Big MPG hit after MBRP exhaust install, looking at new tune

[tehschkott]

Solved: https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/thre...install-looking-at-new-tune.17016/post-347426

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I just installed a MBRP exhaust and my MPG dropped from 16.6 to 14.6 - which I have a problem with. I have the FPP tune and have had it for 12+ months or so and I like it a lot. I assume the exhaust is throwing things off and mucking with my MPG. I'm thinking about changing up the tune.

I'm angling towards

• Unleashed Tuning
• 5 Star tuning
• Livernois tuning

QUESTIONS
1. Do any of these tunes provided by the above vendors require keeping the tuner plugged in?
2. What is the most supported tuning appliance/programmer? I'm angling towards

• SCT/Bully Dog BDX
• SCT/ X4

I don't want to keep having to buy programmers between vendors and it looks like I don't have to if I pick the right programmer appliance.

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Other data

I'm not drag racing but I drive the piss out of my truck, on highway and offroad both. I put 29,000 miles on my truck in the first year of owning it and I expect to do the same next year.

I'm on 33in tires and have a small lightweight camper (think Go Fast Camper) which has added some weight and air drag. The 16.6mpg I was getting is WITH the camper on it (I dropped from 17.6 mpg putting it on).

I always run highest grade fuel available from the pump - usually between 91~93 octane.

I'm soliciting input on tunes, and programmers. Your input widely welcomed.

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Frenchy, your feelings about 5 Star have been noted. The rest of you shut up about his feelings. If you have some data to debate 5 Star, great. I don't care if "he always does this with X".

Thanks in advance.

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[Hounddog409]

I just installed a MBRP exhaust and my MPG dropped from 16.6 to 14.6 - which I have a problem with. I have the FPP tune and have had it for 12+ months or so and I like it a lot. I assume the exhaust is throwing things off and mucking with my MPG. I'm thinking about changing up the tune.

I'm angling towards

• Unleashed Tuning
• 5 Star tuning
• Livernois tuning

but I have very little experience with this. The FPP tune provided a notable performance improvement, most of which I attributed to a vastly improved shift schedule (it was night-and-day better).

1. Do any of these tunes provided by the above vendors require keeping the tuner plugged in? I don't want to keep it plugged in.
2. What is the most supported tuning appliance/programmer? I'm angling towards

• SCT/Bully Dog BDX
• SCT/ X4

I don't want to keep having to buy programmers between vendors and it looks like I don't have to if I pick the right programmer appliance.

--

Other data

I'm not drag racing, but I drive the piss out of my truck, on highway and offroad both.

I put 29,000 miles on my truck in the first year of owning it and I expect to do the same next year. Good power, good torque, good shift schedule, good MPG, doesn't blow my motor up, doesn't require me to change programming every little time I get suboptimal fuel.

I'm on 33in tires and now I have a small lightweight camper (think Go Fast Camper) which has added some weight and air drag. The 16.6mpg I was getting is WITH the camper on it (I dropped from 17.6 mpg putting it on).

I always run highest grade fuel available from the pump - usually between 91~93 octane.

I'm soliciting input on tunes, and programmers.
Frenchy, your feelings about 5 Star have been noted.
The rest of you shut up about his feelings. If you have some data to debate 5 Star, great. I don't care if "he always does this with X".

Thanks in advance.

Whenever you change intake or exhaust, your tune needs to be tweeked. As im sure you know, or at least found out.

I have the levernois tune. Very happy with it and their support.

I would call livernois and tell them what mods you have and see what they say.

My 2 cents.

Any tune you decide on will have to be customized for you. I know livernois will.

 

[landiscarrier]

I find it hard to believe the exhaust dropped your MPG’s. That being said….
I am an big Unleashed fan. Smooth power delivery. No hit in MPG’s and maybe a little improvement. I run a 93 octane performance tune.
I have also tried 5-Star and to me Unleashed just drove and shifted better. My 2 cents.

