If i do install this superchio in my 2001 F150 Supercab 4X4 ,, will have to change from regular unleaded gas to premium gas?

 

Yes, unless you install a "flip chip," which you set regular or premium gas.

 

Thanks for the tip

 

Anybody here with the flip chip, can you describe what, if any, performance improvements you have experienced while using the chip in 87-octane mode? I understand I will have to run 93-octane to get the most out of the chip, but is there anything there if I want to run "regular"? Or am I wasting my money if I don't put "premium" in?

 

Hi jstrauss,

Welcome to F-150 Online!

In our dual-octane Flip Chip, on the 87 octane program the raw power gain is small, about 5 horsepower or so, but you do still get all the other benefits, such as improved shifting in the automatics, removal of variuous delays & retards, etc. The vehicle will still accelerate a bit quicker than stock, and the powertrain will be more responsive even on the 87 octane program. Then when you want maximum power, fill it up with premium & flip the switch.

Once most people feel the power on Side 2 on premium gas, they don't tend to use the 87 octane program very much, but it's tjhere if you ever need por want it.

If you'd like to go over this in more detail, feel free to give us a call.

Merry Christmas!

 

Mike,

I read an article on F-150 World on "How to Install" a Superchip. In the article the author Chris Duke, stated:

"Mike Troyer gave me some other tips which I'd like to pass along. Thanks Mike!

Superchip Tech Support: 888-227-2447 (888-CAR-CHIP) 8:30-5PM EST
Good gas to use is: Texaco, Mobil, Shell
Bad gas (avoid at all costs) is: Exxon, Chevron, and BP (the worst) "

Do you know of any supporting documents / articles that substantiate the claim that Exxon, Chevron, and BP are "Bad gas"? Or, is this just a personal opinion? I've used Cheveron exclusively and have had no performance problems whatsoever.

I have'nt checked your web site but I also would like to know if there is a Superchip for my 4.2L.

Thanks - F150Forever

 

Just a note on BP. Our local Amoco station was converted to a BP, but they have signs advertising "Amoco fuels". Apparently something is changing at the higher level, but the fuel will remain the same.

I'm not sure if this will apply to all stations that are converted over or not.

 

Hi

I agree with Mike T. re: flip chip. Thats just about says what ive experienced with schip.

Including running side 2..higher octane...Yeah, im running it full time right now since price has lowered..

Ive stayed mainly with Chevron...with good results...i try to stay consistent...Chevron seems to be alittle easier to find compared to other brands ive tried....( traveling in Western States)

The only thing i can say about "Exxon" it didnt seem to deliver the mpg...tried some before i installed chip...based on that and whats been posted about it....i dont use it....

Also Arco gas has been ok....Arco. is in most western states, dont know if its available in mid-west/eastern, etc.

You have to experiment with different brands....I get to start all over again cause they dropped 92oct. We only get 91oct.

That means Chevron..Arco...even Costco (no name) etc. I mention Costco cause wifes car gets consistent 20mpg. around town. Naturally i want get that....but have to try it anyway. Maybe only 1/2 tank to start with. Have seen Costco. gas in other western states ...so...cant rule them out right away. They are cheaper But?

Again..where ever you live..gotta experiment.. Of course..dont forget regular maintenance/parts etc. to keep engine running good.

Happy New Year to all..Be SAFE....Good luck! OT

 

Hi F150Forever,

Great, I'm delighted you're getting what you feel to be good results on Chevron, in fact it's actually one of the fuels we recommend in certain parts of the country.

Just to cover some of the basics............................

1.) No, I am not here to provide "documentation" about oil companies, that isnt what we get paid to do. Instead, I suggest you consider what we do in this regard just for what it is, a very helpful favor done by us at no small expense to try to help everyone here on F-150 Online get the best fuel they can for the money, and leave it at that.

