I'm looking for a good way to boost the performance of my engine. I heard that a superchip is a good way to do this, but I'm afraid about having to get premium gas from now on. Gas prices are pretty high lately! Is there a chip out there that is made to run on Plus gasoline? That is what I run now, and if that could stay the same then I would definately go for the chip. I just can't see paying 300 bucks to have to pay more in gas later.

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Hi Mav,

It all boils down to the fact that you can't increase raw engine power significantly via powertrain programming without raising the octane level of the fuel being burned, so any performance chip is going to require the use of premium gas, that is standard across the board in this industry.

However, we do offer a product called the Superchip Flip Chip, which can store 2 different programs and that can give you the best of both worlds. We can set it up with a pair of programs that will have one for regular gas, and the other for premium. You will have a very small power gain when using the regular gas program, you can't get more than 3 to maybe 5 hp on regular, and then when you want maximum power, shut the engine off, flip the switch and fill up the tank with premium.

If you'd like to go over the details, ask questions, etc., please feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email, our contact info is just below.

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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

 

Mike, if you have a flip chip that runs on both octanes, why don't you design a chip that just runs on the 87 octane. I (we) are looking for any better performance at all with the better and smoother shift points that everyone talks about with the superchip. Also, it makes sense to me that the biggest advantage of the Superchip comes from its program, not the fact that it runs with premium gas. If it is the design of the program that is most effective, then even with 87 octane and the right program, a significant performance increase should be realized. To clarify, I want to continue to use 87 octane, I want gas milaege as good or better than what I currently get, and I want any measure at all of better performance.
How bout it? You know, Hypertech makes a program for 87 octane now, but they just don't make it yet for my 2001 Supercrew 5.4

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Hi screwster,

There is no significant power gain that can be made on 87 octane gasoline via powertrain programming, and that is why Superchips does not offer chips for regular gas except in the 2-program Flip Chip, as they will not make chips that don't add power. When programming for 87 octane gas, the gains are limited to 2-3 hp, once in awhile maybe as much as 4 or 5 more horsepower on a 5.4, that's it.

The real power gains (via programming) come from re-tuning the engine specifically for premium gasoline. Years ago Superchips used to make chips for regular gas on special request, and then a couple of magazines pulled a cute trick and "tested" them against other performance chips for premium gas, and that put an immediate halt to Superchips making chips for 87 octane. There is no significant power gain, so they don't do it, as we're in the business of making more power.

The automakers didn't leave significant power laying on the table, so to speak, on 87 octane. The basic premise behind any performance chip that actually increases power is specifically tuning the engine for the use of premium gasoline.

If you want a Superchip program for regular gas, we're happy to do that of course, in the 2-program Flip Chip. That way you have a chip that does in fact increase engine power significantly when you use the premium gas program, and also a program for regular gas when you don't want the power gain. The way we set them up in that case is so that both programs are basically identical, the only exception is that on one side the the Flip Chip the engine is tuned for 87 octane, and for 92 octane on the other side. That way you get the benefit of improved transmission shift characteristics and all the other benefits no matter which program you're running on, and maximum power when you want to run premium.

If you'd like to go over this in more detail, please feel free to give us a call.

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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

 

I have a friend with a 97y F-250LD 5.4, E4OD that has a Superchip and only uses 87 octane. He says he does not want to spend the money on the 92 octane. It does not help when I tell him he will have more power if he spends the bucks.
I have driven his truck and it does not ping on the 87 with the chip.

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Hi T Ellenberger,

Good to see you around again!

Since you've been around here for quite a while, you probably remember the many times we've discussed what happens when you attempt to use the Superchip on less than premium gas. Some of these vehicles have just enough total effective adjustment or compensation range in their knock sensor systems that you won't get audible detonation, of course you lose the power gain and driveability is not as good, due to the different burn rate and the fuel curves being calibrated for the burn rate of premium fuels. But the amount of total adjustment range in these knock sensor systems varies quite a bit from one vehicle to the next, and so you can have a result ranging from experiencing detonation with anything less than premium gas in the tank, or run on 87 and not get any detonation, and any result in between when you don't use the product as it was designed.

What people do with their Superchips is up to them, all we can tell them is that it's designed to run with premium gasoline only, and that this is the only way you can expect to get the results the Superchip was designed to achieve. Those using anything less than a high quality 91-92+ octane gasoline will never get the power gains or have as good driveability as they will if they used the Superchip correctly, as it was designed, with premium gas only.

Over the past few years here on F-150 Online we've had a few people post that they've used regular gas with their Superchips and not gotten any audible detonation. This is just pure luck that their knock sensor is able to back off the spark advance enough to quell detonation, and not the way to use the Superchip, as it eliminates most of the power gain and driveability isn't as good. Most of the posts we've seen here from people who try to use regular gas with the Superchip find themselves experiencing the familiar "pinging" of spark knock as a result.

Hope all is well with you, & that you had a great Christmas & New Years, T.!

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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 01-27-2001).]

 

Mike: I am always around. Most of the time I just read the posts to learn from others. Sometimes I throw in a line or more.

I agree on the 92 octane. I run 92 Octane Chevron in my 97 F-150 all the time. My friend with the F-250LD thinks he can get away with the 87 Octane. I keep telling him spend a little more for more power but it is like hitting your head on the wall; it feel good when you stop.

Keep up the good work.

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97 F-150, 2WD, Reg Cab,Flareside,Dk Toreador Red, Windsor 4.6, Magnecor 8.5mm wires, Bosch Plat +4s, 3.55 LS, EGR Bug Deflector, ******* Bed Cover, Bed Liner, XL Full Length Running Boards, Air Aid Kit, Gibson Single Out Cat Back, Superchips, TransGo Shift Kit, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Hellwig 2500# Overload Springs,Energy Suspension Polyurethane Front Sway Bar Bushings, 265 70 16 tires, Rancho RS9000 shocks

 

Hi T.!

Well, as long as he isn't getting detonation, you'll probably never be able to talk him into using premium. Some people do that, and you're right, I doubt you'll ever change his mind. As long as he's happy, we're happy for him.

All the best,

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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