Trip mileage with "TUNE"

[Retnavy]

Guys, I'm kinda on the fence here. I'd like to opt for the tune, but would also like to maintain or increase the current MPG of the SHO. The reason I ask for some input here on MPG is I have to make a 1000 R/T every month and the car is a daily driver. So added expense for premium could bust my fixed income budget. With the way prices are going it could be over $4 this summer. BTW, 91 octane is the highest in my area.

TIA for your responses. You can PM me if you feel the need.

 

[RedCandySHO]

You an get a tune created for 91 octane, it just won't add as much HP / TQ. As for the MPG, what does your car get now?

 

[way2evil]

Flash your car back to stock for the trip.

 

[RedCandySHO]

Flash your car back to stock for the trip.

LOL! What a simple solution......problem solved.

 

[SuperHO]

doesn't the ECOSho have around an 18 gallon tank? if that's the case, assuming you run down to completly empty, you're spending $3.20 a tank extra for premium. figuring 20mpg over 1000 miles, you'll have to fill up 2.8 times, so we'll say 3 tanks of gas for a grand total of $9.60 more per trip over running regular unleaded. kinda makes you think a bit, don't it?

 

[dramsey]

Guys, I'm kinda on the fence here. I'd like to opt for the tune, but would also like to maintain or increase the current MPG of the SHO. The reason I ask for some input here on MPG is I have to make a 1000 R/T every month and the car is a daily driver. So added expense for premium could bust my fixed income budget. With the way prices are going it could be over $4 this summer. BTW, 91 octane is the highest in my area.

TIA for your responses. You can PM me if you feel the need.

The way various custom tunes make more power is by enabling, however indirectly, your car to burn more gasoline-- be it by upping the turbo boost, advancing the timing, or reducing the "torque management" (i.e. a minor closing of the throttle as shifts occur to make the shifts smoother) of the transmission.

More gas = bigger bang = more power.

Now, most or all of the "more gas" will only occur when you're accelerating and running on boost (turbos generating more than atmospheric pressure). So your mileage just cruising on the highway should be minimally affected, if at all.

That said, the single biggest factor affecting your mileage is how you drive the car. Accelerate gently and cruise at lower highway speeds and your mileage will go up. Get into the turbos at every change and cruise at 80 on the highway, your mileage will go down.

So go ahead and get a tune, but recognize that the more you use your newfound power, the lower your mileage will be.

 

[Showgun]

About the only thing that could adversely affect mileage is timing provided it's driven in the same fashion. Not sure if these tunes add total timing or not.. I suspect that they do in a small way.
Maybe Rick can shed some light on this.

As has been said tho, at hwy speeds and driven reasonably, it won't make much difference in mileage with or without a tune.

C.

 

[SeanMc]

I've used nothing but Premium 93 in my SHO since I took delivery of her.

Now that it's Winter, I flashed back to the Livernois Stage 3. When I rocked the Stage 4 tune, I would routinely mix in a bottle of the 108 Octane Boost just to boost the octane up a few ticks.

Understanding that MPG is not a huge concern of mine, I typically drive more on the aggressive side and for those that know me well, understand that it's more or less an occupational hazard to do so.

I average 17-18MPG now here in the Winter.

Now if I drive like a lil 'ol lady on a quaint Sunday morn'n, traveling let's say to & from church, the bingo hall, etc..... I've noticed my MPG's will increase to around 19 or so.

Both figures being city/town driving.

I don't do a lot of highway/expressway driving so I couldn't tell ya what those numbers would be. Maybe someone else will chime in reference those.

IMHO tho, the tune is well worth the investment, for mere better shifting of the trans, smoother, almost instant throttle response minus zero lag, makes it well worth it.

Good luck in w/e decision it is that you make.

19 in town is pretty darn good. That's better than what I get.

 

[Frex]

Just got back from a local car show. There was a very nice condition 1990 454 SS Chevy Pick Up Truck. It had the window sticker on it. 10 mpg city and 11 highway. 20 doesn't seem so bad.......

 

[mjhpadi]

Just got back from a 120 mile round trip, driving about 62 mph I averaged 23.5 mpg. This is with the stage 2 tune.

 

[RedCandySHO]

Just got back from a 120 mile round trip, driving about 62 mph I averaged 23.5 mpg. This is with the stage 2 tune.

