150 Lariat, 4x4, SC, Flareside, 5.4,White/Tan leather, CD changer, Flowmaster 40 series.
K&N or Airaid FIPK and Superchip to follow.
I still have 1/2 tank of 87 octane to burn. Could it be the gas? Can I fill up with 93 now or should I wait until I burn more of the 87 out(that won't take long at 14mpg)?
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Mike Kimbro
1999 F-150 Lariat, 4x4, SC, Flareside, 5.4,White/Tan leather, CD changer, Flowmaster 40 series.
K&N or Airaid FIPK and Superchip to follow.
Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 19
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From: east central IA
You don't get enough power to start with that you will REALLY notice it. You probably didn't get any using the 87 octane. I noticed my power gain more at Hwy speeds, not popping out of OD as soon on big hills and the such. I did what is recomended and put 93 octane in tank before chip install. How it drives and shifts is the main improvement you will see and is my main reason for buying the chip, not the 20 or so HP.
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97 F150 4x4 SC 8' box, 5.4l auto 3.55LS.
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97 F150 4x4 SC 8' box, 5.4l auto 3.55LS.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Republic of Texas
If that were the case, you could have bought a $50 shift kit and run 87 and gotten the same result.
I'm on 1,000 miles with the chip, 93 and can really only "feel" a difference in shift points and how "hard" it shifts.
It would seem that unless you drive a light-weight 2wd, you arent going to see major improvement (other than shifts).
Sorry to be what could be considered to be negitive about the chip, but that's the story as I see it.
I'm on 1,000 miles with the chip, 93 and can really only "feel" a difference in shift points and how "hard" it shifts.
It would seem that unless you drive a light-weight 2wd, you arent going to see major improvement (other than shifts).
Sorry to be what could be considered to be negitive about the chip, but that's the story as I see it.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 820
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From: LA
Burn out the 87 gas, fill it up with 93, I like Texaco and disconnect your negative battery cable on more time. You should get the full effect shortly there after
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1999 F-150 Lariat SC 2 WD, White/Silver, 5.4L, 3.55LS, K & N FIPK, Superchip, underdrive pulley set, Dynomax Super Turbo Series Exhaust, six disc CD changer, towing package and captain chairs
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1999 F-150 Lariat SC 2 WD, White/Silver, 5.4L, 3.55LS, K & N FIPK, Superchip, underdrive pulley set, Dynomax Super Turbo Series Exhaust, six disc CD changer, towing package and captain chairs
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Just to lend a bit of perspective here....
It's very simple, you *have* to use 92 octane or higher to get the rated power gains. A half-tank of regular will cause you to not get much of the power gains, and is *not* the way to use or judge the results of the Superchip, this is the most basic of issues! Your engine has been tuned *specifically* for the use of premium gas with the Superchip. It's like anything else, if you don't use it as per it's design, then you're not going to get the results it was designed to deliver, it doesn't get more basic than that.
In terms of what to expect it to feel like, it's going to feel like you have about 10%-12% more peak horsepower, as that is exactly what the Superchip delivers. It's not going to turn any 2-ton+ F-150 into a tire-shredding monster, a 10%-12% power gain can't do that, of course, so you also have to have a reasonable expectation of what it can do. People expecting it to make a "night and day" type of difference are bound to be disappointed, obviously, nor do we ever claim it's going to make that kind of difference. What we *do* say is that it is quite simply the single best bang-for-the-buck performance modification available, because it is. No other part will give you more power or more of a performance gain for the money than the Superchip.
It should be obvious that say, in the case of the 4.6 motor, that a 26 hp increase (the Superchip's rated peak power increase in the F-150 4.6) in the peak power is going to be more noticeable the lower the weight of the vehicle, very basic power-to-weight ratio in other words. So a 26 hp gain on a stock 4.6 4200 lb. 2wd F-150 changes the power-to-weight ratio from 19.09 lbs. per hp. to 17.07 lbs. per hp. For the cost, that is an *excellent* result, but it's never going to be a supercharger. Going up into the heavier 4X4 Super Cabs with the Offroad package, where you easily have vehicle weights of 5500 lbs. and even much more, the power-to-weight ratio in the 4.6 for example changes from 25 lbs. per hp down to 22.35 lbs. per hp. It very clearly works and delivers it's power gains, but you do have to have reasonable expectations of what it can do.