 

[AzScorpion]

I second calling Livernois and having them design a tune for you. What's nice with them is you get all 5 of their tunes and you're not locked into running on just premium fuel and you get a tow tune. Also their programer (Mycal) is just like the Ford programer so you're already familiar with it and no, it doesn't need to always be plugged in.

There's nothing wrong with Unleashed either, those who have it love it too. I just liked getting all 5 tunes with Livernois to play around with to see which one fits my driving.

 

[AdamHarris]

Yep must be the exhaust. couldn't possibly have anything to do with the tune, the 33s, the off-road driving, the camper, or the lead foot..

I'd say you are probably doing as good as you can do. Your asking alot of the truck to return you 17+ mpg.

 

[21rangerCactus]

Exhaust would not cause you to have a drop in mpg. I would either give it some time to sort it's self out...maybe bad fuel or take a look under there to see if something went wrong with the install

Not blaming you but when I got exhaust on my Firebird... I was on it much more so I could hear it.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Won't you have to get the FPP tune removed before you add a different tune?

I would think that dropping a Livernois or other on top of an existing FPP would be like a too many cooks in the kitchen scenario, unless the tunes are overwriting the exact same fields with the new data.

As far as the MPG hit, how far have you driven it since the install?

You might need to let it go though a couple tanks of fuel to adjust to the new airflow parameters.

 

[Dgc333]

FWIW, I have the FP tune and I stalled the MBRP exhaust. Kind of early to tell since it has been only one tank of gas but my mileage went up by about .5 mpg. In my 35+ years of driving turbo vehicles adding an exhaust has either had no impact or improved the mileage.

I would think your decrease in mileage is due to more aggressive driving to hear the exhaust note.

 

[sal33n]

A more free flowing cat-back exhaust will not decrease your gas mileage.

 

[Blmpkn]

Exhausts cause lower MPGs because we're all simpletons who want to hear moar noize.

Moar noize only comes from more throttle input.

 

[Dgc333]

Won't you have to get the FPP tune removed before you add a different tune?

I would think that dropping a Livernois or other on top of an existing FPP would be like a too many cooks in the kitchen scenario, unless the tunes are overwriting the exact same fields with the new data.

As far as the MPG hit, how far have you driven it since the install?

You might need to let it go though a couple tanks of fuel to adjust to the new airflow parameters.

I have been tuning vehicles with flash memory for over 20 years. It is always best to restore it to stock before putting a tune from another tuner on the vehicle.

Over on the Ecoboost Mustang forum someone tried to put a Cobb tune on his Mustang that had the FP tune. The Cobb tuner treated the FP tune as stock and backed it up but the car would not run right and he had CEL codes. For what ever reason he didn't have the stock tune so instead of having the dealer flash it back to stock he stayed with the FP tune.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I've run the 5* 93 performance tune for about 11K miles and it's been flawless. Gas mileage when running in Tow mode is very respectable with an average 22-25 MPG per tank with a 60/40 (hwy/city). This all of course if depending on how much I dip into the turbo.

I agree with others in here about contacting your current tuner for an update to see if it will help sort things out. You should be getting better mileage than that.

 

[LuckyMonkey7]

Yep must be the exhaust. couldn't possibly have anything to do with the tune, the 33s, the off-road driving, the camper, or the lead foot..

I'd say you are probably doing as good as you can do. Your asking alot of the truck to return you 17+ mpg.

This.
aftermarket exhaust is better flowing, and lighter weight, both are unlikely to cause worse gas mileage

 

[Mustang2Ranger]

I would think your decrease in mileage is due to more aggressive driving to hear the exhaust note.

I am thinking the same


Mine is fairly modified, I drive pretty spirited, and return the same 14.5mpg

The only time I see better is on a long trip with cruise control 20-22mpg

Towing my pop up, around 18mpg

Best I ever got was when the truck was brand new, no mods and went on a trip from CA to SD to see Rushmore, 25.5mpg. Man I wish I could see those numbers again

 

[OCL]

I agree with the others. A cat back exhaust should have INCREASED your mpg with or without a tune. In addition to extracting a bit more power out of your tuned motor.

Something else caused such a drastic drop in efficiency.

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