caper656

2005 F150 5.4L Lariat (gasoline). 2WD, city driving. and also twice a month i take a 400mile trip with about 500lbs of motorcycle and gear.

(ive done the searches but i havent seen any post about a bone stock truck looking for GPM only not HP)

So i have a bone stock truck and im getting 13.8mpg in the city with 87.

I picked up a buddies Bama SCT X3 Tuner and when i installed it and loaded one of the base canned maps, i went down to 12.1mpg, and my shift points were harsh. Now i get that its a canned tune...BUT

I called Bama which doesnt do F150 work and they told me there werent any MPG gains with a gasoline tuner for this engine, the tuners are for performance.

so my question to you guys....i may put a K&N filter or something later on, but will a custom tune from an online company get me any better gas mileage than 13.8mpg that i was getting witout the tuner?

thanks!

bourgeois1269

I doubt it

kingrancht

The same thing happened to me with act tuners. I Decided to sell it and get a new one once I get MT tires. Mpg went down and shifts were really rough.

caper656

so what did you do? just go with no tuner at all? i dont mind paying an online company 50 bucks if its going to result in better GPM...but im getting some opposing feedback that on a gasoline engine, there isnt a tune that will help.

Now as i understand, when i Tow my 500-600lb load in the tailgate, a tune may help improve my GPM...agree?

redknight1

realistically aren't going to get any better than 15mpg on this truck. It's not designed for economy.

bourgeois1269

I can't agree on stuff idk because I have a tuner from 2010 but updated software in 2012. Mine is a "Power Programmer 111" but it's helped with my trucks performance since I've had it but I haven't minded the mpg. I live in the city and drive every day to job sites so unless I get an updated tuner I really wouldn't know my mpg. I do have 35/12.50/17 Toyo Mts, and a k&n CAI but like I said the performance is definately there with my programmer but the gas stays behind me.

caper656

OK thanks guys.ill wait for a few more replies, then ill toss the tuner on craigslist

bourgeois1269

If you like it bone stock then leave it bone stock but if you decide to do anything down the road like lift, bigger tires, CAI, etc then I would recommend a tuner.

bourgeois1269

I see a lot of ppl using the "edge evolution" tuner which comes with a dash mount and has many of very useful features. Just ask for anything if you decide to upgrade your truck and you will get good, helpful and honest answers/opinions on this forum.