does superchip hurt trans?
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does superchip hurt trans?
I hear about what the superchip does with the trans. I am wondering if this can cause problems over long time use? I heard that the superchip gets rid of the delay in the trans. They have to be there for a reason. Has there been anyone who has had a problem with the trans after having the superchip in for a long time? I was thinking about getting one, but I dont want to screw anything up. Also does anyone have a B&M's Electronic Shift Improver? How has that worked out for you. They say it actually extends your trans life because it lessens clutch slip. I have a 4 speed auto. Can somone enlighten me please? Thanks
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Trucks, especially 1/2 tons and light duties, have turned more from work vehicles to recreational vehicles. With more and more people using trucks as daily drivers and for recreation, there were complaints about harsh shifts because these people were used to smooth shifting cars. Not stereotyping, but a lot more women drive trucks now and this seems to be a wide complaint from the female pickup driver.
So, the shift delay is only there to soften up the shifts and actually causes more wear on the transmission than a sharp shift pattern like the Superchip gives you. Installing the Superchip will actually "increase" the clutch life in your transmission due to not "slipping" (due to the delay) as much. The slipping is what causes the wear (clutches), not the abrupt shift.
Also, many people have installed the B&M with good results, but I would not use one myself. The B&M sends spiked voltages to the shift solenoid which is known on these trucks to wear out prematurely already. The higher voltages used by the B&M to sharpen the shift pattern can only cause that premature wear even faster. Supposedly there is an aftermarket solenoid that will take more use and abuse, but I am not aware of it or where to get one.
So, the shift delay is only there to soften up the shifts and actually causes more wear on the transmission than a sharp shift pattern like the Superchip gives you. Installing the Superchip will actually "increase" the clutch life in your transmission due to not "slipping" (due to the delay) as much. The slipping is what causes the wear (clutches), not the abrupt shift.
Also, many people have installed the B&M with good results, but I would not use one myself. The B&M sends spiked voltages to the shift solenoid which is known on these trucks to wear out prematurely already. The higher voltages used by the B&M to sharpen the shift pattern can only cause that premature wear even faster. Supposedly there is an aftermarket solenoid that will take more use and abuse, but I am not aware of it or where to get one.
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wow, thanks Mike. That was alot of good information. Is there a product that just reprograms the trans like superchip with out the rest of the performance. Or can you give me a chip that would do this. I would love to have the rest of the performance but running 92octane is just to much for me out here in tucson. Its a $1.90 a gallon. I have enough mods on my truck right now for performance over stock. From what i hear the superchip will give me alot more, but I'm not ready for that right now. Maybe when I get my next raise at work, lol. I also have another question. Does all the other performance chips recommmend using 92octane? If you can make me a chip that would just reprogram the trans could I get a prorated price?
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From: Canada
Good question,,MIKE I have the B&M deal and like Setting 1 alot. I have the FOU1 chip now (we spoke before). Is there away to get the shifting I want with your chip, and any other gains you can, that does not require higher oct. fuel????
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Hi Ford Sport,
We understand your concerns, moreover, we *share* them.
The explanation that 2000F150Fun gave is *exactly* correct, so much so that it sounds like it came right out of Ford Motor Company!
The way the automatic transmissions have been programmed from the factory for some years now have been deliberately softened up to accommodate the automakers idea of what the female buyer/driver wants, as they figured out a decade or so ago that women are buying more than 50% of all new vehicles sold in this country, regardless of vehicle type. Women are involved in the purchasing decision over 70% of the time for *all* new vehicles sold in this country, according to FoMoCO research! So just as 2000F150Fun said, Ford (and it's not just Ford, but all automakers do this) has deliberately implemented a "shift-shift" strategy. The shift delay signal they use actually induces slippage, and that is why we remove it, to extend the life of the friction materials in the transmission.
What Ford has done is *not* for the purpose of extending the life of the transmission, but instead, it's a matter of calibrating the shift characteristics for what they feel more drivers want. The more "traditional" truck buyer does not care for these soft-shift characteristics, and neither do "enthusiasts", and so we offer a more appropriate calibration for them. This does *not* shorten the service life of the transmission, but instead, it actually *extends* the life of the friction materials from reduced slippage.
