Tuning questions

[RedlandRanger]

I always use 93 octane fuel, almost always from Marathon (I have the app to save me at least 5 cents per gallon). With that said, I also have the 5Star Tune. I ordered 5 different tunes:

87 Octane Daily / Tow
91 Octane Daily / Tow
93 Octane Daily / Tow
87 Performance Tune
93 Performance Tune

My daily driving tune is 91 Octane Daily / Tow. It is a way better tune than the factory tone, and I am averaging 94.3 (calculated) 94.7 (truck computer) mpg. My daily drive is 10 miles, almost all country roads with 1 stop light in between. Prior to the tune, the truck did not accelerate like it does now, and only calculated out 92.2 mpg. SO, after several years, the tune will pay for itself (kidding...it would be a lot of years)

I picked this tune to run just in case I go some place that doesn't have 93 octane fuel. If I ever want to take it to the track or out on some trails, I'll switch to 93 Performance a couple days in advance. I ordered the two 87 tunes to be ready for when we see 5 dollar a gallon prices (for 87 octane) in the future.

I'm guessing you must have meant 24.3 and 24.7MPG? If you really are getting 94.3 MPG with your Ranger I think a lot of people would like to know what you are doing!

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[Doc]

I always use 93 octane fuel, almost always from Marathon (I have the app to save me at least 5 cents per gallon). With that said, I also have the 5Star Tune. I ordered 5 different tunes:

87 Octane Daily / Tow
91 Octane Daily / Tow
93 Octane Daily / Tow
87 Performance Tune
93 Performance Tune

My daily driving tune is 91 Octane Daily / Tow. It is a way better tune than the factory tone, and I am averaging 94.3 (calculated) 94.7 (truck computer) mpg. My daily drive is 10 miles, almost all country roads with 1 stop light in between. Prior to the tune, the truck did not accelerate like it does now, and only calculated out 92.2 mpg. SO, after several years, the tune will pay for itself (kidding...it would be a lot of years)

I picked this tune to run just in case I go some place that doesn't have 93 octane fuel. If I ever want to take it to the track or out on some trails, I'll switch to 93 Performance a couple days in advance. I ordered the two 87 tunes to be ready for when we see 5 dollar a gallon prices (for 87 octane) in the future.

94.3 MPG ?

 

[Big Blue]

94.3 MPG ?

I Wish!

 

[VAMike]

94mpg, but also needs one plutonium pellet per trip

 

[sbreech]

Ha! Nope, not a typo. I forgot to mention that I have a damper installed. ?. Good catch guys!

 

[D Fresh]

General question as well.

All I see available for the Ranger are OTS tunes. Do any of the tuning modules available offer the ability for a custom tune that is not from Livernois or 5 star?

Like a cobb access port with a "protune." Or an ECUtec tune, or megasquirt?

I ask because in the past I've found custom tunes, dyno or road tuned, to make better performance gains safer.

 

[Frenchy]

General question as well.

All I see available for the Ranger are OTS tunes. Do any of the tuning modules available offer the ability for a custom tune that is not from Livernois or 5 star?

Like a cobb access port with a "protune." Or an ECUtec tune, or megasquirt?

I ask because in the past I've found custom tunes, dyno or road tuned, to make better performance gains safer.

I know there are other tunes out there like unleashed but be aware that if you compare Livernois to 5 Star you will have more reliability from Livernois. How can i say this? Quite simple actually. Here in Colorado there have been reports of people running the 5 Star tune and getting a check engine light and low boost code when going to the high elevation. Because of such they would have to call 5 Star and get a differnt tune for high elevation. Livernois on the otherhand has their stuff together where you tune it and leave it be. I know it sounds silly but it is the truth.

Now you still may question if Livernois is a good shot. Well I myself fun the Tow tune wich focuses more on efficiency with power on the low to mid range. The fuel tables are cleaned up very well and i have had the tune on my truck for close to 20,000 miles already. Now why doin run the tow tune over the performance tune you might ask? Well i do have a truck so it is bound to happen where i will be pulling a trailer or put a fairly heavy load in the bed of the truck. With that said I dont want to may out the power of the truck or things will go Kaboom and none of us want that. Livernois even says to not tow with a performance tune.

