programmers
#2
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
I got an SCT X4 tuner from forum vendor Stage 3 Motorsports. It came with 5 custom tunes from 5-star Tuning.
I have found the performance/tow tunes to be great when towing. I have economy and perf/tow tunes for a couple for different octanes, and I leave one of those perf/tow tunes in for daily 'round town driving as well as when I tow my 6500 lb car hauler trailer.
I've got a 2013 with a lot of factory warranty miles remaining, so I really liked the Stage 3 option of getting their powertrain warranty - you can get their warranty so you have peace-of-mind about warranty being denied by Ford due to a tune on the truck.
HOWEVER....The manual says "This product is not legal for sale or use in California on pollution controlled motor vehicles".
I suspect most all the tuners will tell you the same thing.
I don't know whether that means that they won't send one to a California address or not.
If I moved to California (although that ain't EVER gonna happen!!!!) I know I'd keep my tune and just return the truck to the stock tune any time I had to go get an emissions check. Then I'd put my custom tune back on the truck immediately afterwards!!
Any time you take the truck in for service at the dealer you can zap your stock tune back into the truck so you don't get any grief from the dealership about having a tune on the truck.
Dayum, I am really glad we don't have to deal with that emissions check crap here in Florida!!!
.
I have found the performance/tow tunes to be great when towing. I have economy and perf/tow tunes for a couple for different octanes, and I leave one of those perf/tow tunes in for daily 'round town driving as well as when I tow my 6500 lb car hauler trailer.
I've got a 2013 with a lot of factory warranty miles remaining, so I really liked the Stage 3 option of getting their powertrain warranty - you can get their warranty so you have peace-of-mind about warranty being denied by Ford due to a tune on the truck.
HOWEVER....The manual says "This product is not legal for sale or use in California on pollution controlled motor vehicles".
I suspect most all the tuners will tell you the same thing.
I don't know whether that means that they won't send one to a California address or not.
If I moved to California (although that ain't EVER gonna happen!!!!) I know I'd keep my tune and just return the truck to the stock tune any time I had to go get an emissions check. Then I'd put my custom tune back on the truck immediately afterwards!!
Any time you take the truck in for service at the dealer you can zap your stock tune back into the truck so you don't get any grief from the dealership about having a tune on the truck.
Dayum, I am really glad we don't have to deal with that emissions check crap here in Florida!!!
.
#3
Yeah it pretty much sucks ***** that all the good ones are not Cali legal. But for yours how was the power gain. Is it as much as they claim? I've tried ordering from stage 3 but I just get an email saying they can't ship it. I can just take a trip to Vegas and buy one tho.
#4
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
I don't know how the power is in the truck from the tune - I haul my track car to track events in an enclosed trailer, and when I want power I roll my car out of the trailer and turn its 638 hp loose!!
But, my seat-of-the-pants dyno tells me the truck does a lot better than stock with my custom tunes, and my fuel economy is slightly better.
The Stage 3 website says:
2011-2013 F-150 3.5L EB
50 RWHP
108 lb-ft (Custom Tuning Available)
With a 5* performance/tow custom tune, the power comes on a lot better when starting from a stop, especially when towing, and the shifts are a lot better.
I haven't done any data-logging with my tuner, but that feature is available, and their LiveLink software is great!! Here's a link to a thread about data-logging with the tuner:
https://www.f150forum.com/f70/how-sc...atalog-220518/
Overall I like the custom tunes and my SCT X4 very much.
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But, my seat-of-the-pants dyno tells me the truck does a lot better than stock with my custom tunes, and my fuel economy is slightly better.
The Stage 3 website says:
2011-2013 F-150 3.5L EB
50 RWHP
108 lb-ft (Custom Tuning Available)
With a 5* performance/tow custom tune, the power comes on a lot better when starting from a stop, especially when towing, and the shifts are a lot better.
I haven't done any data-logging with my tuner, but that feature is available, and their LiveLink software is great!! Here's a link to a thread about data-logging with the tuner:
https://www.f150forum.com/f70/how-sc...atalog-220518/
Overall I like the custom tunes and my SCT X4 very much.
.
#5
Member
#7
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Not in my truck, but I just drive it very conservatively. My ***-hauling is done on a nice roadcourse in my track car, like the Rolex 24 course here at Daytona. I'll be towing up to Bowling Green, KY to the new track at the Nat'l Corvette Museum for several days of breaking in the new track over next weekend.
The truck feels strong, but like I say, it's just not the vehicle I race around the streets in, so haven't felt any real difference except for starting from a stop and better feeling shifts.
I think Rnlcomp runs a 93 octane performance tune in his 5.0L and really likes the added performance that custom tune gives him.
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#9
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#10
Mark
iTrader: (1)
EDge is CARB compliant