I just did a 140 mile round trip today. 95% highway running at about 65-75mph. A lot of throttle play with slowing down / speeding up because of traffic. Before I left, I reset the Average MPG calculator in the dash. One way, it showed 27.3MPG, the way back 26.4MPG. Coming back I was running 70-80mph. This is with the stage 4 tune installed. Driving from Ontario Canada to Orlando, averaging 70MPH, the highest I saw was 23-24MPG totally stock. If anything, I would say the tune helped my car. Of course the cost of 93 octane is a factor, but if I can get anything north of 25MPG on the highway, that rocks.

 

[Showgun]

I just did a 140 mile round trip today. 95% highway running at about 65-75mph. A lot of throttle play with slowing down / speeding up because of traffic. Before I left, I reset the Average MPG calculator in the dash. One way, it showed 27.3MPG, the way back 26.4MPG. Coming back I was running 70-80mph. This is with the stage 4 tune installed. Driving from Ontario Canada to Orlando, averaging 70MPH, the highest I saw was 23-24MPG totally stock. If anything, I would say the tune helped my car. Of course the cost of 93 octane is a factor, but if I can get anything north of 25MPG on the highway, that rocks.

I hope so. That would be a bonus.
C.

 

[RedCandySHO]

I should add, other then a 3/4 throttle acceleration getting onto the highway, I wasn't driving it "spirited" at all. Just a normal drive.

 

[LMSRick]

Unfortunately, when I drive our SHO I drive it extremely hard, so I'm not sure what kind of mileage it would actually get driving "normally". I know with a lot of the cars we tune, customers report better than stock mileage. I know for a fact that my head/cam full bolt-on Corvette with 4.10 gears got much better than stock mileage.

We can tune for 91 octane and if you decide to go on a long trip and aren't happy with mileage, you can always flash back to stock or install the stage 1 tune which has only trans mods and the stock engine tune.

Thank you,

Rick

 

[armyintel]

I drove from Alexandria, VA to Dallas, TX to Fort Huachuca, AZ and I averaged 24 mpg with the Stage 3 tune.

 

[Retnavy]

Alright guys! I feel picked on enough (chuckle, chuckle)! I took the leap of faith today and ordered the tuner. I knew I could flash back to OEM, but then what's was the sense in spending the money. I'm not a street racer, nor do I drag race, but I want added performance without to much added cost. When you get to be my age, 66+, some things are more important than added fuel costs. You have all straightened me out, and I see the error of my ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thankyou:

 

[Showgun]

Alright guys! I feel picked on enough (chuckle, chuckle)! I took the leap of faith today and ordered the tuner. I knew I could flash back to OEM, but then what's was the sense in spending the money. I'm not a street racer, nor do I drag race, but I want added performance without to much added cost. When you get to be my age, 66+, some things are more important than added fuel costs. You have all straightened me out, and I see the error of my ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thankyou:

LOL it's futile to resist the temptation isn't it.

btw, I'm not far behind you at 63......and lookin' forward to my SHO..(and my tune) ..

C.

 

[SunDaze]

Alright guys!.....I'm not a street racer, nor do I drag race, but I want added performance without to much added cost. When you get to be my age, 66+,.......

This part of your comment is not just for the older........I'm 45... and for $500 bucks I've added the best bang for the buck.......I've run both Livernois and Unleashed tunes....And I feel this is the way Ford should have released the car
I'm currently running Livernois stage 2 because I want the torque management during the cold and slippery conditions.....................
Come spring time.....back to stage 4!!!

I have been keeping track of my expenses since I bought my car 11/10
I can send you the record if you like.... I'll try to post it here tomorrow...
But I've averaged 20.5 mpg since then and have not seen any difference with a tune which I have been running since August

 

[mjhpadi]

LOL it's futile to resist the temptation isn't it.

btw, I'm not far behind you at 63......and lookin' forward to my SHO..(and my tune) ..

C.

Guys, you are in my age group at 58 almost 59, I couln't resist the temption of the added HP and torque...and it is great! I have been around high peformance most of my adult life (and I mean HIGH PO--was part of a funny car crew years ago) and honestly, the tune has been the best single mod for noticable improvement I've ever seen...really is the best thing I've invested in for a long time.

 

[RedCandySHO]

Wow...I just turned 40 and thought I was getting old.....I feel young again!