The comments of it not shifting down out of Overdrive like it did before show quite clearly that it is in fact adding power, as that comes from the increase on torque on part-throttle, even in the low rpm ranges you're running at 55-60 mph in Overdrive. There are no changes made to the basic strategies the vehicle uses to satisfy throttle demand, this is strictly from the increase in torque, and proof that it's adding power.
People are always going to have different perspectives, and if you want to get a good feel for what it does on even the heavier vehicles and even when towing at that, you should take a look at the thread that Conocoan posted about towing with the Superchip, as that gives an excellent description.
The Superchip is *always* going to make it's power gains as long as it's "fed" properly, but if it is fed anything less than the 92 octane required to get the rated power gains, then you obviously won't get the rated power gains.
Mkimbro, what you should do is to burn out that low-octane gas, and then fill it up with the proper premium gasoline that it *requires* to do it's job. I would also disconnect the battery for 5 minutes with the headlights on to drain all residual voltage, so the computer's memory is cleared and you get a fresh program load once you fill up with premium. This disconnecting of the battery when you go to premium is not *required*, but if you don't, it will be a very gradual change, as the computer has been backing off spark advance due to the lower octane, and you should clear that from memory to feel the difference sooner.
Our bests to all,
------------------
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
It's very simple, you *have* to use 92 octane or higher to get the rated power gains. A half-tank of regular will cause you to not get much of the power gains, and is *not* the way to use or judge the results of the Superchip, this is the most basic of issues! Your engine has been tuned *specifically* for the use of premium gas with the Superchip. It's like anything else, if you don't use it as per it's design, then you're not going to get the results it was designed to deliver, it doesn't get more basic than that.
In terms of what to expect it to feel like, it's going to feel like you have about 10%-12% more peak horsepower, as that is exactly what the Superchip delivers. It's not going to turn any 2-ton+ F-150 into a tire-shredding monster, a 10%-12% power gain can't do that, of course, so you also have to have a reasonable expectation of what it can do. People expecting it to make a "night and day" type of difference are bound to be disappointed, obviously, nor do we ever claim it's going to make that kind of difference. What we *do* say is that it is quite simply the single best bang-for-the-buck performance modification available, because it is. No other part will give you more power or more of a performance gain for the money than the Superchip.
It should be obvious that say, in the case of the 4.6 motor, that a 26 hp increase (the Superchip's rated peak power increase in the F-150 4.6) in the peak power is going to be more noticeable the lower the weight of the vehicle, very basic power-to-weight ratio in other words. So a 26 hp gain on a stock 4.6 4200 lb. 2wd F-150 changes the power-to-weight ratio from 19.09 lbs. per hp. to 17.07 lbs. per hp. For the cost, that is an *excellent* result, but it's never going to be a supercharger. Going up into the heavier 4X4 Super Cabs with the Offroad package, where you easily have vehicle weights of 5500 lbs. and even much more, the power-to-weight ratio in the 4.6 for example changes from 25 lbs. per hp down to 22.35 lbs. per hp. It very clearly works and delivers it's power gains, but you do have to have reasonable expectations of what it can do.
The comments of it not shifting down out of Overdrive like it did before show quite clearly that it is in fact adding power, as that comes from the increase on torque on part-throttle, even in the low rpm ranges you're running at 55-60 mph in Overdrive. There are no changes made to the basic strategies the vehicle uses to satisfy throttle demand, this is strictly from the increase in torque, and proof that it's adding power.
People are always going to have different perspectives, and if you want to get a good feel for what it does on even the heavier vehicles and even when towing at that, you should take a look at the thread that Conocoan posted about towing with the Superchip, as that gives an excellent description.
