These questions are directed towards the 87 octane tune. I've never put anything other in my truck so I don't have a clue what kind of mileage it would get then.

How is your mileage affected in real world driving?

Did you see an increase or decrease? The Same?

If it was a decrease is it because you now drive differently, ie. Love the new power so you drive faster?

What they tell me on the phone from Troyer is top shelf INFO, not doubting them for one minute, I'm just curious how the owners are doing.

I'll be ordering my XC2 around June 10th. I'm trying to finish up my research on it. From what I can gather from my phone conversations with TP & reading the posts here, the XC or XC2 is the answer I'm looking for. Fuel mileage is about the only topic not covered when people post their experiences.

Any comments?? Thanks...

KC-10 FE out...

 

I have the Xcal and saw no better gas mileage with the 87 max performance tune. That was even driving it "normal". I did notice much better throttle and shifting and think it is a great tune. I am currently trying the 91 octane max performance and had better gas mileage but still testing it out. The truck runs so much better with the tune it was worth the money. The thrill factor does last a while.

Kevin

 

I’ve had my Xcalibrator since 12-07-04 and it’s great. I’ve seen approximately 1-mpg increase in overall fuel efficiency. I ran 87-octane initially but now it’s 93-octane, the only way to fly. Before the Xcalibrator, the truck just didn’t have the get-up-and-go, you know, no pizzazz, but now it fun to drive thanks to the superb custom tunes Mike did for me. You’re going to be thoroughly impressed when you get your Xcalibrator KC-10 FE

 

I haven't noticed a change either way. Ran one tank of 87 octane and now am running 93. Probably one reason I haven't noticed any difference is because I like to step on it now, big difference .

 

There are some important factors involved that affect the MPG results with our custom performance tuning from one vehicle to the next...

First, it's a matter of what year & configuration of F-150 you have - for example, there are numerous different engines, transmissions, gear ratios & tire sizes that will affect the MPG results. Also, the basic vehicle configurations all add up to well over 3000 lbs. of potential weight difference alone! So if you want to make a comparison like that, stick with the same configuration and model year range - I.E., if it's a 4.6, then it falls into a couple of ranges - 1997-2000, then 2000-2003, and then 2004 & 2005 - along with the various configurations such as 2WD or 4WD, Extended Cab, Short Cab or SuperCrew, etc. And for the 5.4's, you have the 1997 & 1998 235 HP models, then the 1999-2003 (including 2004 Heritage) 2-valve 260 HP variants, and then you have the 5.4 3-valve 2004 & up new body style trucks - and then once again, the configurations - 2WD or 4WD, SuperCrew, etc.

Second, it's a matter of *who* does the actual tuning - I say this simply because there are a few people making the mistake of thinking of the Xcalibrator as the device that determines the tuning - it's the individual *tuner*.

There are 2 basic ways that you're going to "feel" an improvement in throttle response and performance yet get NO increase in MPG, and they are: 1.) Using a lower energy fuel, which reduces MPG - OR - 2.) You are driving the vehicle harder than before, and everyone does this for at least a while. (This assumes nothing has gone wrong with the vehicle and that all the maintenance is up to snuff.) You're NOT going to feel these kinds of power & throttle response improvements in such a heavy vehicle yet NOT have the potential for better MPG, in other words - in that scenario, the improvement in MPG is being negated either by the manner in which the vehicle is operated (being driven harder), or the fuel it's being fed.

These are factors that some people just don't know about, or maybe don't think much about - and of course, *everyone* drives their vehicle harder checking out their performance levels when they get a new performance part - that's the basic reason why we buy performance parts in the first place, to get better performance. Once the novelty of a new performance part wears off, then you can compare the MPG results - assuming you have valid "before" data.

Being able to "feel" the improved throttle response and power from our custom tuning in a 2.5-3 ton truck and the potential for better MPG, BOTH of those results come from the exact same things - so the only way you get one (feeling the power) without the other (MPG gain) is either driving the vehicle harder or using a lower energy fuel.

We've been doing this for a lot of years, and we have owned *many* of these vehicles (and numerous other makes as well) - and not a single one of our vehicles has ever failed to get a measurable MPG increase from our tuning doing accurate before & after comparisons on comparable fuels. Now of course, we use only the best quality fuels, our vehicles are extremely well maintained, and we do specific MPG tracking very accurately and consistently. So we don't make before & after MPG comparisons at different times of the year, or get gas from different sources, or make comparisons during periods of changeover from winterized/oxygenated fuels to summer blends, etc., etc.

The bottom line is, the majority of "real world" factors that determine the affect on the vehicle's MPG of our custom tuning are in the *vehicle owner's* hands. So for the reasons I've been discussing, we don't make an iron-clad absolute guarantee of increased MPG with our custom performance tuning - we can't, simply because those results are out of our hands for the most part. I think the best way to express it is to say that in our custom performance tuning, we provide the *potential* for increased MPG - and every one of our vehicles, or any vehicle we have done before & after MPG testing on, has always delivered a measurable increase in MPG. Then whether each individual vehicle actually delivers higher MPG numbers with our tuning depends on the vehicle owner/driver. That's really the bottom line.

So what we do in our custom tuning, as a by-product of the changes we make to improve performance, is provide the *potential* for improved MPG (this is assuming we're not doing a tune specifically for the purpose of better MPG - we can do so-called "MPG" tunes as well, though we prefer to do the performance tunes as they give better driveability and still provide the potential for MPG gains).

Just some basic FYI, gang, for whatever it may (or may not be) worth..................

 

Hey Mike, is there anything you don't know?
Thanks for all the great knowledge!

 

Hi f150tuscon,

Actually, there's *plenty* I don't know - and probably plenty that I bore some people to tears with around here in some of my detailed posts, truth be told!

I just try to help as I can.........