Is anyone from Ca running a Superchip in their 4.9?I saw an old post from M.Troyer saying that with reformulated(mtbe) gas that you could actually get 8% to 10% worse mileage when using superchip.SAY IT ISN'T SO!!Everybody raves about how well it works, but with premium gas at about $.20 more per gal.,I can't afford to get LESS mpgs

 

I think you may have misunderstood. I didn't read Mike's comments, but my guess is he meant that due to the lower energy content in MTBE laden fuel, some vechicles get 8% or so worse mileage in CA than the same vehicle would get in another state with non-MTBE. This mileage penatly of MTBE exists regardless if you have a chip.

In CA, both the regular and premium have MTBE. If you add the chip, it is very unlikely your mileage will go down, unless you are really hot-rodding it to enjoy the extra power.

I have a Superchip in my 4.2 and get about 1 mpg better than I did without it - it doesn't pay for itself, but the performance and shifting improvements make it worth it.

------------------
1999 XLT S/C, 4.2 V-6, auto, 3.55 rear, dark torreador red/harvest gold, bed liner, Sony 10 disc CD, Edelbrock IAS, K&N filter, Superchip



[This message has been edited by dirt bike dave (edited 05-04-2000).]

 

DOH!!!
Thanks Dave,YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!
Mike did reply to this question @ my email address
"If you're dealing with reformulated gasoline, it affects every grade, not
just premium, so you're already seeing an MPG loss, that doesn't start when
you change to premium gasoline. The Superchip can only help mileage, it
cannot make your mileage worse, unless you simply drive the vehicle harder
& faster, which would hurt mileage with or without the Superchip."
Thanks Mike, for your Quick Response,I will let you know.

 

Once the superchip is installed......do I have to let the mechanic know there is a superchip in the truck for maintanaince like tune ups and such?

 

Hi Guys,

OK, good to see that this question of mileage changes has been cleared up, thanks dirt bike dave!

And just in case anyone is wondering, the Superchip is also C.A.R.B.- certified, so it's legal to use it on pollution-controlled vehicles on the streets in California as well as all other states.

"SARMAN" asked a good question, and the answer is, make sure to tell your technician that the Superchip is present. If they need to read any codes that may be present during diagnostics, the Superchip being installed will not interefere with that. However, due to Ford's design of the external data path that the Superchip uses, when you attach The Superchip to the connector on the rear of the computer, engaging that circuit tells the computer to turn off it's internal EPROM chip, and to seek it's instructions externally. This is perfectly normal, but if the vehicle is connected to Ford's SBDS (service bay diagnostic system) with the Superchip installed, the technician will get a false error code, telling them that the computer's internal EPROM chip has failed! It's *supposed* to do that, remember. As soon as you pull the chip off, once again that circuit acts like an on/off switch, and turns back on the internal EPROM chip. So for this reason, you either want to make sure and tell your technican about this, or just pull the chip off prior to service if diagnostics are needed, whichever you prefer.

Please feel free to give us a call if you'd like more detailed info.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System



[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 05-26-2000).]