A couple of things:

In the Pacific Northwest all the BP stations have been (or are about to be) converted over to '76' stations. Pricing for premium (about 1.49 in my county) is equal to that of Arco's premium fuel. I've been using 76 now for about a month - gas mileage and performance is about as it always was.

I love it when I see Mike saying that my truck has the more agressive program for the FOU1 code - which is the most agressive code. Woo-hoo - I'm king of the world!!!!!

I also want to point out that the reprogramming that Mike did in NO way diminished the trucks performance. It just runs!

Tom in Tacoma

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1998 F150 XLT S/C 4.6L Auto, 3.55LS, 4X2, Moonlight Blue, all the factory bells & whistles except for leather seats. Lund Deflector, Lund Premier Tonneau, K&N, Body-color painted Throttle Cover, Pentaliner S/R, Window tint, factory side-steps, Infiniti component speakers up front, Polk Audio speakers in back, Superchip. Tom in Tacoma (Washington not Toyota)
Go check out http://communities.msn.com/SS97FordsPics for the second best website for F150's

 

Dear Goldie,

If you do go to all that effort, and try different brands and precisely track the mileage results, we'd *love* to hear your data, if you don't mind sharing what you learn with us!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html

 

I've been doing a bit of research on the web after trying to win an argument with a friend over the 'quality' of the different octane grades. I found some good discussions:
http://www.yft.org/tex_vfr/tech/octane.htm
(ignore the fact that it's regarding motorcycles)
http://www.4unique.com/fuel/fuel_tutorial.htm
(it's advertising, be warned)

The most informative ever: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...t_gas_faq7.htm
(it takes about 2 hours to read the whole thing).

------------------
'99 Lariat Supercab
5.4L, 3.73 LSD, 4x4
265/70R17 GY Wrang. AT/S
(I can see for miles up here.)
4-leaf springs
K&N filter

 

Like Goldie said, Texaco is hard to find here in SoCal. I was wondering where the nearest Texaco was to me and found out there's one ony 4 miles away!! Woo-Hoo!! I don't drive out that way, so I never knew it was there.

The wierd thing is that the second closest one is 32 miles away!! I'll be ordering my SuperChip within the next week. So there will be some Texaco Premium gas waiting for it in the tank already!

------------------
2000 F150 V6 4.2L
>KenWood 600W Powering StealthBox with 2 10" Punch on Stock CD Stereo
>CB/PA System
>MagnaFlow Exhaust
>PIAA HID Headlights and FogLights
>Bug Deflector
>Clear Coroners
>Window Vents and Tint

 

Will I be able to remove the chip if I want to run a lower octane?

What I see here is the PCM needs to relearn its' strategies when the chip is installed. Is there anything else to consider?

Are there any other constraints? Any hazards like ESD (static electricity)?

------------------
'98 4.6 5-sp F-150
We've come for your Tundra.

Where we started.
http://www.mcmullenargus.com/gallery...ge=1165&pub=12
After a facelift.
http://www.zing.com/picture/ff/e9/b5...d.jpg.orig.jpg
trixters-playground@excite.com
www.truckinweb.com




[This message has been edited by crash1 (edited 02-08-2000).]

 

Yeah,

I think I would have a much better time in traffic if people only knew...

I'm a good driver, I just like to push the envelope (and the idiots)!

I have rolled everything from mini-bikes to dirt bikes to racing carts, to cars, to boats. I have never rolled a lawn tractor, but I threw my grandmother off of one when I was 4.

Thanks for the info! I too have been exposed to this, and I too am guilty of not using a ground strap. I just ground myself.

Yes, I remember the OBD II drive cycle. If you don't hold your tongue in left cheek, 3000rpm in 2nd, right rear window down, and the rear wiper on, the drive cycle would not complete...lol

So, it's as simple at that, eh?
I am sure I will have more questions. Sounds like a great deal. Can I just drop you a line?

I really appreciate it Mike!

BTW- I found the thread on custom programming, and posted a question there too.

------------------
'98 4.6 5-sp F-150
We've come for your Tundra.

Where we started.
http://www.mcmullenargus.com/gallery...ge=1165&pub=12
After a facelift.
http://www.zing.com/picture/ff/e9/b5...d.jpg.orig.jpg
trixters-playground@excite.com
www.truckinweb.com




[This message has been edited by crash1 (edited 02-08-2000).]

 

Dear Crash1,

Cool screen name, I'm almost afraid to ask how you came up with it!

The Superchip is made to be easy to remove and replaced many times. Due to it's design, it's almost like installing an expansion card in a PC. The Superchip is a sealed module that has a female data slot on the back of it, just like the expansion slot on a PC's mainboard, only it's much shorter in length. This simply mates to the male counterpart on the back of the Ford ECU, so it can easily be removed and reinstalled, time after time.

There is a relearn cycle anytime you disconnect power to the computer, or anytime you change it's programming. When you change the programming via the Superchip, we recommend disconnecting your battery for 20 minutes, so the computer immediately goes into it's relearn cycle. This helps with the immediate results quite a bit, and is not mentioned in the installation instructions. It does not affect the long-term results, just the short-term results. If you install the Superchip without disconnecting the battery, it usually takes a few days before you start to really feel the effects of the Superchip, as the relearn cycle takes longer to start, and longer to finish. Disconnecting the battery forces the *immediate* start of this relearn cycle, so you feel the effects of the chip much quicker.

Some vehicles have short relearn cycles, and some vehicles are longer. The new Lightning truck, for example has a very long relearn cycle. The relearn cycle can be as short as 200 miles or so, and it can take as long as 800-1000 miles. Very few things during this relearn period will actually be noticeable to the driver, primarily just idle speed & quality, the rest happens pretty much in the background, so to speak.

Static electricity is always a factor with anything electronic in nature. Most people are installing them while walking on concrete, like their garage, their driveway, etc., so it's not a big concern in those cases. Walking on carpet, especially in the winter, can give you a charge of static electricity, so we don't recommend that you handle the Superchip outside of it's packaging while you're walking on carpeted flooring, but that's about it. Anytime you are working on an electronic component, it's a good idea to have a wrist strap to ground yourself, but I must confess that I myself do not wear one. I've got a pretty good handle on static electricity, and how it's generated and discharged from our days as a computer manufacturer, so I always just touch metal before handling anything electronic, and that takes care of it.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html

 

Sure, Crash1,

You can email or give us a call, whichever you prefer!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html

 

I like the performance with my chip, but my gas millage has not improved a bit.

------------------
1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bassani Cat Back, Superchip,Modified intake with modified K&N filter.

 

We have a problem here in California regarding gasoline. We're an "island" here because of oxygenated gas (MTBE). There are only about 6-8? refineries in CA and when one of them goes down, prices skyrocket because we can not import gas from out of state. The way I understand it, many diferent brands of gas come from the same refinery with just a few differences in addatives. Also I live in northern CA and I have not seen any gas above 92 octane. Does anybody have an opinion on the best gas here in N CA?

------------------

White 1999 Lightning
Build Date 7-26-99
#2892
Snuglid
Bedrug
Member NLOC



[This message has been edited by jack77 (edited 02-10-2000).]

 

I just wanted to make a quick post on gas brands. I mentioned in an earlier post that I had not used Shell in years, that it used to be a good gas. I just recently burned though almost 2 tanks of Shell premium here in the western part of Virginia, out in the mountains, and it seemed to run just fine. I did not calculate mileage, (sorry!) but the performance was good, so if you have Shell near you, feel free to give it a try.

Good luck,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html