Has anyone tried this before.

AFE SCORCHER MODULE 2011-2013 FORD F150 ECOBOOST 3.5L V6 77-43005 TWIN TURBO

 

I wanted to come back and post an update to my purchase. For starters I'll say this is my first experience with a tuner so I have nothing to compare it to. But here's my impression two weeks in.

I started by plugging into my laptop and getting the latest flash - there was an update available even though the unit was right out of the box. Once the update was done I plugged in and uploaded the 87 performance tune (since I had 3/4 of a tank with 87 in it). Upload was a breeze and was done in about 10 minutes. I took it for a spin and wasn't overly impressed with the shift points. I could feel some additional power but the shifting was off for sure.

Here's why:

I upgraded the stock 32" tires to 34" about a month ago. This put my speedometer "off" by about 5 mph. Before you tune you can edit the tire revolutions per mile. I used several online calculators which all gave me a result of 590-595 revs per mile. I started thinking "that can't take psi, temps, etc. into consideration". So I did the marker test, but I used some tape. Put tape at the bottom of the tire and line up another piece of tape on the pavement. Then roll the truck one time until the tape on the tire comes back to the bottom. Measure in inches and then there's a formula - Google it for more info.

Long story short my ACTUAL revs per mile were 610. So I retuned to 87 again setting to 610. Now we're talking! Power is great and shift points are awesome, smooth and precise. Side note - this also corrected my speedometer.

Now after about 3-4 days I was down to E on the fuel guage. I took my tuner to the gas station and filled up with 93 octane. Tuned to 93 (took 1-2 minutes this time) and rolled out. I didn't notice a drastic difference but could feel it a little. But I also knew that the 93 was mixed with a little 87 and the 87 was still in the engine. Second tank of 93 I could really start to see the difference between the two tunes. Truck feels so much better - more aggressive but with less effort, if that makes any sense.

Now - MPG...

With the stock tune and larger tires (also 3.73 gear ratio on a 4x4) I was averaging a blended 17.2 mpg. On my first couple of tanks of 93 I averaged 18.9. This is probably 60% interstate and 40% around town. I filled up with 93 this morning and on the interstate I was getting 21.3. Seems the 93 tune and fuel are both "settling in".

I'm ordering an exhaust system this week and I'll run that with more data monitoring.

Feel free to ask questions but keep in mind my knowledge on the subject is somewhat basic.

 

Nice work! My speedo was right on with the 18" wheels so I never messed with that. I didn't realize that it could affect performance of the tune. I will get an opportunity when I switch to my 17" winter wheels.

 

I saw someone post a review somewhere, probably on another F150 forum. The good news is that it doesn't reprogram your PCM so no footprints left behind. The bad news is that the performance is probably limited by that.

 

Where did you buy your tuner from?

 

Don't know if that was directed to the OP or anyone in general. Assuming the latter, I got mine from Franchi, here on this forum.
They even sell them on Amazon.

 

I ordered from Autoanything. If you chat online before you buy they'll normally offer a discount to you. I got it overnighted to my door for under $300.

 

This^^^

My friend at work bought a Livewire for his truck. Don't know why but he did. I am trying to explain to him the difference between a canned tune that came with it and a custom tune.


Told him about SSI and the great stuff he has. I guess I'll have to show him what a canned tune such that he has will suffer against a gustom tune such as my LMS 93v10 or a SSI 93 T4. Hopeful they will release the xv1 tune before then.

 

I installed the SCT on my 2012 Ecoboost. The biggest improvement that I have seen is in throttle response. The slight hesitation off of the line is gone. Does seem to have more power. Hard to tell without some diagnostics. I am only running the 87 tune. I have not seen an improvement in gas mileage. 3 tanks so far.

 

I'm interested in trying the 91 tune on mine. Just not sure because most stations around here have 87/89/93 choices.

And the mpg gains came when I quit testing that new throttle response.