Back Shifts
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From: USA
Back Shifts
Ok I have had the superchip for about 3 weeks now runs great had to run about 400 miles before getting full effect, only problem is the backshift out of overdrive, the thing still backshifts on the smallest upgrades while running about 55 or 60 mph this is so aggravating to me. I wish I had a fix for this.... ANY SUGGESTIONS!!!
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Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Hi K. SMith,
The only thing that is going to change that behavior is to increase available torque at very low rpms on part-throttle, either by more power-adding parts or via a gear ratio change. The Superchip does increase torque in that situation, so it does improve this, making it happen later on some grades and not at all on lighter grades sometimes, but it cannot make this disappear forever in all situations, that simply is not possible with "only" a 10%-12% power gain, which is what the Superchip delivers. It gets down to a matter of how much actual power is available to overcome the actual load at that point, and we're talking about very low rpms at 55-60 mph, maybe 1700 rpm or so at most in most of the F-150's, and light throttle as well, combined with a very heavy vehicle with a lot of aerodymic drag load in addition, a situation under which any engine is not going to make much power. What you have to remember is that you have a very heavy vehicle, and when you are in Overdrive, you are turning very few rpms, and at very light throttle, so the engine probably isn't making much more than 100-125 lbs./ft. of torque in that situation, and so it just does not have enough power to satisfy throttle demand without downshifting.
You don't *ever* want to change the basic strategies the vehicle uses to satisfy throttle demand. The only "cure" is to increase available torque to the point that either the engine makes enough power to stay in Overdrive, or you increase available torque by changing the gear ratio to a higher numerical ratio, which gives you more multiplication of the available torque. Either way, more effective torque gets to the ground.
Remember, in that situation, the engine simply is not working hard at all, and isn't going to until it's given more throttle opening.
The bottom line here is that you should just turn off Overdrive in that situation, so it doesn't have to downshift. Either that, or be prepared to spend a significant amount of money to increase low rpm torque on part-throttle, or do the gear ratio change. If it were me, I'd just turn off the Overdrive when going up the grade as soon as it downshifts, and just leave it off until you know it won't downshift. Or, do a gear ratio change to say, a 4.10 ratio or so.
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 09-07-2000).]
The only thing that is going to change that behavior is to increase available torque at very low rpms on part-throttle, either by more power-adding parts or via a gear ratio change. The Superchip does increase torque in that situation, so it does improve this, making it happen later on some grades and not at all on lighter grades sometimes, but it cannot make this disappear forever in all situations, that simply is not possible with "only" a 10%-12% power gain, which is what the Superchip delivers. It gets down to a matter of how much actual power is available to overcome the actual load at that point, and we're talking about very low rpms at 55-60 mph, maybe 1700 rpm or so at most in most of the F-150's, and light throttle as well, combined with a very heavy vehicle with a lot of aerodymic drag load in addition, a situation under which any engine is not going to make much power. What you have to remember is that you have a very heavy vehicle, and when you are in Overdrive, you are turning very few rpms, and at very light throttle, so the engine probably isn't making much more than 100-125 lbs./ft. of torque in that situation, and so it just does not have enough power to satisfy throttle demand without downshifting.
You don't *ever* want to change the basic strategies the vehicle uses to satisfy throttle demand. The only "cure" is to increase available torque to the point that either the engine makes enough power to stay in Overdrive, or you increase available torque by changing the gear ratio to a higher numerical ratio, which gives you more multiplication of the available torque. Either way, more effective torque gets to the ground.
Remember, in that situation, the engine simply is not working hard at all, and isn't going to until it's given more throttle opening.
The bottom line here is that you should just turn off Overdrive in that situation, so it doesn't have to downshift. Either that, or be prepared to spend a significant amount of money to increase low rpm torque on part-throttle, or do the gear ratio change. If it were me, I'd just turn off the Overdrive when going up the grade as soon as it downshifts, and just leave it off until you know it won't downshift. Or, do a gear ratio change to say, a 4.10 ratio or so.
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 09-07-2000).]
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I see what you mean Mike but I have a 4X4 and that would mean changing front and rear gears that would be very exspensive. Also how much would the 4:10 gears hurt my MPG I would think alot. It looks like Ford would change that shift point in their tranny I know everyone I talk to hates that shift point also. I may put headers on later will that help any? My wife has a 97 Mercury mountaineer and it don't shift like that at all, has the 5.0 liter in it, It shifts like my truck only a little harder even with the superchip in my truck can you believe that!