I also agree with what 2000F150Fun said about using the B&M shift improver device that is available for just $40, because it does tend to shorten the life of the shift solenoiuds. There are indeed a number of people who are using that device and are very happy, as they have not had any problems, yet. But I sure woulnd't install one in any of our vehicles, or in a vehicle I cared about. As I've explained here numerous times due to many people asking about the B&M unit, that device simply spikes the voltage signal being sent to the shift solenoids, it doesn't reprogram anything. Sending a hotter signal to the solenmoids shortens their service life, and this is a component that Ford has already had trouble with. The 4R70W automatics used in most of these F-150's are on either their 8th or 9th revision. Even the documentation that comes with that B&M unit tells you not to use it in the highest setting for prolonged periods, and it's for that very reason, wear on the shift solenoids, B&M knows they won't take a lot of abuse like that.
And on that topic of shift solenoids, 2000F150Fun, if you do ever hear of a source for heavier-duty shift solenoids for the 4R70W, please do let us all know!
FordSport, we have many Superchip owners with well over 100,000 miles on them, with 130,000 miles, 150,000 miles and more in gasoline engines with automatic transmissions, and in the case of Powerstroke diesel automatics, as much as 250,000 miles with the Superchip.
Just to give you an idea about these soft-shift strategies, various automakers have varying levels of "quality" in their implementation of these soft-shift strategies. GM, for example, tends to do a little bit better job of not inducing quite so much slippage, though they of course have their own issues, too, I'm not knocking Ford at all. When you do this type of work in many different types of vehicles, you see what various strengths & weaknesses are from one automaker to the next. Honda was the last holdout among the automakers that I am aware of, but finally in the 1999 model year they too implemented soft-shift strategies in many of their automatics; and Honda has typically been known for rather stiff-shifting in their automatics for many years! The point bewing, these soft-shift strategies are nowadays very pervasive, and it affects all the automakers, not just Ford.
If you would like to go over this in greater detail, or have other questions you'd like to ask, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below, we're always happy to help.
------------------
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
We understand your concerns, moreover, we *share* them.
The explanation that 2000F150Fun gave is *exactly* correct, so much so that it sounds like it came right out of Ford Motor Company!
The way the automatic transmissions have been programmed from the factory for some years now have been deliberately softened up to accommodate the automakers idea of what the female buyer/driver wants, as they figured out a decade or so ago that women are buying more than 50% of all new vehicles sold in this country, regardless of vehicle type. Women are involved in the purchasing decision over 70% of the time for *all* new vehicles sold in this country, according to FoMoCO research! So just as 2000F150Fun said, Ford (and it's not just Ford, but all automakers do this) has deliberately implemented a "shift-shift" strategy. The shift delay signal they use actually induces slippage, and that is why we remove it, to extend the life of the friction materials in the transmission.
What Ford has done is *not* for the purpose of extending the life of the transmission, but instead, it's a matter of calibrating the shift characteristics for what they feel more drivers want. The more "traditional" truck buyer does not care for these soft-shift characteristics, and neither do "enthusiasts", and so we offer a more appropriate calibration for them. This does *not* shorten the service life of the transmission, but instead, it actually *extends* the life of the friction materials from reduced slippage.
I also agree with what 2000F150Fun said about using the B&M shift improver device that is available for just $40, because it does tend to shorten the life of the shift solenoiuds. There are indeed a number of people who are using that device and are very happy, as they have not had any problems, yet. But I sure woulnd't install one in any of our vehicles, or in a vehicle I cared about. As I've explained here numerous times due to many people asking about the B&M unit, that device simply spikes the voltage signal being sent to the shift solenoids, it doesn't reprogram anything. Sending a hotter signal to the solenmoids shortens their service life, and this is a component that Ford has already had trouble with. The 4R70W automatics used in most of these F-150's are on either their 8th or 9th revision. Even the documentation that comes with that B&M unit tells you not to use it in the highest setting for prolonged periods, and it's for that very reason, wear on the shift solenoids, B&M knows they won't take a lot of abuse like that.
And on that topic of shift solenoids, 2000F150Fun, if you do ever hear of a source for heavier-duty shift solenoids for the 4R70W, please do let us all know!
FordSport, we have many Superchip owners with well over 100,000 miles on them, with 130,000 miles, 150,000 miles and more in gasoline engines with automatic transmissions, and in the case of Powerstroke diesel automatics, as much as 250,000 miles with the Superchip.
Just to give you an idea about these soft-shift strategies, various automakers have varying levels of "quality" in their implementation of these soft-shift strategies. GM, for example, tends to do a little bit better job of not inducing quite so much slippage, though they of course have their own issues, too, I'm not knocking Ford at all. When you do this type of work in many different types of vehicles, you see what various strengths & weaknesses are from one automaker to the next. Honda was the last holdout among the automakers that I am aware of, but finally in the 1999 model year they too implemented soft-shift strategies in many of their automatics; and Honda has typically been known for rather stiff-shifting in their automatics for many years! The point bewing, these soft-shift strategies are nowadays very pervasive, and it affects all the automakers, not just Ford.
