Well I towed the trailer and still not sure if the super chip did any good. The rpms are my main concern. At 60 mph had 2400 RPM and at 65 had 2800 rpm. At one time the truck was struggling to get to 65mph and hit over 4000 rpm. May have made a mistake in buying too small an engine. I had a gas mixture of about 20 gallons of 87 octain and 10 gallons of 91 octain. All this without over drive engaged.

I do see a difference without the trailer behind the truck. Most of my gas mileage comes after towing for about a month. It increases 1 to 2 mpg.

Should the rpms be so high?

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1997 F-150 XLT Extend Cab, 3 Door, 4.6L (Winsor), Long Bed, Tow Package, Teal over Silver, K&N Air Filter, Tow 27 Foot Travel Trailer, 2 repaired doors, Super Chip, Email bostondog@worldnet.att.net

 

Hi Bostondog,

Well, there is a problem with the fuel you are using.

You *HAVE* to use premium gasoline with the Superchip, otherwise you are *NOT* going to get the power gains. This is a very simple and basic issue, the Superchip is designed to be used with premium gasoline *ONLY*. As long as you use the Superchip without premium gas, you will never get the power gain from it, and you could damage your engine from spark knock unless you use it with premium gas, as it was designed.

Also, the Superchip does not change your rpms. Your rpms change basically as a result of what gear you are in, and whether the torque converter is locked up or not. It sounds to me like you were not in Overdrive, and that's why you were turning 2400+ rpm.

To get the rated power gains from the Superchip, you MUST use 92 octane or greater, at sea level altitude, just to give you an idea of the exact specification.

With the gas mix you used, you probably didn't have much over 88 octane in the tank, and probably didn't even get 10 horsepower from your Superchip as a result. You *MUST* use premium gasoline to get the rated power gains, 92 octane or higher at sea level. Otherwise, all it's doing is cleaning up the shift characteristics. It is true that some people have had us make 2-program Superchip Flip Chips for their F-150's, so they could use regular gas and still get the transmission benefits, and then use premium gas and the other program in the Flip Chip when they want maximum power. That is the ONLY time you can use regular gas with the Superchip, is if you have a custom Flip Chip set up like I just described.

If you have any questions on this, please feel free to give us a shout, & 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

 

Not to stray to far from the chip, but the last couple times I towed I gassed up using 93 Octane and felt a difference, pulling the trailer and after while still using the remaining tank up. So the gas makes a difference either way but I'm sure if I had the chip it would make that much more.

Now, back to the RPM issue. What is the max you would not want to exceed before over an extended trip without damaging engine/transmission?

(I have a 26ft Travel Trailer)



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99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs

 

In my last post I know that I did not have the proper octain rating. My concern was the RPM readings maybe getting to high. Thinking the transmission was not working properly. With or with out the super chip what is a normal RPM range for each gear? This should not very much with or with out a load should it?

On this thread I have the oldest and smallest engine. Does this have anything to do with RPM being high?

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1997 F-150 XLT Extend Cab, 3 Door, 4.6L (Winsor), Long Bed, Tow Package, Teal over Silver, K&N Air Filter, Tow 27 Foot Travel Trailer, 2 repaired doors, Super Chip, Email bostondog@worldnet.att.net

 

bostondog, I have the same truck and about the same results when towing. I hit 4,500 RPM one time on a ramp towing around 3,600 pounds. Towing up a hill you will see some high RPMs with the 4.6L. The engine makes its max power at 4,400 rpm and torque at 3250 rpm.

The big change I saw when towing with the superchip was that without it the truck lost power when it would shift, with the chip it shifts firm and keeps pulling hard after the shift.

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1997 F150 XLT
Debut sport truck
Ext. cab short bed
4.6l 3.55 tow pack *leather *K&N filter *Gibson swept side
*power rear slider
*soft tonneau
*full running boards
*timbren rubber springs *tekonsha brake control.
*bugflector II
*superchip
*rancho RS9000


http://community.webtv.net/rexor29/F150


















[This message has been edited by ALLFORD (edited 09-13-2000).]