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From: USA
I see what you mean Mike but I have a 4X4 and that would mean changing front and rear gears that would be very exspensive. Also how much would the 4:10 gears hurt my MPG I would think alot. It looks like Ford would change that shift point in their tranny I know everyone I talk to hates that shift point also. I may put headers on later will that help any? My wife has a 97 Mercury mountaineer and it don't shift like that at all, has the 5.0 liter in it, It shifts like my truck only a little harder even with the superchip in my truck can you believe that!
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Thanks Mike T. Also a guy at my work wanted me to ask you if they make a superchip for a 95 Dodge cummins diesel? If so how much Hp and Torque will it make?
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Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Hi K SMith,
You're right, changing gear ratios in a 4X4 is going to cost you $1000 or so, it's not a cheap proposition. That's why I say you're probably better off just turning off Overdrive in those situations, and be done with it. Let the engine get up into it's torque curve, and let it work like it should.
Installing 4.10 gears isn't going to have much of an effect on your mileage when towing, as you're already under a big load at that point. In fact, you might see a little bit better mileage when towing with 4.10's, just because the engine doesn't have to work as hard, you never know for sure until you do it and then run the numbers. Of course it will get worse mileage when *not* towing, absolutely, with the 4.10 gears, as you're turning more rpms all the time for any given speed.
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
You're right, changing gear ratios in a 4X4 is going to cost you $1000 or so, it's not a cheap proposition. That's why I say you're probably better off just turning off Overdrive in those situations, and be done with it. Let the engine get up into it's torque curve, and let it work like it should.
Installing 4.10 gears isn't going to have much of an effect on your mileage when towing, as you're already under a big load at that point. In fact, you might see a little bit better mileage when towing with 4.10's, just because the engine doesn't have to work as hard, you never know for sure until you do it and then run the numbers. Of course it will get worse mileage when *not* towing, absolutely, with the 4.10 gears, as you're turning more rpms all the time for any given speed.
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
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi K. Smith,
Mopars went to computer controls back in the 80's along with everyone else, and we do reprogram the gasoline engines from the 4.0 thru the V-10 from 1990 thru there 1995 model year. However, we do not have anything for those Dodge diesels, but Mopar themselves does, for most of them.
What I would suggest is to ask your local Dodge dealer parts counter if Mopar has a "Performance Computer" replacement available for that vehicle. They do make them for both their diesels and their gasoline engine trucks, but as far as exactly which years/models they have them available for, that I couldn't tell you.
Back when they (Mopar) first started doing them, they were only supposed to be used in conjunction with a camshaft and other parts changes, as part of a package, on the one gas engine model it was available for back then, even though they did sell the computer separately. Back then (1995 roughly), when those first Mopar Performance Computers were used without the camshaft & other parts, peple had a lot of trouble with detonation, as they were programmed to work with those other parts, and in particular that different camshaft profile, so when they were used by themselves, they produced a lot of detonation, and we had to reprogram a number of them for those owners.
Mopar is now doing a much better job of this, and they also tune on part-throttle as well as full-throttle, just like Superchips does, and they work well on those vehicles they are now available for. So if I were a Mopar owner, that would be my choice since Superchips doesn't do them.
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
Mopars went to computer controls back in the 80's along with everyone else, and we do reprogram the gasoline engines from the 4.0 thru the V-10 from 1990 thru there 1995 model year. However, we do not have anything for those Dodge diesels, but Mopar themselves does, for most of them.
What I would suggest is to ask your local Dodge dealer parts counter if Mopar has a "Performance Computer" replacement available for that vehicle. They do make them for both their diesels and their gasoline engine trucks, but as far as exactly which years/models they have them available for, that I couldn't tell you.
Back when they (Mopar) first started doing them, they were only supposed to be used in conjunction with a camshaft and other parts changes, as part of a package, on the one gas engine model it was available for back then, even though they did sell the computer separately. Back then (1995 roughly), when those first Mopar Performance Computers were used without the camshaft & other parts, peple had a lot of trouble with detonation, as they were programmed to work with those other parts, and in particular that different camshaft profile, so when they were used by themselves, they produced a lot of detonation, and we had to reprogram a number of them for those owners.
Mopar is now doing a much better job of this, and they also tune on part-throttle as well as full-throttle, just like Superchips does, and they work well on those vehicles they are now available for. So if I were a Mopar owner, that would be my choice since Superchips doesn't do them.
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