Is a tuner worth it in my case?

[trj360]

I'm strongly considering a Henson tune for my truck but I have a few questions.

I don't want to have to spend the extra money on Premium gas, is a tune going to help me if I stay with 87 octane?

Auto trans, 4.10s, 33s, SOHC, no CAI or any engine mods right now. What level of improvement can I expect to see as far as acceleration and power? What is the typical experience with gas mileage? I'm expecting maybe 1mpg extra?

I'd especially like to hear from guys with my gear and tire setup. Not interested in hearing about 5.0s or 4.0 OHVs with tunes unless you have something valuable to say relating to my SOHC.

Also are there any engine mods in particular that pair well with a tune? Maybe a throttle body spacer or something?
Thanks!

 

[celly]

I've got 87, 89 and 91 tunes. While the shift points are better than stock with all three octane levels, the real performance gains are felt with you go with a premium tune. Shift points are important because stock Explorers are tuned for soccer moms. BORING.

I never notice mileage gains with custom tunes because I'm hard on the throttle. I've used dedicated mileage tunes in the past and don't much care for the performance because the shifts feel more aggressive than stock, but shifts quicker to me. I almost got myself into trouble once when highway passing with a mileage tune. It sort of down shifted when I didn't want it to.

The best mileage tune you can get is free. It's called the "egg method". Just drive like you've got an egg under your right foot.

 

[trj360]

The best mileage tune you can get is free. It's called the "egg method". Just drive like you've got an egg under your right foot.

I drive it usually pretty easy. I'm not looking for a mileage tune necessarily, just maybe one that can improve my shift points, performance, and maybe squeeze a little more mileage out of it....is that even possible? And are the gains even noticeable with 87? And you have a 5.0 anyway, hopefully someone with a SOHC can join the discussion.

 

[trj360]

I should also mention that as long as a tune doesn't HURT my gas mileage, that's fine. MPG gains won't make or break a tune for me. A loss will.

 

[techieman33]

I drive it usually pretty easy. I'm not looking for a mileage tune necessarily, just maybe one that can improve my shift points, performance, and maybe squeeze a little more mileage out of it....is that even possible? And are the gains even noticeable with 87? And you have a 5.0 anyway, hopefully someone with a SOHC can join the discussion.

He had a sohc in the past with a tune on it Don't buy a throttle body spacer the only thing they're good for is lightening your wallet.

 

[celly]

And you have a 5.0 anyway, hopefully someone with a SOHC can join the discussion.

I had a SOHC tuned by first Apten and then Bama and speak from experience. The passing incident I mentioned to you was with my '00 Sport. I had more tunes for my Sport than I have for my 5.0 EB.

That's why I joined the discussion. :

I've never done mileage tunes on my 5.0. I also have 87/89/91 tunes for the 5.0, but rarely deviate from the '91. I used the '87 extensively on a huge road trip this past summer and it's "not bad". I haven't gone back to '87 since I got my headers.

 

[XLT]

If you are looking for mpg improvements take into consideration an electric fan and underdrive pullies. I know Aldive highly recommends them. I plan to do these to my sport once i get some extra cash.

 

[celly]

He had a sohc in the past with a tune on it Don't buy a throttle body spacer the only thing they're good for is lightening your wallet.

Thanks Eric. I should have read your response before I replied to him below. I'm with you on the TBS. Clever marketing used by the manufacturers of those things and no more effective than a 'Tornado'. Expensive too!

 

[trj360]

I had a SOHC tuned by first Apten and then Bama and speak from experience. The passing incident I mentioned to you was with my '00 Sport. I had more tunes for my Sport than I have for my 5.0 EB.

That's why I joined the discussion. :

I've never done mileage tunes on my 5.0. I also have 87/89/91 tunes for the 5.0, but rarely deviate from the '91. I used the '87 extensively on a huge road trip this past summer and it's "not bad". I haven't gone back to '87 since I got my headers.

Ok thanks then. You should have said that haha.

Thanks Eric. I should have read your response before I replied to him below. I'm with you on the TBS. Clever marketing used by the manufacturers of those things and no more effective than a 'Tornado'. Expensive too!

I know nothing about them, that's why I asked. I already trashed the Tornado that the PO installed. Speaking of engine mods, what reasonable things can I do to get the most out of a tune?

