FPT - FBO, worth it?

[Th0garr]

TLDR: FBO worth it with Ford Performance Tuner ?

Will the Ford Performance Tuner take into account for mods, Intake, intercooler, piping, DP, exhaust, or will it be for waste?

I have a particular reason to want to use the FPT over 5star or OZ. The dealer group, Gerald Auto, offers a complimentary lifetime warranty on the powertrain so as long as you follow all of the scheduled maintenance at a ASE Certified Mechanic and keep receipts of it all. I had a 2019 Ranger XL 2WD, that I tuned with 5star in 2020 from a different dealer that didn't offer this kind of thing, it got totaled out, and I recently picked up another 2023 Ranger XLT 4WD.

After speaking with the service manager about having the tsb done for the transmission on the 23', I brought up tuning, and was told that so as long as the tuner being used is the FPT, the lifetime warranty for the powertrain will stay intact. With that, will mods be worthwhile, or will they be for waste as far as creating more power, etc etc?

I could see myself keeping this past 100k, typically do 30-35k/year, but me being a driver, I want more go fast, and the idea of keeping the powertrain warrantied is very alluring.

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[Wytchdctr]

If I could have kept a warranty beyond 36k miles with the FPT; I would have gone with that. I am a bit skeptical of any lifetime warranty - but that is another topic on its own.

Also; it will have no idea that you added a bunch of stuff since the FPT is based on stock parts (and probably just swaps fuel/spark/etc maps with other stock ecoboosts that make more power than the Ranger - and cleans up the shifting) but I am pretty sure those extra bits would throw a "lifetime" warranty out the window anyway.

 

[mr.wonderful]

Ok, so, since you did mention you are a tuner, I believe you have some knowledge about turbo lag and what can cause it to spike, and the concept of boost creep as well.

To break it down to more scientific terms, at least from a IC/Charge Pipe perspective, volumetric efficiency is going to be your enemy. Turbo lag is going to be induced since the FP tune doesn't account for an increase in the overall volume the uprated IC and Charge Pipes will hold. Since they hold more, and the tune accounts for a smaller volume, wastegate profiles won't be altered and it will take longer for the larger/more spacious area to fill. This is a drivability concern.

Additionally, the FP tune doesn't account for a downpipe either. Catback is fine, since the FP package has the 3" Borla catback, but most of your backpressure is going to be at the Cat in the downpipe. I can't say for certain HOW much overboost protection the Rangers have, since they do have electronic wastegates compared to vacuum operated, but without updating wastegate duty cycle values to account for the lack of back pressure introduced by a full 3" system and high flow cats, overboosting/boost creep is a possibility.

Honestly, with the FP tune, an intake and catback is possible. The Ford Performance package accounts for this, either with a high flow panel filter, or the Roush CAI, and the Borla Catback. Anything outside of an intake or catback, and you are going to quickly reach suboptimal conditions because the FP tune lacks the adjustments/tunability to account for the extra de-restriction.

If you're looking to extract a little more power and not void the warranty, then the Ford Performance packages with an intake and catback are your best bet. Anything over and above, like what I want to do, going custom is the best bet. Personally, Torie at Unleashed tuned my truck, and its fantastic, and puts down more power than the FP tune since the FP tune is relatively conservative.

I hate being the bearer of bad news here, I really do, since I love this platform so much, but the question is common, and with good reason since the oldest of these trucks in the U.S is 4-5 years old, but honestly, even with Magnusson Moss offering some protections as I mentioned in another thread, if you really are considering throwing more power at the truck (and it will take it reliably with the stock turbo), then gambling away warranty repairs is on the table.

Also, for what its worth, you're stuck in the same boat I am. There are currently no downpipes on the market that account for the changes introduced in 2022. Any downpipe you find, until SPD or CVFab introduces something otherwise, will be for a 19 - 21.

 

[Th0garr]

Also, for what its worth, you're stuck in the same boat I am. There are currently no downpipes on the market that account for the changes introduced in 2022. Any downpipe you find, until SPD or CVFab introduces something otherwise, will be for a 19 - 21.

I'm glad you made mention of this, I was not aware a different style downpipe was made for 22-23, Thank you.

 

[D Fresh]

Not worth it on Ford tune. No way to account for the mods.

 

[Jason B]

Ok, so, since you did mention you are a tuner, I believe you have some knowledge about turbo lag and what can cause it to spike, and the concept of boost creep as well.

To break it down to more scientific terms, at least from a IC/Charge Pipe perspective, volumetric efficiency is going to be your enemy. Turbo lag is going to be induced since the FP tune doesn't account for an increase in the overall volume the uprated IC and Charge Pipes will hold. Since they hold more, and the tune accounts for a smaller volume, wastegate profiles won't be altered and it will take longer for the larger/more spacious area to fill. This is a drivability concern.

