Custom or regular?
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Suspended User
Joined: Jan 1999
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From: Covington,Ga
Custom or regular?
I've currently got a *yawn* Hypertech chip. It actually does work a little bit. After making some exhaust mods I drove my truck for a couple weeks before reinstalling my chip. It definitely runs better with it and shifts are different too. But like most people here, I want the most from my engine. Yes it's used as a truck but we all like more power!
Anyway, does a Superchip allow for small mods to intake and exhaust? I've got a WMS velocity tube with K&N, I'm running two highflow converters(instead of the original 4), along with a Flowmaster 40series with dual pipes out the back. I know these few mods will work with a Superchip because my Hypertech does. But for the full potential of any mod, should a custom burn be used? Or is custom burns mainly for big mods like supercharging or changing cams and such?
Anyway, does a Superchip allow for small mods to intake and exhaust? I've got a WMS velocity tube with K&N, I'm running two highflow converters(instead of the original 4), along with a Flowmaster 40series with dual pipes out the back. I know these few mods will work with a Superchip because my Hypertech does. But for the full potential of any mod, should a custom burn be used? Or is custom burns mainly for big mods like supercharging or changing cams and such?
Last edited by KnightS; Dec 15, 2001 at 04:45 PM.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi KnightS,
Sorry it's taken a few days to get you a response!
To answer your questions regarding when is "custom programming" required or when it is actually *beneficial*.............
Things like K&N air filters, airbox elimination kits, your velocity tube from WMS, and exhaust changes in the cat-back area do not require, nor can they benefit from, any custom programming.
The types of things that require cuasotm programmign in general are mostly the major mods, as you mentioend, superchargers, nitrous, ported heads, camnshaft changes, or if you change the MAF (mass airflow meter). Should you ever do anything like that in the future, your Superchip (assuming you install a Superchip) can always be updated.
Now one area where you may run into "trouble" is with aftermarket catalytic converters, as the majority of those so-called high-flo units cannot store oxygen to help burn added fuel during heavy throttle operation, and that can cause a check engine light to illuminate. The 2 downstream O2 sensors are there for one reason, and that is to monitor catalytic converter function. The vast majority of "high flo" cats cannot accumulate excess oxygen to store to be used to help burn excess fuel which is used during open-loop operation, when the A/F mixture is richer. They still clean the exhaust properly during closed-loop operation, just not during open-loop, where there are no emissions standards that have to be met, but the automakers are trying to address those areas anyway, as they should.
If that happens, we can correct for that in a number of these vehicles, that does require a custom program. However (and this is just for anyone that might read this post KnightS, this is not meant for you) we will *not* provide those services for those who are just stripping their catalytic converters off and polluting the air, and we're getting many requests for that. We will *not* assist anyone in any way with polluting the environment. So if you need those services, just be aware that we will provide them only for replacement catalytic converters, the aftermarket hi-flo units that in many cases cause a check engine light, even though they are functional and cleaning the exhaust.
Just as an aside for other readers, sometimes people think, and it's a common misconception, that because these newer vehicles have multiple catalytic converters that they are very restrictive. A seemingly logical assumption on the surface, to be sure, but that in fact is not the case. While the early catalytic converters used from 1975 thru the late 80's to very early 90's were indeed costing power due to restriction, as much as 5-7 lbs of backpressure at redline, that is no longer the case. Automakers are going to primary, secondary, and in some cases even tertiary (a third) catalytic converter. This is doen to not only clean up the exhaust better, but also to keep flow rates *up*, by not making just 1 cat do all the work.
Power-wise, the reality is that in thes F-150's, Expeditions, etc. until you are well above the 350+ hp level, you aren't losing real power to those cats, just a few horsepower (less than 5, usually 2 to maybe 3 hp) at very high rpm. In my own Lightning, which is sitting at a tad over 500 hp right now, we're using the factory cats, and will continue to. There are Lightnings running in excess of 600 hp on the factory cats, and non-Lightning F-150's & Expeditions well over 400 hp on the factory cats.
To each their own of course, this is just FYI stuff...................
Getting back to KnightS, if you would like to go over this in more detail, etc. please feel free to give us a call.
Sorry it's taken a few days to get you a response!
To answer your questions regarding when is "custom programming" required or when it is actually *beneficial*.............
Things like K&N air filters, airbox elimination kits, your velocity tube from WMS, and exhaust changes in the cat-back area do not require, nor can they benefit from, any custom programming.
The types of things that require cuasotm programmign in general are mostly the major mods, as you mentioend, superchargers, nitrous, ported heads, camnshaft changes, or if you change the MAF (mass airflow meter). Should you ever do anything like that in the future, your Superchip (assuming you install a Superchip) can always be updated.
Now one area where you may run into "trouble" is with aftermarket catalytic converters, as the majority of those so-called high-flo units cannot store oxygen to help burn added fuel during heavy throttle operation, and that can cause a check engine light to illuminate. The 2 downstream O2 sensors are there for one reason, and that is to monitor catalytic converter function. The vast majority of "high flo" cats cannot accumulate excess oxygen to store to be used to help burn excess fuel which is used during open-loop operation, when the A/F mixture is richer. They still clean the exhaust properly during closed-loop operation, just not during open-loop, where there are no emissions standards that have to be met, but the automakers are trying to address those areas anyway, as they should.
If that happens, we can correct for that in a number of these vehicles, that does require a custom program. However (and this is just for anyone that might read this post KnightS, this is not meant for you) we will *not* provide those services for those who are just stripping their catalytic converters off and polluting the air, and we're getting many requests for that. We will *not* assist anyone in any way with polluting the environment. So if you need those services, just be aware that we will provide them only for replacement catalytic converters, the aftermarket hi-flo units that in many cases cause a check engine light, even though they are functional and cleaning the exhaust.
Just as an aside for other readers, sometimes people think, and it's a common misconception, that because these newer vehicles have multiple catalytic converters that they are very restrictive. A seemingly logical assumption on the surface, to be sure, but that in fact is not the case. While the early catalytic converters used from 1975 thru the late 80's to very early 90's were indeed costing power due to restriction, as much as 5-7 lbs of backpressure at redline, that is no longer the case. Automakers are going to primary, secondary, and in some cases even tertiary (a third) catalytic converter. This is doen to not only clean up the exhaust better, but also to keep flow rates *up*, by not making just 1 cat do all the work.
Power-wise, the reality is that in thes F-150's, Expeditions, etc. until you are well above the 350+ hp level, you aren't losing real power to those cats, just a few horsepower (less than 5, usually 2 to maybe 3 hp) at very high rpm. In my own Lightning, which is sitting at a tad over 500 hp right now, we're using the factory cats, and will continue to. There are Lightnings running in excess of 600 hp on the factory cats, and non-Lightning F-150's & Expeditions well over 400 hp on the factory cats.
To each their own of course, this is just FYI stuff...................
Getting back to KnightS, if you would like to go over this in more detail, etc. please feel free to give us a call.