If you would like to go over this in greater detail, or have other questions you'd like to ask, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below, we're always happy to help.
------------------
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
Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 64
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From: Faribault, MN
Hello FordSport,
The only way you can get a chip that doesn't have the Prem Fuel curv is with a Flip Chip. I looked into this also. You can find a price on Mike's link to the online store.
Yup, unfortunatly, gota run Prem with these types of chips. Unless you get a Superchips Flip Chip.
The only way you can get a chip that doesn't have the Prem Fuel curv is with a Flip Chip. I looked into this also. You can find a price on Mike's link to the online store.
Yup, unfortunatly, gota run Prem with these types of chips. Unless you get a Superchips Flip Chip.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
FordSport & Bracketracer,
The way to get a Superchip to run on regular gasoline is to do it in the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip. For these F-150's, what we do is set it up with two close to identical programs, with the engine being tuned for regular gasoline in Position 1, and then tuned for premium gasoline in Position 2. Remember, there is no power gain or increase in mileage possible via powertrain programming when running on regular gas, as the automakers didn't leave any power "laying on the table", so to speak, on regular gas. If more power could be made on regular, they would already have done it. So just remember that there won't be any raw power gain on regular gas with the Superchip, and that is why they do not make a single program Superchip just for regular gas, as they will not make a Superchip that does not add power.
So yes, we can easily make a Flip Chip application that would allow you to run on regular gasoline and still get the improved shift characteristics and removal of the top speed limiter, etc., and then you can flip the switch when you want to use premium gas and get the full power gain, for example, when towing.
If you'd like to go over this in more detail, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below.
------------------
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
The way to get a Superchip to run on regular gasoline is to do it in the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip. For these F-150's, what we do is set it up with two close to identical programs, with the engine being tuned for regular gasoline in Position 1, and then tuned for premium gasoline in Position 2. Remember, there is no power gain or increase in mileage possible via powertrain programming when running on regular gas, as the automakers didn't leave any power "laying on the table", so to speak, on regular gas. If more power could be made on regular, they would already have done it.
So just remember that there won't be any raw power gain on regular gas with the Superchip, and that is why they do not make a single program Superchip just for regular gas, as they will not make a Superchip that does not add power.So yes, we can easily make a Flip Chip application that would allow you to run on regular gasoline and still get the improved shift characteristics and removal of the top speed limiter, etc., and then you can flip the switch when you want to use premium gas and get the full power gain, for example, when towing.
If you'd like to go over this in more detail, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below.
------------------
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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Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi FordSport,
As I carefully explained above in this thread, the only way to get a Superchip for regular gasoline is in the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip, because there are no power gains to be made in a chip on regular gasoline, and Superchips will not make a Superchip that does not add power. They used to years ago, and then they got burned when a magazine article was done and complained that there was no power gain, and of course there is no power gain possible via powertrain programming in these vehicles on regular gas. So the only way we will supply a Superchip for use on regular gasoline is to do it in the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip, as I explained earlier.
As for pricing, the Webmaster here prefers that pricing issues not be discussed here on the message boards, but instead be handled privately between us, so please contact us privately for that information. You can shoot us an email, or give us a call, all our contact info is just below in my signature line, and we'll be happy to get you all the details you need, ok? Thanks for understanding on this!
------------------
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
As I carefully explained above in this thread, the only way to get a Superchip for regular gasoline is in the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip, because there are no power gains to be made in a chip on regular gasoline, and Superchips will not make a Superchip that does not add power. They used to years ago, and then they got burned when a magazine article was done and complained that there was no power gain, and of course there is no power gain possible via powertrain programming in these vehicles on regular gas. So the only way we will supply a Superchip for use on regular gasoline is to do it in the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip, as I explained earlier.
As for pricing, the Webmaster here prefers that pricing issues not be discussed here on the message boards, but instead be handled privately between us, so please contact us privately for that information. You can shoot us an email, or give us a call, all our contact info is just below in my signature line, and we'll be happy to get you all the details you need, ok? Thanks for understanding on this!
------------------
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
Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
From: Center Point Texas
If all you want is transmission improvements, try a shift kit from B&M (electronic or valve body mods) or Trans-Go (valve body mods).
Much less money.
------------------
Greg
'96 Triumph Thunderbird
'99 Ford F150 XLT SC 5.4
'00 Lincoln LS8
Wichita
Much less money.
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Greg
'96 Triumph Thunderbird
'99 Ford F150 XLT SC 5.4
'00 Lincoln LS8
Wichita