Additionally, the FP tune doesn't account for a downpipe either. Catback is fine, since the FP package has the 3" Borla catback, but most of your backpressure is going to be at the Cat in the downpipe. I can't say for certain HOW much overboost protection the Rangers have, since they do have electronic wastegates compared to vacuum operated, but without updating wastegate duty cycle values to account for the lack of back pressure introduced by a full 3" system and high flow cats, overboosting/boost creep is a possibility.

Honestly, with the FP tune, an intake and catback is possible. The Ford Performance package accounts for this, either with a high flow panel filter, or the Roush CAI, and the Borla Catback. Anything outside of an intake or catback, and you are going to quickly reach suboptimal conditions because the FP tune lacks the adjustments/tunability to account for the extra de-restriction.

If you're looking to extract a little more power and not void the warranty, then the Ford Performance packages with an intake and catback are your best bet. Anything over and above, like what I want to do, going custom is the best bet. Personally, Torie at Unleashed tuned my truck, and its fantastic, and puts down more power than the FP tune since the FP tune is relatively conservative.

I hate being the bearer of bad news here, I really do, since I love this platform so much, but the question is common, and with good reason since the oldest of these trucks in the U.S is 4-5 years old, but honestly, even with Magnusson Moss offering some protections as I mentioned in another thread, if you really are considering throwing more power at the truck (and it will take it reliably with the stock turbo), then gambling away warranty repairs is on the table.

Also, for what its worth, you're stuck in the same boat I am. There are currently no downpipes on the market that account for the changes introduced in 2022. Any downpipe you find, until SPD or CVFab introduces something otherwise, will be for a 19 - 21.

Lots of great info there. You speak of FPT. Does any other tune take into account mods stated?
Not that I want a tune, just curious.

 

[mr.wonderful]

Lots of great info there. You speak of FPT. Does any other tune take into account mods stated?
Not that I want a tune, just curious.

If you really want to take it further than an intake and catback, I would avoid:

• Ford Performance
• Livernois

Since they are all canned and don't account for increases in overall manifold volume to pressurize, or de-restrictions in the exhaust that potentially lead to boost creep/overboost conditions

Custom tuning, which admittedly is a more involved process and may require some back and forth depending on how much the tuner has worked the 2.3EB/Ranger platform, the following are who I am aware of:

• Unleashed Tuning
  • I am currently tuned by Unleashed, and my first file was solid out of the box with limited mods. I will need a re-tune if I push anything further though
  • @AzScorpion, our wonderful leader, I believe is going to go through Torie/Unleashed with his new Tremor. He is also going to get the Unleashed Tuning/TorqueRules transmission map (included with the tune) which I haven't tested but is supposedly amazing
  • Most work from Torie is done via SCT, either an X4 or BDX
• 5 Star Tuning
  • Personally haven't worked with them, but their re-tune policy of free adjustments if you buy the parts through them (parts prices are comparable to anywhere else) is really nice. The guys from TFL here in CO worked with them a bit and had good things to say
  • 5 Star typically uses SCT as well, but I think they support a couple other options too
• Oz Tuning
  • Another popular option, and they support HP Tuners as well. Heard plenty of good things, but haven't worked with them either

Be prepared to datalog with the above options so that things can get dialed in. Most tuners will be 90% to the mark for basic bolt ins in the first 2 files, and most cleanup is either to lean fuel out a bit for economy or to dial in the transmission

 

[jflogerzi]

Gotta pay to play. Skip FP tune and get a real tune with logs to get things really dialed in.

 

[Th0garr]

Also, for what its worth, you're stuck in the same boat I am. There are currently no downpipes on the market that account for the changes introduced in 2022. Any downpipe you find, until SPD or CVFab introduces something otherwise, will be for a 19 - 21.

SPD is supposedly going to be releasing a DP for 22-23, it says for summer 2022 release, maybe a typo?

https://5startuning.com/product-category/2019-ranger-2-3l-ecoboost/2019-ranger-2-3l-downpipes/

 

[mr.wonderful]

SPD is supposedly going to be releasing a DP for 22-23, it says for summer 2022 release, maybe a typo?

https://5startuning.com/product-category/2019-ranger-2-3l-ecoboost/2019-ranger-2-3l-downpipes/

I knew SPD was looking for a demo truck, in fact I had posted a thread not too long ago asking people to reach out to them if they had any interest.

It sounds like they may have received some interest, which only benefits us.

Now to take advantage of my 7 year emissions cert and go burble burble like my Subaru did

 

[Th0garr]

made an inquiry on there website about what I saw on 5star website, so it is coming soon!

 

[importfighter01]

Ok, so, since you did mention you are a tuner, I believe you have some knowledge about turbo lag and what can cause it to spike, and the concept of boost creep as well.

To break it down to more scientific terms, at least from a IC/Charge Pipe perspective, volumetric efficiency is going to be your enemy. Turbo lag is going to be induced since the FP tune doesn't account for an increase in the overall volume the uprated IC and Charge Pipes will hold. Since they hold more, and the tune accounts for a smaller volume, wastegate profiles won't be altered and it will take longer for the larger/more spacious area to fill. This is a drivability concern.