What you'll want to remember in this regard is that what we have done is to offer the benefit of the vast experience & data we have accumulated across the country as to the results of the many changes in fuel formulation that have been foisted upon us by the politicians & the oil companies.

2.) I have been misquoted there on F-150 World in Chris Duke's article, in addition to the fact that what is in that article is *years* old as well. Few things stay static, *especially* fuel formulations.

Chevron, for example, while I don't care for it here in the East due to inconsistent energy content, has been doing an *excellent* job out in the Western coastal states, where it's doing better than even my traditional favorite Texaco in a number of locations, thanks to a higher energy content. In other words, this can and does vary, and sometimes by quite a bit, from one geographic region to the next. A fuel that works well in one area can be *terrible* iin the next. Shell, for example, has worked well in much of the East, but is doing a terrible job compared to other fuels out West. Which is just one of many reasons why it's all the more important to actually know what fuels are of better quality in what area, making our data-based advice that much more relevant & important if you have any concern about what you feed your vehicle or how much you're really paying to take you the distances you must drive.

Texaco & Chevron have merged, as has Exxon & Mobil, and several other major oil companies over the past few years, and we're gong to continue to see shaking out in the various oil companies. It hasn't made Exxon any better, or Mobil any worse, nor has it made Chevron any better or Texaco any worse, so far, but who knows if that will continue to be the case?. Exxon is still a terrible fuel in every area of America; though relatively clean burning it's very low in energy content, so much so that Harley-Davidson started advising their owners 3 years ago not to use it. Exxon is "reformulated" year-round across the entire country here in America (I grew up using Esso in Europe in the 50's & 60's, where it was dirty like almost all fuels of the time but had good energy content), which lowered it's energy content to the point that even some of the off-brands & no-names are better quality in terms of raw energy content (BTU's per gallon of fuel) compared to Exxon.

While you can generally count on some basics, such as Texaco & Amoco being consistently excellent fuels in the vast majority of areas across this country, and Exxon & no-name off-brands will generally be lower quality fuels that will almost always make less power & deliver less mileage, there will always be some variances from one region to the next. It's all part of the Fed's air quality monitoring campaign that is behind the vast majority of this "reformulation" craze of the past few years. That's what started it all, the fed's air quality monitoring campaign.

It's far more complicated than I have the time to get into here typing it all out in detail; suffice it to say that we accumulate a lot of data and share it in an effort to help others.

If you would care to contribute your data, as many other people have, we'd love to have it, we're always looking for solid data on fuel brands & results in all areas of the country. The nature of the beast makes this a continual, ongoing effort if it's to be of any real value, and we're happy to have any data you feel is solid & meaningful, if you'd care to put it in a presentable format and send it to us. You can send that to us by email if you'd care to share your data, our email address is just below.

Meanwhile, continued good luck with the Chevron you've been using, & thanks for your post!

 

Mike,
Any comment on the Shell gas being sold by the Go-Mart chains here in West Virginia? They just switched over to Shell.

Thanks,
Bill

 

Mike,

Thanks for the great reply. I just thought that the article on F150 World sounded a little too simplistic. I don't have any other data than my mileage over the past year (I use Ownersite.com).
Hope to able to afford a chip for my little V-6 soon.

 

Hi Bill,

Sorry, no, I don't have any specific data on that particular source, but I can tell you that in general, here in the East and in Virginia, Shell is doing a decent job. I still prefer Texaco, Amoco & Citgo here in the Mid-Atlantic and much of the East to Shell, but Shell is "ok", so to speak.

Me personally, I won't buy gas from some place like a "Go-Mart", etc. it has to be a branded station for me to use it, unless I just have no choice, which happens rarely. You can get lucky at some convenience stores, but it just doens't happen often enough for me to use them, you usually just don't know what you're really getting.

If you feel confident enough in that source to give it a try, please do let us know how you like it, mileage results/comparisons especially if you do that, we'd love to have the data to be able to help others.

Good luck!

 

Hi F150Forvever,

You're very welcome, anytime!