More power tuning

[Guy]

Well...

I bought 3 tunes from them.
I am eager to get them loaded up and compare them to the 5 star tunes.

From what I'm told.... MPT runs more boost. 5 star runs around 18psi under WOT. MPT runs 20.

Apparently MPT increases the stock rev limiter as well.

5 star has been a notable improvement in power and absolutely did what they said it would do. However, I have not found any of their tunes to handle the 10 speed transmission logic very well.

The daily driver tune is just very mellow and it shifts every single gear no matter what. Under gentle local driving it goes 12345678910 and it is pretty annoying after awhile.

The performance tune feels great and has snap and power but the transmission is SO twitchy that it is constantly downshifting with even the slightest touch of the throttle. It's not a smooth, intelligent driving experience and to any passengers it seems like you're constantly gassing it.

I've owned/driven many performance vehicles like most all of you, and so I have a good frame of reference in terms of what a high performance car should feel like in terms of shifting logic... everything from double clutch high end to old school Fox body mustangs.

In my opinion 5 star is close but they aren't quite there... there is a little bit of overshooting I think.... like trying too hard. If you were racing the truck around a track or doing Baja their performance tune would be appropriate. It's more of a TRACK tune than a street performance tune.

So you're stuck between a track tune and a very mellow, gear happy city tune. I think they will get it right before too long. They are constantly revising and looking to make it better. It's not a knock on them. They are great to work with and their tune is much more powerful than stock.

So will MPT be better? I have no idea. I'm going to evaluate them and find out!

 

[IRONMAN]

Interested to hear your thoughts on it.

 

[Jeff-Ohio]

Well...

I bought 3 tunes from them.
I am eager to get them loaded up and compare them to the 5 star tunes.

From what I'm told.... MPT runs more boost. 5 star runs around 18psi under WOT. MPT runs 20.

Apparently MPT increases the stock rev limiter as well.

5 star has been a notable improvement in power and absolutely did what they said it would do. However, I have not found any of their tunes to handle the 10 speed transmission logic very well.

The daily driver tune is just very mellow and it shifts every single gear no matter what. Under gentle local driving it goes 12345678910 and it is pretty annoying after awhile.

The performance tune feels great and has snap and power but the transmission is SO twitchy that it is constantly downshifting with even the slightest touch of the throttle. It's not a smooth, intelligent driving experience and to any passengers it seems like you're constantly gassing it.

I've owned/driven many performance vehicles like most all of you, and so I have a good frame of reference in terms of what a high performance car should feel like in terms of shifting logic... everything from double clutch high end to old school Fox body mustangs.

In my opinion 5 star is close but they aren't quite there... there is a little bit of overshooting I think.... like trying too hard. If you were racing the truck around a track or doing Baja their performance tune would be appropriate. It's more of a TRACK tune than a street performance tune.

So you're stuck between a track tune and a very mellow, gear happy city tune. I think they will get it right before too long. They are constantly revising and looking to make it better. It's not a knock on them. They are great to work with and their tune is much more powerful than stock.

So will MPT be better? I have no idea. I'm going to evaluate them and find out!

I really appreciate your write up. I am not necessarily looking for more power, but I certainly won't turn it down. My issue is with the transmission. Between normal and the way it skips gears to the tow mode to sport mode, none of them feel quite right. I wasn't aware that the various tunes changed the transmission shift logic; I thought they just changed performance characteristics. I told my wife I was done with mods, but if there is a good tune out there that uses all ten gears, doesn't do excessive engine breaking, doesn't hold much higher RPM's than needed for everyday driving, etc..., I am a buyer. Somebody just let me know what tune does this!!!!

 

[Guy]

I'm pretty sure at this point that those 10 gears were Ford and GMs joint effort to reel in MPG numbers. It's a lot more gears than are necessary.

I know all of your complaints with the stock transmission and gear shifting patterns. Ford compromised for mpg and also for drivability.

The stock transmission tune feels sluggish and it hunts for gears at times. It also doesn't always downshift as quickly or as far as necessary to make the truck snap to life when passing on an interstate.

5 star addressss all of those problems I mentioned but you trade them for a "too aggressive" track tune or an underwhelming city tune that shifts too much.

