Dumb question, but couldn't find any info in a search... does installing a superchip thereby necessitate premium fuel? If so, I think I'm out... I'm already stuck buying premium for the Probe... couldn't afford it for both. Also, what if for some un-godly reason, Premium is unavailable? Can it still run with regular unleaded with the chip without frying my engine?

Thanx for the info.

-Joe-


------------------
98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof($1000), built 11/99 picked up 10/00!Clear Corners($36), Manik Stainless Steel 1-piece brush guard($700), Custom CB wiring, Uniden PC76-XLW CB radio($100) with K-40 Magna-Mount antenna (for now [$40]), 1 set of 165 watt KC Daylighters (for now... more on the way... $140) Fog Light Switch mod(free!!!), Custom switch mounting plate and overhead console, Bully Stainless Steel Trailer hitch drawbar w/ 2" stainless steel ball($80), Gray Tek Style Soft Tonneau Cover($250), Gray Line-X Bedliner ($450).
List of planned mods: Clear tails, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, Chrome ORP rims.
93 Probe GT teal, OE rims painted to match, bone stock drivetrain, leaky exhaust.

 

Premium is required for the Superchip but if it was unavailable you could always pull it out and go back to the factory program. There is also a "Flip Chip" which has a program for 87 Octane and one for 93 Octane just by flipping a switch.

------------------
2000 Harley/Davidson F-150
Lund Bug Deflector
Ventshades
Century "Cargo Cover"
K&N FIPK Gen II
Superchip!!!
89 F-150 Lariat 4X4 for the "dirty work"!

 

Diablo is making an 87 octance performance chip but no one know that much about it. Perhaps Johnny Lighting will chime in here???

------------------
2001 F-150 SuperCrew Lariat 4x4
2000 Suburban LT 4x4
2000 Honda RC51
1999 Mustang GT Convertible

 

It would be tough to sell me a "performance" chip that didn't require premium fuel. Sure you can get more performance out of lower octane, but will that little improvment be worth it?

Just try running Texaco Power Permium for a tank or 2 and see what just that does. Now retune it to take full advantage!

I've gone back and forth between Chevron and Texaco and I can tell a big difference. That's bites too because I had convinced myself that the 3-4 cent more per gallon wasn't worth it. I ran 8.22 0-60 in an Expy with a near full tank of Texaco PP so I was sitting close to 6000 lb's and on a hot humid day. Not bad for the minor mods I have that include a Superchip, FIPK Exhaust and Texaco!

------------------
2000 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION 4x2

• Estate Green
• 5.4 ltr
• 3:55 LS rear
• Superchip!
• Airaid FIPK
• Gibson S/S Swept Side Cat Back Exhaust
• Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar
• Energy Suspension Polyurethane Front Anti-Sway Bar Bushings
• Edelbrock Performer IAS Shocks
• Mobil 1
• Xenon Super White Head and Driving Lights
• Tow Package
• Rear Load Leveling
• Moonroof
• Century Child Seat!

-->Follow Me...<--


[This message has been edited by FamilyRide (edited 05-07-2001).]

 

Hi GI,

Yes, the single-program Superchip requires premium gas, as does any performance chip that actually adds a significant power gain, just so you'll know, that is a basic requirement with performance chips in general. The only way to get a significant power gain via powertrain programming in these vehicles is to re-tune the engine specifically for the use of premium gas, as the automakers didn't leave any significant amount of power "laying on the table", so to speak, in the factory 87 octane programming. So we have to re-tune the engine for premium gas to get decent gains.

That being said, we also offer the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip for those who want more flexibility, which can be configured with a pair of programs, one for 87 and the other for premium gas, so you can have the best of both worlds. The power gain on regular gas is going to be small, 3-5 horsepower at best, but because we also remove transitional retards & delays, the vehicle will still accelerate a bit quicker on the 87 octane program. Then when you want maximum power, you can just fill it up with premium and flip the switch.

If you tried to use the single-program Superchip which requires premium gas, on regular 87 octane gas, you would of course lose the power gain, and you might pick up audible detonation as well, that will depend on the total effective compensation range of the knock sensor system in your particular vehicle. These F-150's vary quite a bit in that regard, some of them have enough range in them to quell any detonation, and some don't. Should you ever get into that kind of situaiton, you can always just remove the Superchip in a matter of a minute or so, very quickly, and that would revert you back to the factory program.

Most people who want to run regular just go with the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip, so they can run either fuel, and have an optimized program for both. Gains on 87 are small, but there is a little bit there.

For details about the Superchip or the dual-program Superchip Flip Chip, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below, or shoot us an email.

Best of luck whatever you decide,

------------------
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 05-08-2001).]

 

Thanx for the replies...

A couple of quick questions about the flip-chip... are the power/performance gains on the premium setting identical to those of the standard chip? Also, where is the performance gained on the regular setting? Just in transmission shift-points, delays, etc?

Based on the other info I found in this forum, it would not be unreasonable to expect a marginal increase in fuel mileage in day-to-day driving, correct? Just curious...

Thanks, again for the info.

-Joe-

 

Hi Joe,

Good questions!

Yes, when we do the 87 & 92 octane program combo in the Flip Chip, what you normally get on Side 2 of the Flip Chip is the exact same program that would come in our single-program Superchip that requires premium gas, you're exactly correct.

We could do something different if desired by the customer, like say if someone wanted even more firm shifting for their automatic tranny on the premium gas side than what we normally do perhaps, but that doesn't happen very often, most people are very happy with the shift characteristics we use already.

When we do the 87 & 92 Flip Chip combo, we normally set up both programs to be virtually identical except for the octane level the motor is tuned for. That way, you still get all the other improvements to automatic transmission shifting (in the automatic models), removal of transitional retards & delays, etc., in both programs. The power gain on the 87 octane program is going to be small, about 5 horsepower at most usually. But because of the combination of the small gain and all the other improvements, the vehicle will still accelerate a bit quicker on that program, and then when you want maximum power, you just fill it up with premium and flip the switch.

Most people running the Superchip on premuim gas that have actually done accurate apples-to-apples gas mileage comparisons have seen small improvements in gas mileage. They average about 1.5-2.0 more mpg in the V-8 automatic F-150's for example in a mis of city & highway driving, with a few coming in with larger gains of as much as 3.5 more mpg, but that's above average, of course. The exact mechanism that provides the potential for gains in mileage is just a by-product of the increased spark advance used on part-throttle in the Superchip's performance programming for premium gas, so your results will depend on 2 primary factors: how the vehicle is operated, and the energy content of the premium gas being burned with the Superchip, compared to the energy content of the regular gas previously being used. For example, your mileage could go down if you tried to use an "el-cheapo" premium gas, it always pays to use the best quality fuel available, either stock or chipped, that always gets you your best performance & mileage. Energy content is not labeled on pumps, etc. so the only way we layman have of estimating energy content is to simply track mileage every tank and the brand with the best mileage is generally the one with the highest energy content. We like Texaco, Amoco, Citgo, and stay away from BP, Exxon, and any no-names. Chevron works well out West, and Shell works well here in the East, and of course there can always be exceptions, but those brands we mentioend that we like tend to do a better job more often than not in most areas.

I hope that info helps,

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