The Superchip is *always* going to make it's power gains as long as it's "fed" properly, but if it is fed anything less than the 92 octane required to get the rated power gains, then you obviously won't get the rated power gains.
Mkimbro, what you should do is to burn out that low-octane gas, and then fill it up with the proper premium gasoline that it *requires* to do it's job. I would also disconnect the battery for 5 minutes with the headlights on to drain all residual voltage, so the computer's memory is cleared and you get a fresh program load once you fill up with premium. This disconnecting of the battery when you go to premium is not *required*, but if you don't, it will be a very gradual change, as the computer has been backing off spark advance due to the lower octane, and you should clear that from memory to feel the difference sooner.
Our bests to all,
------------------
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
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 1
From: Columbus, Georgia
Mike..is it possible that 4x4s do not typically see the same gains as 4x2s????
I have been using 93 Octane Amoco and my truck has a very noticeable load of extra power with the Superchip (and K&N filter). I have used an off brand a couple of times (cheaper fuel prices)...and it certainly had an impact on my power. I am sticking with Amoco from now on.
Mike has mentioned before..after using the superchip for awhile..and if you are not convinced..take it out, reset the computer and drive it for awhile. I had to do this before my last trade in. I experienced a VERY noticeable loss in power...even after driving it several hundred miles to let the computer and tranny relearn. As soon as I had my new computer code for the replacement truck, I sent the chip to Mike to be reprogrammed. After 600 miles now (1,100 miles on truck so far)..the new truck is performing extremely well.
The chip is not going to be like a rocket attached to the bed..and will not make our approx 4,500 lb truck run like a vette, but it has certainly blown away my expectations!
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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, FORD bedliner, FORD black tubular cab steps, K&N air filter, mar-hyde rubberized undercoating, Modine climate filtration system, Bugflector II, Mobil 1 oil and filter, Build date 7/00
[This message has been edited by Dustoff (edited 09-08-2000).]
I have been using 93 Octane Amoco and my truck has a very noticeable load of extra power with the Superchip (and K&N filter). I have used an off brand a couple of times (cheaper fuel prices)...and it certainly had an impact on my power. I am sticking with Amoco from now on.
Mike has mentioned before..after using the superchip for awhile..and if you are not convinced..take it out, reset the computer and drive it for awhile. I had to do this before my last trade in. I experienced a VERY noticeable loss in power...even after driving it several hundred miles to let the computer and tranny relearn. As soon as I had my new computer code for the replacement truck, I sent the chip to Mike to be reprogrammed. After 600 miles now (1,100 miles on truck so far)..the new truck is performing extremely well.
The chip is not going to be like a rocket attached to the bed..and will not make our approx 4,500 lb truck run like a vette, but it has certainly blown away my expectations!
------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, FORD bedliner, FORD black tubular cab steps, K&N air filter, mar-hyde rubberized undercoating, Modine climate filtration system, Bugflector II, Mobil 1 oil and filter, Build date 7/00
[This message has been edited by Dustoff (edited 09-08-2000).]
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Dustoff,
No, there is no difference in the power gain because of other options, this depends strictly on which engine you have in your F-150. In other words, the 220 hp stock 4.6 in the 1997 & newer F-150 gains the same power whether it's in a short-cab 2WD or it's in a 4X4 SuperCab with towing package, Offroad package, and everthing else. And that is exactly why I gave the examples in power-to-weight ratios that I did in my earlier post on this topic, so people could see in a direct numerical representation the impact of weight on performance.
There is well over 3000 lbs. of potential weight difference in the F-150 depending on how it is configured, and that makes a big impact on how much the same 10%-12% increase in peak power actually feels like from one vehicle to the next.
------------------
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
No, there is no difference in the power gain because of other options, this depends strictly on which engine you have in your F-150. In other words, the 220 hp stock 4.6 in the 1997 & newer F-150 gains the same power whether it's in a short-cab 2WD or it's in a 4X4 SuperCab with towing package, Offroad package, and everthing else. And that is exactly why I gave the examples in power-to-weight ratios that I did in my earlier post on this topic, so people could see in a direct numerical representation the impact of weight on performance.