I would take both of their tunes over the stock tune however in terms of transmission and the performance improvements were great.

I'm just really hoping MPT who has had more time to test.... has the transmission down.

I really appreciate your write up. I am not necessarily looking for more power, but I certainly won't turn it down. My issue is with the transmission. Between normal and the way it skips gears to the tow mode to sport mode, none of them feel quite right. I wasn't aware that the various tunes changed the transmission shift logic; I thought they just changed performance characteristics. I told my wife I was done with mods, but if there is a good tune out there that uses all ten gears, doesn't do excessive engine breaking, doesn't hold much higher RPM's than needed for everyday driving, etc..., I am a buyer. Somebody just let me know what tune does this!!!!

 

[Guy]

Flashing the new tune now from MPT.

They are much more in depth than previous experiences. Once flashed I have to datalog and return that log to them for review.

Let's see how this goes!

 

[Bigoil]

Nice

 

[jdubub]

Curious as to what you think of it...

 

[Guy]

Ok.

So I flashed what they call an extreme performance tune. I did the data logging as required. I'm waiting for a thumbs up from them, but I'll give you my initial impressions.

I don't want to put down any other tuner and that is not my intention. Tunes are probably a little bit like ice cream. Everybody likes their brand and their flavor the best. That being said...

For me... this tune is NIGHT AND DAY different than the other tunes I was running. I'm still grinning ear to ear. The shifting logic is fantastic and the power delivery is smooth yet very firm. The level of aggressiveness is MUCH more streetable than the 5 star performance tune. The power delivery is smooth and it properly holds gears, doesn't downshift too much... and it doesn't surge.

I absolutely spun the tires on a dry road in 1,2,3 gears. Butt dyno says it would be a close race with the 5 star tune. Faster? Maybe. The same? Maybe. Way better than stock? Yes! Better suited for my daily driving? Absolutely!

I'll put more seat time when I get the all clear, but so far this feels SO much better for street.

 

[Jeff-Ohio]

Ok.

So I flashed what they call an extreme performance tune. I did the data logging as required. I'm waiting for a thumbs up from them, but I'll give you my initial impressions.

I don't want to put down any other tuner and that is not my intention. Tunes are probably a little bit like ice cream. Everybody likes their brand and their flavor the best. That being said...

For me... this tune is NIGHT AND DAY different than the other tunes I was running. I'm still grinning ear to ear. The shifting logic is fantastic and the power delivery is smooth yet very firm. The level of aggressiveness is MUCH more streetable than the 5 star performance tune. The power delivery is smooth and it properly holds gears, doesn't downshift too much... and it doesn't surge.

I absolutely spun the tires on a dry road in 1,2,3 gears. Butt dyno says it would be a close race with the 5 star tune. Faster? Maybe. The same? Maybe. Way better than stock? Yes! Better suited for my daily driving? Absolutely!

I'll put more seat time when I get the all clear, but so far this feels SO much better for street.

I may be the only one, but I am looking for a tune that probably uses all gears, shifts smoothly and consistently, downshifts a little quicker when necessary, doesn't rev any higher than it needs to and also doesn't needlessly lug the motor, etc... Does that tune exist? This is the first vehicle that I have driven where my attention is constantly drawn to what the transmission is doing. If I can safely get some more power and throttle response, that would be great, but I do not want better performance that sacrifices engine/tranny reliability and longevity.

 

[Guy]

Jeff,

I don't want to talk this up further without some real drive time to evaluate it. My initial impression is that it's everything you ever hoped for in your truck for a tune. It makes it DRIVE better. Performance aside... it just flat out shifts smoother, more intelligently, and has great smooth power delivery. If you tow.... they also have a tow tune.

I may be the only one, but I am looking for a tune that probably uses all gears, shifts smoothly and consistently, downshifts a little quicker when necessary, doesn't rev any higher than it needs to and also doesn't needlessly lug the motor, etc... Does that tune exist? This is the first vehicle that I have driven where my attention is constantly drawn to what the transmission is doing. If I can safely get some more power and throttle response, that would be great, but I do not want better performance that sacrifices engine/tranny reliability and longevity.