I installed a Superchip last week, and I really like it. It does exactly what is is supposed to, BUT it does require premium fuel...

I don't understand why so many folks spend upwards of $20,000 to $30,000 or more for a great truck, spend an additional few hundred for a chip to increase performance, and then complain about the cost of premium fuel.....

My 2001 Supercrew was expensive, the chip was not cheap, but I wanted both and expect to pay the price, including the cost of premium fuel....

The actual fuel cost is minimal....

For example, let's assume a person drives 15,000 miles per year and gets 15 mpg (about average for the F150).

That would constitute 1,000 gallons of fuel during the year.

At about $.20 extra per gallon for premium, it amounts to $200 a year, or $16.00 per month, or $4.00 per week.....

I can sure live with that.....I will gladly spend the 4 bucks to get an increase in performance, shifting and MPG.....

Assuming a 1 mpg increase, it would constitute a pay back of @12.50 per year....big deal.....why are we pinching the pennies so tight and then complain about poor performance....I guess I just don't understand!!!!

 

I'm with you Davidzog.

You wanna play? You gotta pay!!

 

Performance isn't cheap. I would be willing to pay more for added performance.

I think a lot of the people who complain about the cost of using premium fuel don't really understand performance. I think it's the same in all fields. If you want to make something perform better it WILL cost. Plain and simple.

I hear a supercharger can make an engine more efficient......., depending on how it is driven. I think I will have to get me one of thoes new fangled supercharger do-hickeys.

I don't mind the slight increase in fuel cost!

Tom

 

Hi davidzog & everyone else,

Your point is right on the money, we and many others here have done the fuel cost analysis numerous times. What has been found is that the average increase in fuel costs from running the Superchip on premium gas all the time, compared to running 87 octane gas on the factory program, averages out to be about $100 per 10,000 miles, literally a drop in the bucket, a few bucks a week. That is not going to affect anyone's budget that can actually afford an F-150, I agree.

The basic problem, and I think it's just human nature, is that they don't have any other information, and so without doing any math or running the numbers, they just assume that it's going to cost them substantially more to use it, and that just isn't the case for the vast majority of drivers. That is where F-150 Online and it's members who have done their homework to determine what those costs actually are and who are willing to share that information comes into play. That helps others who are thinking about it make their decision from an informed standpoint. People love to be able to see real world experiences to get real data.

The bottom line is, a lot of that is just natual human nature and we have to expect that. It's our job to let them know of what we experience, so they can hopefully make their decision from a fully informed standpoint. The biggest help is people like you, who take the time to actually determine what those costs really are, and share that data with everyone else here.

And if all else fails, there's always the 2-program Flip Chip with the dual-octane setup!

 

A non-Frod example of the same thing---

A co-worker bought a new Mazda 626 (Ford product) with a V6....it is a super little car, and gets 32 mpg or better on the highway. It has great power and overall good performance, but it does REQUIRE PREMIUM FUEL>>>

He constantly complains that the 4 cylinder uses 87 octane and that he is getting ripped off. Of course, I contend that he would not have been happy with the 4's performance, and you have to pay for power....he ignores me and continues to complain...oh well

I like my F150 and I like my Superchip....and I will continue to pay for both....thanks!!!!

 

Hey Mike, The highest Octane you can find around my neck of the desert is 90. Is that suffecient for the chip?

 

Correction 91 octane.

 

Hi bmsgolf,

Yes, as long as it's a good quality 91 octane, that will be fine. We have a lot of customers in those areas out West, Arizona, Nevada, California, etc., where the premium fuels are 91 octane.

We recommend sticking with brands like Chevron, Texaco, and Amoco, in that order of preference generally speaking, in those specific areas, out West there. Most other places we like Texaco a bit better (even though Texaco & Chevron have merged), but out West it seems that Chevron is doing a little bit better job.

 

If you want to play with the big boys and real engines you are going to pay some money!!!!!!!!


Otherwise go by the Toyota Hybrid vehicle and suck my fumes!!!!


HEHEHEHEHEHEHEEHE

 

You have my friend ... the one thing that you have forgotten, is to have one the most knowledgable person on the board for "ALL" types of car or truck / engine combinations. Yes Mike that is you !!! During our first conversation, you kept things simple but very informative so I could make the best decision for "ME" !! Even not talking about Superchips, you are every knowleadgable about other stuff. Example: spark plug wires, spark plugs, caps, rotors, transmission stuff ... man, where do I stop ...

No Mike, I don't need nothing just making sure that the credit goes where needed !!!

Still lovin' the chip !!! Even though she is 5000 lbs, I can still get her to move.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean