best way to gain Horsepower
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
HI JDm,
Yes, it is true that any performance chip is going to require the use of premium gas, that is how most of the raw power gain is made. To get the rated power gains from the Superchip, this requries the use of 92 octane at sea level. Using 89 octane will get less power gain.
One of the by-products of this tuning is better gas mileage when you're not using heavy throttle. If you keep a close eye and accurately track your gas milege, most people see about 1.5 - 2.0 more mpg with the Superchip. Now if you drive like Richard Petty, obviously you're never going to get good gas mileage, of course.
My point is that your actual gasoline costs are not going to go up that much. You may spend $2-$4 more per week for gas, unless you drive a *lot* of miles, and drive that vehicle hard.
Now, can the Superchip actually *pay* for the entire price difference between regular and premium? That will depend on the actual price delta between regular and premium in your area, but in most cases, it can't make up for all if it. Best case, the Superchip can make up for somewhere around 12-15 cents more per gallon of gas.
What we have to remember here is that this is a device that increases performance more than any other easy cheap bolt-on, at a very low price. If you have to spend $150 a year more for gasoline as a result of driving it hard with the Superchip, that is still a very small price to pay.
To get an accurate feel for what the real operating expenses of the Superchip are, you have to factor in gas mileage. Just looking at the price difference between regular and premium and saying "no way" doesn't give an accurate reflection of what the *real* costs are, and you'll only know that after having it in for some time, and tracking your mileage to see just what the financial impact really is. Down in the Computer Chips section, there are many posts from V-8 F-150 owners who are enjoying better gas mileage as a result, and the same thing holds true for the V-6's, of course this always depends on how you drive.
You may feel that the Superchip just is not for you, and if so, that's fine we respect your decision. We simply want you to be able to make that decision from a truly informed standpoint.
If you ask most people using the Superchip if they would ever take it out to save money on gas, most of them will tell you "no way".
After feeling what the Superchip will do for that vehicle, you'll probably feel the same way, but you'll never know until you try it.
If you'd like to have more detailed ihnfo, you can always give us a call, we won't put any pressure or sales pitch on you, don't worry.
------------------
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 05-19-2000).]
Yes, it is true that any performance chip is going to require the use of premium gas, that is how most of the raw power gain is made. To get the rated power gains from the Superchip, this requries the use of 92 octane at sea level. Using 89 octane will get less power gain.
One of the by-products of this tuning is better gas mileage when you're not using heavy throttle. If you keep a close eye and accurately track your gas milege, most people see about 1.5 - 2.0 more mpg with the Superchip. Now if you drive like Richard Petty, obviously you're never going to get good gas mileage, of course.
My point is that your actual gasoline costs are not going to go up that much. You may spend $2-$4 more per week for gas, unless you drive a *lot* of miles, and drive that vehicle hard.
Now, can the Superchip actually *pay* for the entire price difference between regular and premium? That will depend on the actual price delta between regular and premium in your area, but in most cases, it can't make up for all if it. Best case, the Superchip can make up for somewhere around 12-15 cents more per gallon of gas.
What we have to remember here is that this is a device that increases performance more than any other easy cheap bolt-on, at a very low price. If you have to spend $150 a year more for gasoline as a result of driving it hard with the Superchip, that is still a very small price to pay.
To get an accurate feel for what the real operating expenses of the Superchip are, you have to factor in gas mileage. Just looking at the price difference between regular and premium and saying "no way" doesn't give an accurate reflection of what the *real* costs are, and you'll only know that after having it in for some time, and tracking your mileage to see just what the financial impact really is. Down in the Computer Chips section, there are many posts from V-8 F-150 owners who are enjoying better gas mileage as a result, and the same thing holds true for the V-6's, of course this always depends on how you drive.
You may feel that the Superchip just is not for you, and if so, that's fine we respect your decision. We simply want you to be able to make that decision from a truly informed standpoint.
If you ask most people using the Superchip if they would ever take it out to save money on gas, most of them will tell you "no way".
After feeling what the Superchip will do for that vehicle, you'll probably feel the same way, but you'll never know until you try it.
If you'd like to have more detailed ihnfo, you can always give us a call, we won't put any pressure or sales pitch on you, don't worry.
------------------
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 05-19-2000).]
Banned For Trolling
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati OH 45211
Superchip = waste of money
Airaid = waste of money
Regular K&N filter = good
Electric fan = waste of money
Plug wires = waste of money
Platinum spark plugs = waste of money
You guys really need to dig deeper and forget
these gimmick bolt ons and go for the real
stuff. You guys have great heads and intakes
and more displacement than all the regular
3.8's. If I had an F150 4.2 I would remove
the heads, get them conservatively ported
with a 3-angle valve job and install them
with ARP head studs. It'll help your engines
breathing and make it alot tougher. I'd also
do something with the exhaust. 3.8L headers
both shorty and long tubes exist and I'd
guess it would work on the 4.2L. At worst
you guys have to wait for the 99 mustang
header from mac to come out. I'd also swap
cams, the 3.8 cams suck horribly and yes
Tom Morana from Morana racing sells roller
cams that I know would work on your trucks.
Head porting, a better cam, and long tubes
is probably worth 50HP and if you do the
work yourself cost just a little more than
the gimmick mods in this thread that might
net 10HP. And no for the cam swap you don't
need to pull the engine.
Gaston www.v6power.com
Airaid = waste of money
Regular K&N filter = good
Electric fan = waste of money
Plug wires = waste of money
Platinum spark plugs = waste of money
You guys really need to dig deeper and forget
these gimmick bolt ons and go for the real
stuff. You guys have great heads and intakes
and more displacement than all the regular
3.8's. If I had an F150 4.2 I would remove
the heads, get them conservatively ported
with a 3-angle valve job and install them
with ARP head studs. It'll help your engines
breathing and make it alot tougher. I'd also
do something with the exhaust. 3.8L headers
both shorty and long tubes exist and I'd
guess it would work on the 4.2L. At worst
you guys have to wait for the 99 mustang
header from mac to come out. I'd also swap
cams, the 3.8 cams suck horribly and yes
Tom Morana from Morana racing sells roller
cams that I know would work on your trucks.
Head porting, a better cam, and long tubes
is probably worth 50HP and if you do the
work yourself cost just a little more than
the gimmick mods in this thread that might
net 10HP. And no for the cam swap you don't
need to pull the engine.
Gaston www.v6power.com