If you are looking for mpg improvements take into consideration an electric fan and underdrive pullies. I know Aldive highly recommends them. I plan to do these to my sport once i get some extra cash.

Not really interested in dumping money into MPG mods, just curious if a tune itself will do anything.

 

[Elessar65]

Get a MAC intake or a K&N. Also an exhaust, helping your engine breathe better is the best thing you can do. Those two things along with a tune will help a lot. You will definitely notice a difference, but you aren't going to be smoking any sports cars, lol. Really the biggest gain is that a tune will really firm up your shifts, and change the shift points.

Also, if you REALLY want to get into modding the motor, these are the guys to talk to. http://www.supersixmotorsports.com I have been wanting a set of their stage 2+ heads for a while...

 

[celly]

Ok thanks then. You should have said that haha.

I've owned 4 Explorers actually ('93/'97/'00 Sports before my Eddie and two of the three Sports had the SOHC V6). Only two were custom tuned.

I actually found this site several years ago when I was researching those cheap "resistors" on eBay and ended up getting tunes from Apten for my '00 Sport instead (using a chip instead of a flasher). I then hooked up with Doug at Bama and he did tuning for my Sport and then I switched to a flasher.

Doug also did the first tuning on my 5.0 before we faded away from EF. I've dealt with James since the summer of '08 and he's as good as you hear. I've been very impressed how much he helped me with some "post header issues" this past summer which is still a work in progress. His tunes rock actually. Very personalized. I especially like the datalogging feature of the flashers. He writes the tune for YOU and only you.

 

[celly]

Get a MAC intake or a K&N. Also an exhaust, helping your engine breathe better is the best thing you can do. Those two things along with a tune will help a lot. You will definitely notice a difference, but you aren't going to be smoking any sports cars, lol. Really the biggest gain is that a tune will really firm up your shifts, and change the shift points.

I agree on all points. My Sport was a riot to drive with just those mods. Of course, the 5.0 is a different creature altogether.

 

[trj360]

I agree on all points. My Sport was a riot to drive with just those mods. Of course, the 5.0 is a different creature altogether.

What was the setup on your sport? Gears? Tires?

Also will a KN drop in and a drilled airbox do well or should i go full CAI setup?

Elessar, I'm not looking to go the route of custom exhaust setup, anything else you recommend?

 

[celly]

What was the setup on your sport? Gears? Tires?

Stock 16" wheels and Michelin LTX tires (replaced the Firestones from the infamous recall). 4.1 LS diffy.

 

[trj360]

Stock 16" wheels and Michelin LTX tires (replaced the Firestones from the infamous recall). 4.1 LS diffy.

4.10s with close to stock tires are awesome. Step up to 33s and not so much. I'm hoping a tune will help me out and make it "good" again. Right now it's "passable" as far as road driving enjoyment goes. I have MTs right now and my next set will be ATs, I never wheel it like I thought I would.

You mentioned LS - is this of any significance as far as tuning goes? I'm locked.

 

[Elessar65]

You could just get a better flowing muffler and put it on there. Make it sound better anyways, but even with my K&N intake, and full exhaust I only gained a few ponies. With the larger tires what you really need is low end torque, and you just aren't going to get that without either a power adder, or more displacement. Like I said before the tune is the most bang for the buck out there. Its not really going to get you any more power, but by changing the shift points it makes WAY better use out of the power that you do have, making your truck much more drive-able.

 

[trj360]

You could just get a better flowing muffler and put it on there. Make it sound better anyways, but even with my K&N intake, and full exhaust I only gained a few ponies. With the larger tires what you really need is low end torque, and you just aren't going to get that without either a power adder, or more displacement. Like I said before the tune is the most bang for the buck out there. Its not really going to get you any more power, but by changing the shift points it makes WAY better use out of the power that you do have, making your truck much more drive-able.

Is a KN drop in and drilled airbox ok or full CAI setup with the cone filter?

 

[Elessar65]

I have the full K&N FIPK setup. First mod I ever did. A drop in filter will help, especially if the airbox is drilled, just not as much as the full cai. Plus you won't get the cool swooshing sound I get when I get on it and you can hear it sucking in air, lol. If you don't want to spend a bunch of money I would just get a drop in filter and drill the airbox, or you could always build your own intake with pvc or something and a cone filter.