 

BostonDog: I used to have the same truck too. I had a 97 4x4 V8 4.6 5speed flareside, born on date was may 96. Is your truck older than that??? The rpms that you posted for the 60mph and the 65mph seem just about right. Mine may have been a tad lower just because I had the manual 5speed. I would suggest that when you notice the engine struggling to maintain a high speed and you see the rpms climbing, downshift or take it out of overdrive. I too had a superchip on my truck and I could tell it helped, especially when trying to merge into fast moving traffic. Once you get your fuel mixture up to 92 octain, that Superchip will work a whole lot better.

 

Hi bostondog,

OK, I understand your point about the rpm's. Just as all the others have responded, what you're experiencing sounds perfectly normal for the circumstances.

And it's still just as a result of what gear your tranmission is in, that's what determines how many rpms' you will be turning for any given speed, what gear it's in. For example, when you can be in Overdrive @ 65, you're turning well under the 2400-2500 rpm's you would be turning in 3rd gear at that speed. Going up a grade while towing, you may drop back down into second gear at 4500+rpms, as the automatics will continue to downshift to satisfy throttle demand, especially when the cruise control is set to maintain a certain speed. Anytime it senses that it cannot maintain that speed in that gear, it will downshift until it can maintain that speed. It will not hurt your engine for it to turn 4500+ rpms in those situations, it was made to handle even higher rpms than that, as your factory rev limiter is set at 5400 rpm, just to give you an idea, and the 4.6 can easily handle 6000 rpm, though when stock it won't have much power up that high, of course.

I hope that gives you a little bit better picture on rpm's, etc.

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

 

Thanks ALLFORD, TINA, and MIKE for the insight to the RPM issue. I am wrong on having the oldest truck. Mine was built April 1997. I took it for granted because of all the 1999 and 2000 models listed on the site. It appears most have the 5.4 liter engine. Its hard to compare a 4.6 to a 5.4.

Guess I will have to suck up the 14 cents extra per gallon for premium gas. Does it matter which brand of gas you use?

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1997 F-150 XLT Extend Cab, 3 Door, 4.6L (Winsor), Long Bed, Tow Package, Teal over Silver, K&N Air Filter, Tow 27 Foot Travel Trailer, 2 repaired doors, Super Chip, Email bostondog@worldnet.att.net

 

I like Shell but I will use anything but BP gas. I have not had any problems yet. I think Mike even said BP is low on the list.

My truck is older than yours. It was built 2/97 then it went to Debut 3/97. I didn't get it until 98, the debut conversion added so much to the price that it sat for a year till they put it on sale.
http://community.webtv.net/rexor29/F150


[This message has been edited by ALLFORD (edited 09-15-2000).]

 

Reading this thread just reinforces why you should ALWAYS buy the bigger/biggest engine you can get when towing!

My 5.4 never goes above 3000 RPM when towing. I typically run it in high gear (NO OD) and am usually in the 2000 - 2500 RPM range for al around driving. The 5.4 gives me PLENTY of power in the 1000 - 2000 RPM range as well. Way more than enough to move my 5300 lb boat & trailer & 6000 lb Expy!

Even the newer 4.6 with higher HP do not have what it takes to tow heavier loads. The difference between the 4.6 and the 5.4 is the length of the stroke!

THe lenght of the stroke is like going from a 3/8" drive socket wrench to a 1/2" and adding about 2" in length. MUCH easier to break those lugs nuts loose! Hence, more Torque is applied....


Bigger ISssss Better!

