I have searched a bit, but thought I may get more/better information with a new topic.

I have a new 2011 with the 5.0 engine and I'm thinking about getting a programmer and some somewhat custom tunes.

has anyone here done that yet? and what tune did you install? and what did it do to the truck?

Right now I think I'm going to leave the stock intake and exhaust on the truck, mainly because I drive a lot, and spend a lot of time on my phone, and I really need for the truck to be more quiet than I would prefer, but I still think a tune might help, just looking for opinions.

 

Check out this link:

http://www.5startuning.com/2011-f150-5L/index.html

They have videos of a custom tuned 5.0. I am going to get my tunes from these guys when my warranty expires.

 

Mo...Thanks for the response! That's actually why I asked here. I was on thier site looking at what they have, and if you want to run 87 octane, it looks like you need to get the intake to make much difference at all, and even at that, it's not enough for me to justify the $750 expense. I also don't want to change the stock intake, pretty much to keep the noise level down.

I was hoping someone had already purchased this tuner and had a before/after opinion, just something to help me decide if it's worth the $450 to just get the tuner and still run lower octane.

 

looks like they are using the xcal3. buy a used one off ebay or forums for $150-200 shipped. then you just have to buy tunes from them.

i had my superduty tuned for under $200 (only got 1 tune though, woulda been $300 with 3 tunes) instead of paying the $450 the tuners wanted.

edit: 2 tunes for $100 on their website, i'd go that route and be in it under $300

 

I noticed with the tuning videos, the tune increases the shift points to 6500RPM from the stock setting of 5500RPM. That alone seems to make it quicker

 

did you notice their is no red lines from the 6-7k mark like on our stock trucks? curious if they actually pulled apart the whole cluster to change that

 

Also if you watch these videos in order, the 2nd video shows the tune + intake, I think it slowed the truck down a bit with the intake. The 1st video seems to be the quicker of the 2 videos.

 

0-60's are roughly the same if you stop at 60 on the video but you might be right. they seem similar to me, they are in manual mode so maybe different drivers

i do wish they would speed up the shifting, but i guess that can be altered by the user as well.

 

A truck with a 5.0 does not need tunes!

 

I put a 5 star tune on my 2011 F150 with the 5.0 and it was well worth the money. I am only running the 87 tow/performance program and the better shifting on the 6 speed transmission was worth every penny. The truck is much more responisve and just flat out drives better.

 

Based on the FX4 sitting in my driveway, I can assure you, the 5.0 most certainly needs some tuning.

 

Im curious to know how 5stars tune helps with gas mileage.

 

just wondering if you guys just have the tune installed or do you have the AFE intake installed along with?

i am debating doing this. i have the 5.0 FX4 4X4 with 3.73 rear end.

will it make a noticeable difference?

thanks for your help

Troy

 

I ordered the tune from 5star and also ordered the quietest exhaust from borla, I believe they call it their touring exhaust. I am not home right now, but plan on installing it in about a month and a half. I love the 5.0 but want a little better throttle response. When I get the work done will let everyone know

 

The exhaust wont help you much at all unless you are running it up to 4500 to 6000 rpm. Cruising rpm is so low, that you don't gain anything with a larger exhaust. In fact, you might loose a little bottom end. The dyno sheets I have seen, show the HP and TQ start out lower and only pass the stock at the high rpm levels. Not really good for the driving these trucks do day to day. If you don't want any noise, then by no means would I dump a huge amount of money on a borla system that is going to drone more than stock at highway speeds.

If you want a rumble, then aftermarket exhaust is the way to go. They really don't do much for power increase and mpg.
The intakes are the same way.

The tune is the way to go to achieve what you are trying to do.