If i buy one of the performance packages containing the Air force one as well as the programmer; what kind of performance increases can i expect on 87 octane gas. Unfortunately here in Alberta, Canada the highest octane we can get is 91, and that is only at a few stations 90 is the norm. Besides that i actually have a company issued fuel card but it will only get me 87 octane.

I want to buy the program for towing, so i guess my question is, what will this combo do for me on 87 octane gas?

 

I know you can buy chips or programmers that will allow you to still use 87 octane.....

the performance will be their. Or you could go one step up and program it for higher octane.

 

The answers you seek have already been discussed and are right here on the board. Try doing a search to find what you need.

Here in Southern California we only can get up tp 91 octane. I run a 91 octane performance tune by Mike Troyer. I also have a 91 tow/performance tune and an 87 octane tow/performance tune. Unfortunately with 87 octane you won't get much of a performance jump. But I guarantee if you get a Xcalibrator 9300 with tuning by Mike Troyer you will get the best there is available.

 

I think the only benefit when you use an 87-octane tune is improved tranny shifting.

 

Also include removal of the top speed limiter and a bit of timing advance. Probably a few added things I am not aware of but Mike can fill you in. Give Troyer a call.

 

Hello kingofthegeeks,

First - yes, you *can* get a nice performance increase on 87 octane in that truck from our tuning, as anyone who has ever actually done any *proper* comparison knows. Of course it's true that the power gains from tuning for 87 octane are not going to be as high as the power gains from our tuning for higher octane - you already know that & that's precisely why you are asking. But it is NOT true that the only benefit on 87 octane is transmission shifting - dead wrong.

It's not possible to say you are going to gain "x" amount of power for a given combination on every F-150 - F-150's are not like GM trucks, or Dodge trucks, or any other trucks, as there is more variation in power results in these Fords. This is due to the hundreds of different factory PCM revisions in every single model year of the F-150, so in terms of how much power you'll gain from our tuning for 87 octane, it depends on just exactly which factory program your truck has. Some we can get a whopping 20+ HP gain at the rear wheels tuning for 87 octane, while others will see a more "normal" average in the range of about 10-15 HP at the wheels from our tuning for 87 octane. Even for the exact same truck made the exact same day, you can have variations in results when tuning for 87 octane fuel. Now once we're tuning for higher octane fuel, those variances are much smaller. This is why (for example), on our web site, when we list power gains for our various Stage kits just for example, we are conservative, as some trucks gain more power than we list - we try to show what you can usually expect from just about *any* of these trucks, and not use some optimal base-case-scenario-only type of marketing number as so many do in this business.

Here's the important question - "can you get enough performance gain and improvement in overall powertrain response to warrant tuning for 87 octane?" Yes, of course.

Now let's cut to the chase - when you order our tuning, or get one of our performance packages that includes our custom tuning, you are going to get *multiple* tunes. In our custom tuners the way it works is you get your choice of 3 different custom tunes set up however is most beneficial for *your* specific needs & vehicle usage types, fuel quality, etc. If the engine is not supercharged or turbocharged, you'll usually want tuning for a couple of different levels of octane - so you may need to have us do a performance tune for 87 octane, and then another performance tune for say, 91 or 93 octane, and then maybe a 3rd program that is towing-compatible, set up for whatever level of octane you want. The point being, you have that *flexibility,* as you get multiple tunes that are set up for how *you* need them to be - that's what *custom* tuning is all about, to have it done so it fits your individual needs.

Now in terms of raw power gains - if you order say, the intake kit and our custom tuning, on 87 octane worst case you'll see 20-25 HP easy on a 5.4, a few HP less on a 4.6 motor - as well as much quicker powertrain response, no top speed limiter, vastly improved shift characteristics, better driveability, and numerous other aspects. Now there are some (like those trucks that either can't go open loop or have long delays) where you'll see 30-35 Hp gains from those 2 mods - but I'd say to look at it on the conservative side, and figure you'll get an easy 20-25 HP at the wheels from our intake & tuning for 87 octane in that truck.

So there basic question of whether that is "worthwhile" or not is easy to answer - of course it is. Tuning and intake are basically the 2 best "bang for the buck" modifications you can do to these vehicles in terms of amount of performance improvement for money spent.

What I'd suggest is to have us work out a package deal for you that includes say, the intake kit and then our *custom* tuning in our 3-program hand-held Xcalibrator - that way you'll have multiple custom tunes as well as email update capability, and the Xcalibrator can also always be reprogrammed if you trade in your present truck and get say, a 2004 or a 2005 F-150, or any other 1996-2005 FoMoCo vehicle. In any case, the Xcalibrator gives you the ultimate flexibility and an upgrade path so that it's not permanently limited to just your present vehicle, so you've got the best possible investment in a programming product.

I hope that info is helpful for you..............please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below when you get a chance, & we can go over all of this with you if you like, go over the computer code of your F-150 and let you know just what really is possible for *that* specific truck, and give you a good package deal so you can start enjoying the performance your vehicle is really capable of.

Best of luck whatever you decide,

 

Check out a cheveron gas station they have 94 octane in bc here.

 

Thanks Mike, just waiting on the tax return and i'll be contacting your company. I really like the idea of having an 87 octane regular tune, and an 87 and 91 octane tow tune so i can add premium fuel during mountain treks and use 87 when i'm flat highwaying it.

Thank you so much for your extensive posts, i really do appreciate it.

 

Hi KotG (KingoftheGeeks),

You're very welcome!

A lot of our customers are in this same kind of scenario at about this time each year. They've worked hard all year long and now have a tax return coming - so they're looking forward to enjoying some of the fruits of their labors, doing their research & making their plans on what & how to do something nice with some performance mods for their vehicle. I have to admit that's among my favorite kind of plans.

Have fun & talk to you soon,