Hey guys,

I am soooo lost and confused. Somebody please help me out here. I have read thread after thread CS, CTS, X3, Edge, Gryphon, Troyer, Superchips yada yada yada... I can't figure out what I need and where to go.

I have a 2009 F150 FX4 5.4L w/ 27k miles and want to tune for better gas mileage and a little more pep. The only engine mods I have on my truck is a 40 series flowmaster muffler. So I am not sure if I need custom tunes or just canned. I use my truck all day everyday for work and always have about 300-600lbs in the bed for work. (I clean pools and drive a ton.)

Somebody please help me with choosing the right programmer for me.

Thanks!
Paul

 

Hello.

This is too simple to make more complicated.

If you need / want custom tuning now, SCT is the only game in town.

VMP, Troyer Prformance or PHP.

If you lust after a Gryphon - you will need to wait some until final testing & product release occurs. PHP is the ONLY purveyor.

To answer yer Q in that other thread - the new trucks have a separate TCM ( tranny control module) in addition to the PCM - both need to be flashed in a truly comprehensive custom tune. It's the TCM portion a lot of folks were confuded about - SCT and the custom tuning folks above has this down now. It's also to component that takes a looong time to flash - for whatever reason. I expect any tuning platform will have this quirk - a function of the interface and the component itself, perhaps.

Finally - go custom - not much more expensive and significantly better results. This should have become immediately apparent during all yer research, as several folks with aformentioned tuning on these MY trucks have reported good results.

Suggest yer next step is to actually contact the above fellers (see 88Racing's helpful little siggy, lol) and do some yakking.

See? Simple, like I said... Good luck.

***EDIT*** OP, be advised that better mileage is not guaranteed with a programmer - you may/may not see any appreciable gains. You WILL ger increased pep, and a huge improvement in throttle control, tranny behaviour, etc.

MGD

 

X2
My siggy
Vvvvvvvvvvvv

 

Get an Xcal3 with a custom tune from VMP Tuning and never look back. I love the way my truck is now.

 

Ok cool thank you for all the great info. I know it should be easier than I am making it but I have OCD and can't settle for something that is already out if something better and more reliable will be coming out sooner or later lol. Out of all the tuners is there a way to see all there specs and which has the lowest problem ratios etc? If Gryphon is the way to go then add me to the list. Also, what does SCT mean? (Don't bash the noob) lol.

 

Hey.

SCT = http://www.sctflash.com/

For reliability concerns, as previously stated, just call the tuners mentioned.

Most issues related to tuning are the result of user error (RTFM), inadvertant dealer reflashing, poor mainrenance (suspect battery, etc), and yes, tuning device infant mortality and the occasional corrupt tune file ( it's software, it happens). Other than that, any of the top-flite devices and the associated tune files are very reliable indeed. Compared to Windoze fer instance

You will be verry happy with any of them. IMHO, the Gryphon is not superior to the SCT offerings. And the device type is decidedly secondary - it's the tuning that counts.

MGD

 

Ok awesome! Thanks for the education. Now if I want to go with SCT is that the tune or the programmer? After that do I need to choose if I want to go with a Superchips programmer or the X3 VMP Programmer? What is the differences between them? I want to pull the trigger today and get the ball rolling on this.

Also, I hear that you can download updated tunes to your PC but I have a Mac. Is there software out for a Mac to download the updates?

Lastly, when getting a custom tune is it that I tell the tuner what I have on my truck and they make a custom tune specifically for me? Or is it just a custom tune but generic to all trucks?

Thanks a lot for your time and help I greatly appreciate it.

 

MGD has a lot more patience than I do.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ch...ogrammers.html

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ch...unes-read.html

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ch...ts-owners.html

 

Thanks for the links. I have read the about tunes and the gryphon one but the loading of tunes is something I haven't seen. Thanks for the links but the loading of tunes only shows how to do it on a PC. I have a Mac and need to know if it's possible to do the loading on a Mac. Anybody know about Macs?

 

Why not ask the tuner manufacturer?

 

I would but none of them are open on Saturday it appears. If anyone on here knows the answer instead of me waiting until Monday seems easier for a quick answer.

 

Hey.

Pay Shotgunz no mind - I'll wager he just got skunked fishing today

I did a cursory search on SCT's site - I believe their software is Windoze-only.

You will need to contact PHP ( or better yet, join their forum and post a Q over there - you may get an immediate response. Or perhaps '88 could do some quick checking fer you

EDIT - if you can run a VM emulator on yer MAC, it may work:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=SCT+software+and+MAC

...gets you results like this: http://www.srtforums.com/forums/f336...win-xp-501110/

Good luck.


MGD

 

Sorry, but unless you use the Contact Us page, you'll probably have to wait until Monday. After all, it's not all about your instant gratification.

 

sorry you left the door open on this one...... i'll just leave it alone

 

I'll just use a friends PC that way I am not limited to which programmer I get.