Hey guys. I need some advice please. I have a 2011 Lariat Supercrew 4x4 with the 6.2 and 3.73 gears. The addition of the Stainless Works exhaust system and the Volant intake system (which I modified), has made a nice increase in performance to an already great performing truck. But I can tell it needs more, like "a Tune". So, here I am in a fix. Since I'm a bit, OK quite a bit, computer illiterate, it gets a bit overwhelming. Going back to the old "chip" days, I understand how they work, and what they improve. but I'm incapable of doing my own "parameters" as it were on laptops and such. So I need something that I can just "plug and play" which I understand most are any way? The way I understand it, once I've given the info on my truck, I can order a "tuner" that will give me (in seperate tunes) increases in performance, towing, and mileage. So, everyday driving - performance. When I hook up my travel trailer - towing. A trip out to West Virginia - mileage (or performance for spirited ) . I've done some searching on the net, and here on the forums. I'm trying to get some info on programmers. There doesn't appear to be much available. Till this point, everything that I've ordered for my truck I've had to order as a Raptor. Aside from the obvious differances, and for having 3.73's as opposed to 4.10's, my drivetrain is basically the same. Can the Gurus help me? Are there any available for the 6.2? I haven't had much luck. Thanks guys for any advice..............

 

mike@5startuning>>>link>>> http://www.5startuning.com/

 

Well after nine months of searching in a constant state of confusion, I believe I have made up my mind, I hope, to go with the SCT Livewire TS 5015. I know I need to make a phone call. And I'll be doing that when I have enough time to sit down for a while to make the order. But there is one thing I'm still confused on. Will I be able to change a tune on the fly? or at least pull over and make the change? Where I live at is pretty much at sea level to 100' in elevation. I frequently travel to West Virginia. On the trip out I climb in elevation. I stop at a rest stop at about the halfway point. There I think I'm up to maybe 900 ft. or so? Then it goes up and down thru the mouintains, sometimes as high as 1,500 ft. or so. Then once I'm there (in the Burlington/Keyser area) it averages about 1,100-1,200 ft. or so on my property. I will need tunes for performance at both elevations as well as tunes for towing. I know I shouldn't be asking, and I should get the answers when I make the call. But this feable mind needs a little reassurance .

 

With the hand helds you CAN'T CHANGE TUNES ON THE FLY.....the truck has to be parked and off...

Now with all those other points you've made....they are what all needs to be discussed when ordering the custom tune with the tuner.....

 

The OEM software system is designed to adjust the fuel mixture up to 10% (25% on the 2000+ mod engines).......that’s more than enough to handle fuel mixture adjustments up to 7,000 foot elevation change! (for high elevations 8,000+ there are oem software programs for those specific applications)

 

I just bit the bullet, or arrow depending on , and went with the SCT Livewire TS 5015 from 5 Star tuning. I called to make the order rather than on line. I ordered the 91 performance tune and a 91 Tow tune. Didn't bother with the economy tune. If need be I can just use the SCT economy tune. I usually always use 91 octane. It's the highest I can get in my area. I've been putting it off because I'm scared frankly, with messing with the computer and/or electronics. But, yesterday I was out for a ride. Just got her back from the body shop (check out my thread about being Jynxed in the General Discussion forum). I was cruiseing along at about 50 mph, and just decided to tramp her down one time. Hadn't done it for a while. She dropped down to second gear and I was off. It was just a moment and I was in third. She was pulling hard in third but it just didn't seem to be "right?". I let off the gas a bit and I could feel it pull a little more. Slowly put it back to the floor when she hit fourth. When she hit about 4,500 rpm she really started pulling like a mule. It was like I hit the bottle or something. Just that fast I was at the speed limiter and Nothing! This all happened quickly so I really can't give a time frame. But it was only a few seconds i suppose. That did it for me. I'm hoping the programmer will pick up the slack. I'm anxious to see how the tunes will work . I'll be taking a trip out to West Virginia in a few weeks with my Ranger in tow. I'll update after I get the tuner and have a chance to see how she performs.

Update: 02/24/13 - I picked up my Livewire at the post office yesterday. Today I'm updating the navigation system. It's suppose to take four-five hours for it to complete. So I think I'll wait till tommorrow before I hook up and try the Livewire, weather permiting. I just want to make sure I read and reread anything I can find envolving the installation. When I say I'm computer illiterate, I mean I had a heard time figureing out how to play "Pong". No what I mean?

 

