I bought a Superchips 1715 from a forum member and loaded the 87 octane program this weekend. I really like the results. The improvement in throttle response, hp/torque, transmission shifts, etc. is very noticeable. I checked the fuel economy today on the way back to work on the same trip I checked it last weekend and the fuel economy is improved by 10% on the 87 octane setting. I recommend it!!
My truck is a 2002 F150, 5.4L, Scab 4x4 with 78k miles on it.

 

Congrats, enjoy your purchase! These trucks definitely stand to benefit from a new tune, be it canned or custom.

I hate to burst your bubble, but you didn't increase your fuel economy by 10% with a Superchip "tune".

Do some searching around here for MPG improvements and custom/canned tunes and you can read up on it. I've been tracking my truck's fuel economy for the past 30,000 miles, and yes, sometimes I get better, or worse, mileage on the exact same trips. It depends on the quality of fuel, ambient conditions, driving style, whether or not I've got more or less gear in the truck, how many stop lights I hit, etc, etc.

If all it took was a simple little program to increase fuel economy by 10%, don't you think Ford would be all over that given the fuel squeezes we've had the past few years and the demand for more fuel efficient vehicles?

- NCSU

 

I make this trip every Sunday. It's all cruising about 65% in 70 zones at mostly 80mph and the rest in 65 zones at mostly 75mph. That's what I measured, 10% increase. That is also the increase I got on the interstate with my Superchips on my 2005 Magnum 5.7 V8. Driving around town, it wouldn't be the same probably because it would be more fun to step on it. You're quite welcome to believe whatever you want.

 

I've seen an overall gas mileage increase with first the Edge, then it got even better when I had the Edge converted to a Gryphon with custom tunes.

NCSU, I suspect the reason Ford does not tune this way is because they have to meet a wider range of driving needs (including little old ladies who want a very "soft" shift and very "quiet" engines up to guys who want to tow 7-8K trailers). And, I suspect they deliberately "detune" these vehicles to improve on potential failure rate scenarios. I imagine they don't see the improved, specialized tuning process as cost effective, given that they can achieve the same thing through "fleet fuel efficiency numbers". And, they have some VERY fuel efficient vehicles.

- Jack

 

Roadie, I sure haven't seen the mileage gains you have with the same tuner and pretty much the same truck (except that mine has 40k more miles and the 3:73 chunks, don't know what you have)! Not saying I'm skeptical, more like mildly jealous.

To be honest, I rarely re-tune for other than hauling horses in the "heavy" trailer; where I'm very pleased with the results. On long trips, I might actually see a 4-5% mileage gain over the factory tune with the same load; depending on the breadth of elevation change.

To be even more honest; I think the mileage gain results from my not trying to 'shove the gas pedal through the firewall' at every standing start. Re-tuned, even with the canned tune, makes the 5.4 and 4R70W 'drive' a lot more like a 351 Cleveland or Windsor (or even a mild FE) pushrod motor in front of a C6; and I don't find myself anywhere near as impatient to 'get moving'!

 

a 10% increase is only 1-2mpg. I'm not sure why yall dont think its possible to gain that with a tuner.

 

x2... my thinking exactly

 

I checked the mileage carefully one time on my weekly interstate highway trip before the Superchips and got 14.0 mpg. The next Sunday after programming I carefully checked it again and got 15.4 mpg, but only that one time. I admit that to be positive, it needs to be checked several times. This was running most of the time with the cruise set at 80mph and the rest of the time the cruise was set at 75. Of course I was occasionally slowed by traffic, but the traffic was about the same, same day of the week and the same time.

However, I did check my Magnum many times before and after the Superchips and got slightly more than 10% improvement but that did involve going from 89 octane to 91. So, I wasn't surprised with the 10% improvement on my truck.

Even if there was no improvement in mileage, it would be worth it just for the increase in throttle response, hp and torque. The difference is enough that you will kick yourself for not installing the program sooner.