One other thing to help backup Livernois is they have years of experience with tuning, so the chance of something going wrong(as long as you are not being stupid) is very minimal.

@Livernois Motorsports might be able to throw some more information on this.

Hope this helps you out.

 

[D Fresh]

I know there are other tunes out there like unleashed but be aware that if you compare Livernois to 5 Star you will have more reliability from Livernois. How can i say this? Quite simple actually. Here in Colorado there have been reports of people running the 5 Star tune and getting a check engine light and low boost code when going to the high elevation. Because of such they would have to call 5 Star and get a differnt tune for high elevation. Livernois on the otherhand has their stuff together where you tune it and leave it be. I know it sounds silly but it is the truth.

Now you still may question if Livernois is a good shot. Well I myself fun the Tow tune wich focuses more on efficiency with power on the low to mid range. The fuel tables are cleaned up very well and i have had the tune on my truck for close to 20,000 miles already. Now why doin run the tow tune over the performance tune you might ask? Well i do have a truck so it is bound to happen where i will be pulling a trailer or put a fairly heavy load in the bed of the truck. With that said I dont want to may out the power of the truck or things will go Kaboom and none of us want that. Livernois even says to not tow with a performance tune.

One other thing to help backup Livernois is they have years of experience with tuning, so the chance of something going wrong(as long as you are not being stupid) is very minimal.

@Livernois Motorsports might be able to throw some more information on this.

Hope this helps you out.

Good comparison of the OTS (off the shelf) tunes. Thankyou.

But my question was more towards the availability of custom tuning options for our Rangers.

If I go with an off the shelf tune it will probably be the FP one for warranty concerns. But I'd prefer something with both OTS and custom tuning capabilities.

I'm in Colorado as well. We have a lot of tuners here that know these EB engines and can do great things with them. If COBB would add the Ranger to their accessport lineup that would be ideal as my preferred local tuner is COBB protune licensed. Has anybody reached out to COBB about Ranger Accessports?

The reason I'd prefer a custom tune is evident in the 5 Star altitude problems. They are located in SC, of course they didn't think of high altitude folks originally. And I'd bet their "high altitude tune" is much more than a WAG. Doubt they actually went somewhere with high elevation to dyno or road tune their map. Probably just threw some math at it.

Thanks again for the insight.

 

[Frenchy]

Good comparison of the OTS (off the shelf) tunes. Thankyou.

But my question was more towards the availability of custom tuning options for our Rangers.

If I go with an off the shelf tune it will probably be the FP one for warranty concerns. But I'd prefer something with both OTS and custom tuning capabilities.

I'm in Colorado as well. We have a lot of tuners here that know these EB engines and can do great things with them. If COBB would add the Ranger to their accessport lineup that would be ideal as my preferred local tuner is COBB protune licensed. Has anybody reached out to COBB about Ranger Accessports?

The reason I'd prefer a custom tune is evident in the 5 Star altitude problems. They are located in SC, of course they didn't think of high altitude folks originally. And I'd bet their "high altitude tune" is much more than a WAG. Doubt they actually went somewhere with high elevation to dyno or road tune their map. Probably just threw some math at it.

Thanks again for the insight.

I can't say for sure if anyone hass contacted COBB for the access port but to my understanding they already have tunes for other Ecoboost vehicles so it may work. I would contact your local tuner that you want to go with and go from there. Just be aware that even with a custom tune you may not want to tow with it unless they tune it for towing specifically. Switching between tunes is a pain as well because the transmission will go back to learn mode as if you bought the truck brand new off the lot.

 

[D Fresh]

I can't say for sure if anyone hass contacted COBB for the access port but to my understanding they already have tunes for other Ecoboost vehicles so it may work. I would contact your local tuner that you want to go with and go from there. Just be aware that even with a custom tune you may not want to tow with it unless they tune it for towing specifically. Switching between tunes is a pain as well because the transmission will go back to learn mode as if you bought the truck brand new off the lot.

Yep, after my last post I thought about it and fired off some emails to COBB and Harvey, we'll see what they think.

Accesports are nice, map switching is pretty simple. And they already over APs for 2.3L Foci, Mustangs, and FP ECUs. Hopefully they have one coming soon.

