I finally have a few extra bucks I can throw towards an xcal purchase for my 2004 4.6 F150, and I would sure appreciate any feedback/comments from those of you who have added an xcal to your 4.6. My search turned up lots of info and reviews on the 5.4, not as much on the 4.6. I'll probably be running 87 octane 70% of the time with an occasional fill up on 91. I'm assuming the improved shifting points and limiter removal alone make the purchase worthwhile, but I wouldn't mind hearing some first hand experiences.

Thanks

 

I got the 5.4 so I can’t speak directly to the seat of the pants gains the Xcalibrator would have on the 4.6, that being said I don’t think you’re going to be disappointed. The Xcalibrator is the number one bang for the buck mod regardless of engine size.

Your rev limiter will be raised, speed limiter lifted, up-shifts firm to hard at WOT, downshifts will be instant, throttle lag is history, etc, etc. Even if you didn’t gain any hp or torque, the above mentions changes are a huge benefit to the drivability of your truck, but the good news is you will get a substantial increase in hp & torque.

The Superchips 1714 “Max” Micro Tuner gives you about 16hp and 30ft/lbs of torque using premium fuel. Mikes custom tunes on the Xcalibrator will add another 50% to those numbers. That equates to 24hp and 45ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels using premium fuel. That’s not shabby at all!

 

Hi Pit,

I would suggest using the SEARCH feature here to specifically look up posts from other 4.6 F-150 owners to see what they have to say - that's a good way to get some very quick feedback about the 4.6's.

The 4.6's see the same benefits that the 5.4's do from our tuning - they simply gain a little bit less horsepower simply because they are smaller and make less horsepower in stock trim - the *percentage* gains are roughly about the same, generally speaking.

I wouldn't say an 87 octane tune is going to turn that heavy truck into a tire-shredding monster, but it is indeed the best bang-for-the-buck mod, so it's always worth while. the vehicle will have more power and will respond better, be more fun to drive, etc.

Good luck in getting your responses from other 4.6 owners, & don't hesitate to give us a call if you'd like to go over any of this in more detail, etc.

 

I have the original , Xcal with 87 and 92+ tunes . There is no doubt it is worth it and makes the truck that much more enjoyable to drive . The throttle response and the shifting you will notice immediatley. The response gained at almost any rpm was noticeable . Now like they all say its not going to make you a tire smoking madman but you will enjoy the truck much more with the tune. In my case I loaded the 87 first drove it for a month , enjoyed it and then tried out the 92 . It is that much better , and havent considered taking off 92 tune even with the gas $$$.
Once you get the custom tunes you will probably start feeling like you need an intake and an exhaust . This is a normal side effect , it happens to everyone.

It is worth it if Troyer does the tuning .

 

I thought the old 91 octane tune was good for 26 RWHP in the 5.4's and something like 35 ft. lbs., then the "Max Performance" tune was good for another 10% over that, and now the custom tunes are good for about 50% over THAT. Am I wrong?

 

Yup here it is...referring to the 2001 4.6L w/ PI heads with the old 91 octane tune, not the "Max Performance" tune. I'd expect to see approx. 40 - 45 RWHP on a custom tune, assuming 10% increase with the "Max Performance" tune and an additional 50% gain over that with a custom tune. Wonder what the torque is...60+ ft. lbs? NICE!!!

Quote from Superchips Distributor:

"The maximum potential gain on that 4.6 motor is 26 hp & 40 lbs./ft. of torque, but of course how much power each individual truck actually gains will depend on altitude & fuel quality, just as that affects the stock power output."

 

I really appreciate the feedback. I honestly don't expect a tire burner after adding the xcal, just looking to improve the overall driveability, i.e., throttle lag and lazy slow shifting.

Mike, I work for a manufacturing company and one of my duties is to answer sometimes over a 100 emails a day, these emails come from brand new users of our product to folks who have used our product for years. At times the inquires can become very repetitive, but taking the time to answer each inquiry as if it was the first one you've received will ultimately garner you a customer for life. I see you doing this all the time on this site, so thanks for taking the time to answer this 'repetitve' question and I'll be contacting you...now I've only to decide on a xcal or xcal2, hmmm.

Thanks again guys
Mike

 

Definitely go for the Xcalibrator-2 , it has data logging capabilities and you can read & clear OBD-II DTC's plus a whole lot more.

 

From what I gathered from a search, the power gains are unchanged from the original xcal right?

 

mike I sent you an email, I am in the same boat, the whole 4.6 thing. I am definitely all about some better throttle response

 

Pit, you have it a little wrong. The Xcal vs the Xcal2 has NOTHING to do with the tunes.
The power and performance come from Mike's TUNING, which can be put into either an XCal or Xcal2, the Xcals(1 or 2) are just a vessel to hold the tune.
The Xca2 has a few bells and whistles, the Xcal1 just holds/loads tunes.

 

NJSteve, that's kind of what I thought...since I don't know what "data logging" and OBD-II DTC's, I was unclear how much it would benefit me to purchase the xcal2 or the original. In the end I imagine it's personal preference if more power is all you're concerned with.

 

Yep. I went Xcal1 instead of 2 because I didn't need to pay extra for things I will most likely never use. If I find later I need em I'll upgrade

 

I bought the Xcal2 because with our F150online member discount, it's about the same price. Also, if you get the Xcal2 you also have a DTC code scanner and clearer.

BUT...the best part? The Xcal2 connects to your PC and will not only download custom tunes from email files, but you can also update the unit itself by flashing it with the most current firmware from SCT...you'll NEVER have to upgrade again. Xcal2 is the obvious choice...I wouldn't even consider the Xcal1 for only a $50 difference at best. The code scanning alone is worth that...FYI, this is my 3rd. Superchips tuner...hahaha...hopefully my last as well.

 

If you leave your car factory and let your dealership do all the maintenance, you don't need to worry about DTC's (trouble codes).

In my opinion, if you are planning on doing performance enhancments to your car, you need the ability to check any trouble codes that may occur due to the changes you have made. One trip to the dealership to have a trouble code read and cleared will cost you more than the price difference between the Xcal 1 and 2. Not only the cost, but it's been my experience that dealerships can get condescending about error codes due to modifications. I'd rather diagnose and fix modification issues myself. Finally, it's nice to know right away what the trouble code is, rather than having to wait until you can get your car in the shop.

Last time I checked, a separate code reader will cost you well over $100, a good one probably $200 or more. The $50 extra for the Xcal 2 is a bargain as far as trouble code reading goes.

It is my understanding that data logging is used to provide a performance specialist, such as Troyer, information needed to handle special tuning needs. For example, if you install a supercharger, Mike can provide you with an initial program that will at least let you operate your vehicle as soon as the installation is complete. However, once you get your car running with the modification, you use data logging to record operating data and then send it to Mike so that he can provide you with a much refined tune based on the data you provide.

Enjoy.