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Rand

98 Ford Expedition 4X4 XLT
5.4, 3.73s, 17" wheels,
Homemade 3" "COLD" Air-Box
mod, SuperChip, Amsoil
everywhere but tranny, Perma-
Cool combo 6 pass trans/oil
cooler (FQR 5.4 @ 50K)

 

BostonDog: fuel and wheather there's a difference between brands tends to lead to wars around here But if you do a search you'll come up with all kinds of interesting info. I actually tried different brands to find if they actually did make any difference w/my truck. Was shocked to find that my old 4.6 ran just crappy on Exxon. Positively loved Texaco (although my pocketbook didn't) and found a little no-name "cheapy" gas station right around the corner actually had pretty good gas. Personally, I'd tell you to stay away from Exxon, my fuel milage dropped quite a bit w/it. Test out a couple of tanks w/each brand you're considering and keep good records. You'll soon find which one your truck likes the best!! If you travel, stick with the big names (just not Exxon)

 

HI bostondog,

Good question! Just over the past 2 years, fuel formulations have become quite an issue, thanks to the Feds air quality monitoring program & how the states respond when they are not in "attainment", meaning when their air quality in a particular geographic region does not meet the standards to maintain their Federal funding for road-building projects. The result is that a particular brand name that works well in one area may not in another.

In general, you're better off usually with a brand that the oil companies that still do their own refining. We like Texaco, Amoco & Citgo, and of course other brands can work well too. Exxon is clean burning, but it is reformulated year-round now, and their formulations have 8%-10% less raw energy content (# of BTU's per lb. of fuel), so you get noticeably less performance and mileage using Exxon over other "name brands".

Shell works well here in the East, while out in the West people have complained about it. Chevron is loved by people in Southern California, while here in the East it's not so hot in comparison.

While Amoco had traditionally been an excellent fuel, it remains to be seen what will happen as a reult of BP buying them out. BP has traditionally had a high sulpher content fuel, a bit dirty, giving poor idle quality & other issues in my personal experience with it.

I'd say to try Texaco or Citgo, Citgo is on both Ford's and BMW's good gas lists. And if you're in the East, Shell may work well too.

And while you can sometimes get lucky at the "no-name" stations, I avoid them like the plague, as most of them are lower quality.

When you're trying different fuels, you need to use at least 3 to as many as 5 tanks to make your comparisons.

If there is a particular gasoline that you've been using that you like your results with, try that brand's premium first.

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

 

When I had a motorcycle (prewife) Citgo was the only brand that ran great all the time. Just my .02 worth. I plan on getting the chip next year before I buy a 30' trailer.

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2001 Supercrew XLT 4x4, 5.4, tow pkg, limited slip, skid plates, 6 disk, keyless entry. Deepwedgewood blue ext. Dark graphite int.

 

This thread was extremely interesting to me. Here's my sad story: I pull a 22ft Center Console boat with the windshield removed, not that much frontal area. I pulled this boat with my '98 4.6L Expedition for two years and finally couldn't take it any more and got a '00 5.4L Expedition. The 98 had a 3.73 rear and the 00 has a 3.55 rear. I had hoped that the small increase in HP and torque with the 5.4 over the 4.6 would let me pull in OD but the lower ratio rear end made it exactly equivalent. I pull from Houston to Galveston along the same highway many many times a year. I'm retired and do nothing but fish. When I get to a city named League City which is the last place with trees before getting close to the coast you pick up the seabreeze which varies a lot but usually is at least 10mph. When you get to that point the trucks kicked out of OD and wouldn't go back in and I only pull at 60mph. So I would just leave them out and suffer the bad mileage. Out of OD I get 8 or so mpg. In OD I get 10-11mpg depending on the headwind.

I am waiting on a chip now and am anxious to see what is going to happen when I get to League City. If the truck stays in OD then the chip rocks. But if the chip works then I'll be mad again that I bought the 00 Expedition when I could have gotten a chip then for the 98. See what happens when you are not informed?

I'll post the results in about a week.

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2000 Expedtion EB,barely pulls 5900 lb Center Console Boat(what to do, what to do?)

 

Tecate Virign: Get the chips and some gears. 3.73's or even better 4.10's. You will be much happier then.

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

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