Amazing piece of work..... Very easy to hook up. Select the tune you want to load, then start the install. It downloads your factory tune then uploads the tune you selected. If you want to change tunes just select the next tune and start the install.

Mike, you did a great job on the custom tunes. My 91 octane performance tune is a real wake up call to my 5.4L. Its great now but wait till the learning curve is done.

When you put the throttle down and you feel a leap at the seat of your pants, thats a good feeling.

Thanks Mike and all at Troyer Performance. Your dedication to your customers plus friendly service and support is your hallmark. Keep up the good work.

Larry (Hamradio)

 

So far, there haven’t been many people weighing in about their Xcalibrator. How may people on f150.online do you think have one?

 

I dont know. But, I am looking to get one for sure. However, I am not sure if it will yield results that are better than my high performance 1714 tune.

I want to just buy the tuner without any tunes loaded into it, because the local Superchips dealer here is going to dyno tune my truck. I think I am just going to get a high performance tune and stock tune. I cant think of any other tune I need besides those two.

I am just going for power and thats it.

 

From what Mike Troyer says about the Xcalibrator, you get 50% more HP over what the 1714 gives you. That’s a substantial amount for a heavy truck like the 04’s. Every little bit helps!

 

Hi Larry (HamRadio),

Thanks for your post - glad you enjoyed using the Xcalibrator.

I was especially glad to see your post in that other thread where you were talking about having uploaded the 91 octane premium gas tuning - sounds like your local 91 octane fuel has no problems supporting what we've done there to get even more performance. I felt pretty sure that it would, but it's always nice to hear.

Enjoy your Christmas,

 

Yes Mike, I've run about half a tank now and no problems. The performance gets better and better as the learnig curve does its thing. I like to run Chevron brand gas or Union 76 and have used Shell too all without a problem. Chevron is in the tank now. Stay away from ARCO and Texico and 7Eleven or Circle-K trash. It may be cheaper but the savings isn't worth it.

I'll be out on the road a bit on Xmas day and will see how we do on the expressway. So far, performance has been much better than my original 91 tow/perf. I wanted to see what the hottest tune was like right off the bat so that is why I installed the 91 perf tune first. I'm not too worried about the cost of the 91 over the 87 stuff so I will run that for the time being.

Again, Merry Christmas to all and to Mike, Anita and all the guys and gals of Troyer Performance.

Larry (Hamradio):santa:

 

Hi Larry,

Union 76 is usually about the best performing fuel in many areas of California - Shell & Chevron are usually OK as well. I would probably want to use Union 76 as your "default" fuel, as it generally has about the highest energy content - many high-boost Lightning owners run Union 76 out there in California, for example.

Most of the off-brands & no-names aren't up to snuff, I agree, so we always advise steering clear of them.

Here in the east, 7-11 usually pumps Citgo brand fuels, and I have to say that we have had very good experience in most locations here with Citgo - in fact, I have run my high-boost 11-second Lightning on many tanks of Citgo, with no problems. Our 2004 also gets run almost exclusively on Citgo.

However, I have no idea at what 7-11 is pumping out there where you are though, so it may very well need to be avoided - in fact, a number of people have been surprised at me when I say we've had good results in most Eastern areas with Citgo, because 7-11 (out here at least) generally pumps Citgo fuels, and many people automatically assume that whatever 7-11 is pumping has to be garbage - and maybe it is out there. Here, we don't buy it at a 7-11, it's at Citgo-branded service stations and we've generally had good luck with it - but that's here in the east.

Thanks very much for posting your results, and for all the specific fuel brand recommendations etc., too - that's very helpful info, Larry!

 

Hey Mike, speaking of gas brands, how does Sunoco and BP(Amoco) rate here in FL?

 

sunoco- high btu content
amoco-just the opposite

 

I thought Amoco was supposed to be one of the good ones?

 

Hi John,

Phil's right - Amoco *USED* to be a great gasoline, for many years it was my absolute favorite.

However, BP bought them out a few years back, and ever since their fuels are real iffy - so Amoco is generally no longer the great fuel it once was, sad to say.

If you have access to Sunoco, run their Ultra 94 octane premium, as the way I have your tuning set up it will respond to a few more points of octane (up to about 96 or so) with more power.
Some Sunoco stations don't carry the 94 Ultra, but that's OK, their 93 octane premium is a fine fuel.

Have fun,

 

Hi Mike,

Sunoco doesn’t offer 94-octane in FL so I’ve been using 93. I can buy Sunoco 100-octane race fuel but that’s $4.49 per gal. and I don’t think the cost would outweigh the benefit. Citgo (7-11) fuel is the brand that is most readily available. Citgo is still considered top shelf, isn’t it? There are more 7-11’s around here than there are banks and of course, we have Chevron, Shell, etc. and a few off brands like Murphy Oil & Hess.

The Xcalibrator has been great; it really woke up my truck, thanks for the excellent tunes. I especially like the hard shifts at WOT and the speed limiter being lifted is pretty cool. I’m extremely happy with all aspects of the tuner. I haven’t tried the 93-octane tow tune yet but probably will the first of the year.

Mike, do I need a software package to download changes (tire size, etc.) or do the email attachments you send get loaded on the Xcalibrator with Windows-XP.

 

not

 

not sure where the info on bp comes from but they still use the same amoco fuel as always nothing has changed as far as i know

 

another thing i might mention is that we have a citgo refinery not far from here and its not unusual to see shells tankers in there filling up