There is well over 3000 lbs. of potential weight difference in the F-150 depending on how it is configured, and that makes a big impact on how much the same 10%-12% increase in peak power actually feels like from one vehicle to the next.
------------------
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
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 3
From: Houston, by way of every major city in America.
Hey Mike what horsepower would you think that my truck is making,based on the present mods. I'm just asking for an
educated guess so don't feel too pressured . I wish I could find a dyno to get the actual numbers,but they seem to be few and far between in the cities I end up in every month. If any of you guys know where one is in Houston,please let me know.
Thanks ,,,,,,,,,98
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98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Westin nerfs blk .powdercoat
Clear front corners
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,don't laugh it sounds pretty good
On the way/wheels,tires,air dam, etc..etc.......
doin the monochromatic boogie
on the front end.Billet grilles on order
Hoping for deliverance from door crack hell.
educated guess so don't feel too pressured . I wish I could find a dyno to get the actual numbers,but they seem to be few and far between in the cities I end up in every month. If any of you guys know where one is in Houston,please let me know.
Thanks ,,,,,,,,,98
------------------
98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Westin nerfs blk .powdercoat
Clear front corners
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,don't laugh it sounds pretty good
On the way/wheels,tires,air dam, etc..etc.......
doin the monochromatic boogie
on the front end.Billet grilles on order
Hoping for deliverance from door crack hell.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Screamer,
OH NO!! The pressure is on!
Well, just as a rough estimate, let's assume we have a stock 4.6 making it's rated 220 horses, we add a maximum of 26 more peak hp from the Superchip, 12 more from the airbox elimination kit, and then anywhere from 8 to as much as 12 hp from your exhaust work. That would give us a rough best peak figure of about 270, assuming the exhaust has given you the full 12 hp or so, which we really don't know for sure. The nice thing about mods in these 3 areas is that they don't cancel each other out, they do tend to be cumulative when a lot of mods aren't, so I'd say it's a fairly safe bet that you're at a good 260 or so, and maybe as much as 270. This can vary based on the actual energy level of your fuel supply and other factors of course, but assuming we're at sea level and all else is at max, then that's about where you should hopefully be with those 3 mods.
YMMV,
------------------
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
OH NO!! The pressure is on!
Well, just as a rough estimate, let's assume we have a stock 4.6 making it's rated 220 horses, we add a maximum of 26 more peak hp from the Superchip, 12 more from the airbox elimination kit, and then anywhere from 8 to as much as 12 hp from your exhaust work. That would give us a rough best peak figure of about 270, assuming the exhaust has given you the full 12 hp or so, which we really don't know for sure. The nice thing about mods in these 3 areas is that they don't cancel each other out, they do tend to be cumulative when a lot of mods aren't, so I'd say it's a fairly safe bet that you're at a good 260 or so, and maybe as much as 270. This can vary based on the actual energy level of your fuel supply and other factors of course, but assuming we're at sea level and all else is at max, then that's about where you should hopefully be with those 3 mods.
YMMV,
------------------
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
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 38
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From: Arlington, TX USA
OK, I found the power! Although I wasn't totally satisfied with the superchip at first, I could tell some difference in power and shifting. Today I installed a K&N FIPK. Wow, now it is making some serious power. Now it will pass everything but the GAS station!
I would tell anyone who puts a superchip in their truck to also include exhaust and intake mods to get the most from the engine.
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Mike Kimbro
1999 F-150 Lariat, 4x4, SC, Flareside, 5.4,White/Tan leather, CD changer, Flowmaster 40 series, K&N FIPK, and Superchip
I would tell anyone who puts a superchip in their truck to also include exhaust and intake mods to get the most from the engine.
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Mike Kimbro
1999 F-150 Lariat, 4x4, SC, Flareside, 5.4,White/Tan leather, CD changer, Flowmaster 40 series, K&N FIPK, and Superchip