Additionally, the FP tune doesn't account for a downpipe either. Catback is fine, since the FP package has the 3" Borla catback, but most of your backpressure is going to be at the Cat in the downpipe. I can't say for certain HOW much overboost protection the Rangers have, since they do have electronic wastegates compared to vacuum operated, but without updating wastegate duty cycle values to account for the lack of back pressure introduced by a full 3" system and high flow cats, overboosting/boost creep is a possibility.

Honestly, with the FP tune, an intake and catback is possible. The Ford Performance package accounts for this, either with a high flow panel filter, or the Roush CAI, and the Borla Catback. Anything outside of an intake or catback, and you are going to quickly reach suboptimal conditions because the FP tune lacks the adjustments/tunability to account for the extra de-restriction.

If you're looking to extract a little more power and not void the warranty, then the Ford Performance packages with an intake and catback are your best bet. Anything over and above, like what I want to do, going custom is the best bet. Personally, Torie at Unleashed tuned my truck, and its fantastic, and puts down more power than the FP tune since the FP tune is relatively conservative.

I hate being the bearer of bad news here, I really do, since I love this platform so much, but the question is common, and with good reason since the oldest of these trucks in the U.S is 4-5 years old, but honestly, even with Magnusson Moss offering some protections as I mentioned in another thread, if you really are considering throwing more power at the truck (and it will take it reliably with the stock turbo), then gambling away warranty repairs is on the table.

Also, for what its worth, you're stuck in the same boat I am. There are currently no downpipes on the market that account for the changes introduced in 2022. Any downpipe you find, until SPD or CVFab introduces something otherwise, will be for a 19 - 21.

Not worth it on Ford tune. No way to account for the mods.

@Th0garr - I have had the FP tune since 500 miles on the truck and have fretted over time about the ability of this tune to handle mods in a positive way. Here is my experience…

On the intake side I have seen it adapt well to as free flowing of an intake as possible (6in open cone filter into a 4 in inlet velocity stack into the Revolution Automotive 3.5 in turbo inlet elbow) plus CVF intercooler pipes.

On the ignition side, adapt well to running a set of one step colder plugs

On the engine operating temp side, adapt well to running a 170 deg thermostat (normally sits around 178 idling)

On the exhaust side, adapt well to running a 3in downpipe with 100 cell race cat with full 3 in open exhaust post-downpipe with a straight through Magnaflow muffler

On the transmission side, adapting well to running a max of 188 deg after running it hard vs stock max temp of 222.

I totally understand that my setup could be further optimized with Torrie or other tuners, however the truck has adapted very well to these mods and still runs a very safe and rich AFR at WOT. Power is smooth and linear. Part throttle feel great too. Throttle tip in is excellent. Transmission shifts are well times and firm. Overall it is a very safe tune that allowed my at the time brand new truck to be tuned and maintain a warranty. In my experience it has adapted very well to mods.

 

[D Fresh]

@Th0garr - I have had the FP tune since 500 miles on the truck and have fretted over time about the ability of this tune to handle mods in a positive way. Here is my experience…

On the intake side I have seen it adapt well to as free flowing of an intake as possible (6in open cone filter into a 4 in inlet velocity stack into the Revolution Automotive 3.5 in turbo inlet elbow) plus CVF intercooler pipes.

On the ignition side, adapt well to running a set of one step colder plugs

On the engine operating temp side, adapt well to running a 170 deg thermostat (normally sits around 178 idling)

On the exhaust side, adapt well to running a 3in downpipe with 100 cell race cat with full 3 in open exhaust post-downpipe with a straight through Magnaflow muffler

On the transmission side, adapting well to running a max of 188 deg after running it hard vs stock max temp of 222.

I totally understand that my setup could be further optimized with Torrie or other tuners, however the truck has adapted very well to these mods and still runs a very safe and rich AFR at WOT. Power is smooth and linear. Part throttle feel great too. Throttle tip in is excellent. Transmission shifts are well times and firm. Overall it is a very safe tune that allowed my at the time brand new truck to be tuned and maintain a warranty. In my experience it has adapted very well to mods.

"Adapting well to" and taking full advantage of are two different things.

My post was not to mean that mods are unsafe with the FP tune. Just not worth it. You're spending a lot of money for a subjectively better sound and marginal performance gains. Bolt ons that aren't tuned for are next to useless performance wise. You're leaving A LOT on the table.

The one exception is a downpipe in my opinion. I would never run a high flow aftermarket downpipe without a tune that specifically accounted for it.

 

[importfighter01]

I would never run a high flow aftermarket downpipe without a tune that specifically accounted for it.

Totally understand that. Happy to report the A/F ratio at WOT (when the speed density tune relies on pre-programmed table value targets vs O2 sensor feedback) with the downpipe and FP tune is in the 11s with no overboost issues.

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