Any knowledge on towing with the Ford Performance tune?

 

[Frenchy]

Yep, after my last post I thought about it and fired off some emails to COBB and Harvey, we'll see what they think.

Accesports are nice, map switching is pretty simple. And they already over APs for 2.3L Foci, Mustangs, and FP ECUs. Hopefully they have one coming soon.

Any knowledge on towing with the Ford Performance tune?

Can't speak fornthe Ford Performance Tune really. You might beable to tow with it but it is hard to say since the website does not specify. I know that the Roush tune will allow you and the power is in the same area. Livernois does not have a dyno sheet for the tow tune and they specifically tild me that it is for efficiency so they did not post a dyno graph but i can say the power is great and i have not had any problems towing here in Colorado(that includes 3,000 lbs over Freemont Pass) and towing from Colorado to Arizona.

 

[Apples]

My take on fuel mileage.

I'm long since retired, but I suspect most Ranger drivers are working folk, doing their best to make a living. If that "living" requires the use of your Ranger (not just driving to and from one's employer), then the mileage you get depends greatly on what you're using your Ranger for. If you're towing a trailer full of lawn-care equipment or building materials, then obviously, your fuel mileage will be less than those who do drive (only) to and from their employer.

If you're like me, having fun with a friend out on the cattle ranch (his, not mine), shooting pest birds (pigeons, house sparrows, etc.) with airguns, then you're going to do a lot of idling. And, when you use the HVAC like I do, the idle engine shutdown doesn't happen. This results in low fuel mileage too. Top this off with a Ford Performance tune, a bit of "stop-light-derby", and again you're mileage won't be anything to write home about.

If you're really concerned about fuel mileage, you don't use your Ranger during your employment, and you're not camping on the weeks ends, then why the heck are you complaining about fuel mileage? If that is (was) the case, then why didn't you buy a Prius?

I'm a collector of old adages, which are often truer today, than yesteryear! The one that comes to mind is... "If you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen!"

BTW: Premium here in New Mexico, averages $2.76.9.

 

[Frenchy]

My take on fuel mileage.

I'm long since retired, but I suspect most Ranger drivers are working folk, doing their best to make a living. If that "living" requires the use of your Ranger (not just driving to and from one's employer), then the mileage you get depends greatly on what you're using your Ranger for. If you're towing a trailer full of lawn-care equipment or building materials, then obviously, your fuel mileage will be less than those who do drive (only) to and from their employer.

If you're like me, having fun with a friend out on the cattle ranch (his, not mine), shooting pest birds (pigeons, house sparrows, etc.) with airguns, then you're going to do a lot of idling. And, when you use the HVAC like I do, the idle engine shutdown doesn't happen. This results in low fuel mileage too. Top this off with a Ford Performance tune, a bit of "stop-light-derby", and again you're mileage won't be anything to write home about.

If you're really concerned about fuel mileage, you don't use your Ranger during your employment, and you're not camping on the weeks ends, then why the heck are you complaining about fuel mileage? If that is (was) the case, then why didn't you buy a Prius?

I'm a collector of old adages, which are often truer today, than yesteryear! The one that comes to mind is... "If you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen!"

BTW: Premium here in New Mexico, averages $2.76.9.

Lol well for one a Ranger is way cooler then a Prius. Also when it comes to mid size pickups the ranger is really at the top. I'm sure most pickup truck owners understand that fuel mileage is only going to be so good. That being said when there is a way to increase you fuel mileage then why not? Obviously driving habits make a difference but even when towing and going offroad the ranger still hits the top for gas engines.

 

[txquailguy]

Just move the shifter one more notch past drive.

You’re gonna laugh big blue, I never paid any attention to the markings behind the D. Being that I am of the older persuasion automatic transmissions in the past have had an L for lower gear and it’s funny I just looked right past that and assumed it was an L. Boy was I surprised when I made the shift to S, man she runs like a scalded dog in sport mode.
I’m fairly sharp but that one got right past me.

 

[Tfcurranjr]

Ford Performance tune “package”, including K&N hi flow air filter, currently on sale for $743.00. (Dealer or other SAE-certified tech install still required for 3yr/36K warranty): Anyone know what 5-Star or Livernois are going for?

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