Just thought I would do a quick update this morning on the new tuner. Of course it is the SCT Livewire tuned by 5 star tunung. I ordered it on tuesday the 19th., and although it arrived at my post office early sat., I wasn't able to pick it up until that monday morning. Got it home and looked it over. I recieved general instructions printed on paper but nothing detailed on it's operation. I couldn't find anything on the SCT website for a detailed instruction manual. So I emailed 5 star to see if they had anything. I was emailed instructions but in a platform that I am unable to open. So at this point I was scared to even hook it up. After bellyaching for a day I decided to just do it and hope for the best. I guess it's pretty much like every tech thing these days. Instructions are on the device . I knew it was a touch screen but I didn't know it was this "touch and FLICK" thing . I thought it would have "arrows". I don't know how to use this kind of stuff and I guess it's assumed that everybody these days has a new cell phone that does this, but I do not. After hooking it up and powering it on I followed the prompts and at first it didn't seem that difficult, until I tried to do that touch and "Flick" thing. I keep entering whereever I touch and having to cancel out and start over. What a pain. I'll eventually get it I guess in time.
OK, now that I'm done with my Bellyaching , lets get to it. As I said, I followed the prompts but was still confused because of my non-geekiness. But it seemed to do what it was suppose to. It uploaded my stock tune and I really didn't know what to try first. Just by accident I ended up installing the 91 octane custom tune that I had requested. It took about 5 mins. and was prompted to turn the key off. I was good to go. I hit the key, she started and I just let it sit there and idle while I watched what the device was doing. I was afraid to touch for fear that my truck would explode . After she warmed up for a few minutes I just tapped the throttle a bit to rev her up a little to see how she sounded. "O MY GOD!" The exhaust cracked out loud and instantly rev'd up to like 5,000! I barely touched it! WOW! I did it again, and still again It sounded like I was maxing it out and cracking the throttle, but I hardly pressed it! I was giddy as a school boy in love . I couldn't wait to get her out on the road. So I took her out for a quick drive. I instantly felt the improved throttle response. The amount of "gas" like I gave it before, now instantly throws me back into the seat! UNREAL! The trans is shifting quicker and much firmer, and it stays in a lower gear at the same speed. For instance, just lightly cruising she would shift into 5th. at about forty? now it holds 4rth. a little longer. It down shifts a little faster and sooner too. After getting out of traffic, somewhat, and on a bit of road, I was finally able to give her some gas. I was cruising about 25 or so, and gave her a quick snap to the floor. Holy Cow! Instantly dropped down to first, spun like crazy, shifted hard into second, and "spun" not chirped the tires, and I ran out of room because of granma, but I was instantly at 70ish! WOW...............Brought the truck home at a nice and leisurely pace, still pumped up. Well, the next day I decided to try the 93 octane canned tune. So I switched it over and once again tried the throttle at idle. It was much improved over stock, had a nice "crack" to it, but nothing like the custom tune. Took her out for a spin. And I gotta tell ya, WOW on the canned tune. Throttle is lighter, shifts are firmer, it's much quicker, and is more suited, I think, for day to day driving than the custom tune. So that's where I'm at now. Been running on the canned 93 tune for the past two days and I'm seeing a vast improvement in performance, and gas mileage indications are looking to be 1-2 mpg better. But that will take a tank or two to confirm. I think today, I may go out for a "Custom Tune Cruise" again.................Thank you 5 Star Tuning..

 

This morning I went to the shop where I have my tire work done and ordered a new set of Cooper AT3's for my new rims. Just mosseying along on my way home, enjoying the ride with a little country music goin' on. Cruising along at 60mph minding my own business. Some kid pulls up and keeps jumping ahead and dropping back. I just keep riding a steady 60. The Hemi just wouldn't leave me alone, really. Still on 93 canned tune. He lost by 2 1/2 lengths when I let up to relieve some of his embarassment.

 

LOL Sweeeeet

 

Sweet, glad to hear you like it. Something you said caught my eye though. Are you running the 93 octane tune on 91 octane gas? I'm not sure with these trucks, but I know that was a big no-no on some other stuff I used to run. I'm not trying to call you out, just don't want you to damage that sweet motor.

 

Good call, you should only run a tune that is as high as the octane in the tank. It's okay to go down but not up.

For example, you are welcome to run an 87 tune with 93 in the tank.

It can be very bad to run a 93 tune with 87 in the tank.

-Mike

 

using a higher octane won't hurt. It's the detination from a lower number that causes damage from a lower octane. So if I was running a 89 tune, 91-93 will be fine. At least in theory, and in my practice it's been so. I found a gas station that has 93, so that's what I run now.

 

OK, so I was wondering, I see that I can change my top speed limiter, and rev limiter. I just upped the speed limiter to 105 mph (for now). I was at less than 100 when I embarresed that Hemi yesterday by 2 1/2 lengths. I was on the 93 octane canned tune (which by-the-by, I found a station with 93 finally). Even on the canned tune I'm hitting the rev limiter so fast, I don't have time to even think about. Question, I know that geomatry and rotational mass is a factor for the speed limiters, where are you guys setting yours? Is 115 unreasonable? As for the rev limiter, I think it kicks in somewhere around 6,000-6,100rpm. On the Livewire the options are like 6,150, 6,250, and so on. I set it at 6,250 and I'm hitting that without even trying. So, what's a "relatively" safe limit for the 6.2? I don't run the truck, at all. I just like to "feel the power!". Oh, and that Hemi, he kept doggin' me and I just got tired of it

 

Well I've been wanting to try the custom tow tune that 5 star programmed for me. The 91 performance tune is just insane! . So, since it is about to dump some white stuff, I'm taking a trip out to my place in West Virginia with my Polaris Ranger in tow. It's not suppose to start snowing out there until later in the day on tuesday. So I am leaving early in the morning around 6:00 am or so. Including stopping for "a break" , and for supplies at Walmart, it will take me 4 1/2-5 hours. I will update from my lap top that evening about how she did.

OH, one thing? Today I was running some errands. I'm so use to the Livewire on the windshield now I hardly notice it unless I check the gauges. After my last stop I was almost home when I glanced at it and realized that the display had frozen. I was just a few minutes away so I waited till I got home. Once I turned around in the driveway, I tapped it and nothing moved. Shut the truck off and same thing. Waited for a few minutes for it to go into sleep mode and still nothing. Came inside and after a few went back out. Still frozen. Started the truck and still frozen. So I shut the truck off, disconnected it from the port and waited for a few minutes. Then I plugged the unit back in, started the truck, and then I had to hit the start button on top of the Livewire for it to come on. Once it did all seemed fine. I was afraid to go into it to change over to the Tow tune, but did it any way. It seemed to program alright. After it was done I started the truck and it seemed to be working OK. Has anyone run into this problem? Is it something I should be worried about and should I call 5 star? Maybe I will any way later.........

 

My wife has an '06 explorer w/the 4.6 V-8