SCT X4 w/ 5-Star Tunes - One Week Review

[TAZMAN]

Let me know how these new tunes work out. I have had the same issue for approx. 6 months and pulled the performance tune back out do to the shift cycling. Kinda gave up on getting it resolved.

 

[ZBoater]

What does the tune do to the transmission?

 

[Jordan@Apollo-Optics]

As it's been explained to me, in a tune, you can up the line pressure in the transmission. When you up the line pressure, you are putting a little more stress on the tranny. Upping this line pressure is what causes the firmer, and usually, faster shifting, though.

I had my tuner change my transmission tune to be very similar to the Tow/Haul mode in the stock configuration. I said that I wanted a faster kick down when I pushed on the pedal, but I didn't want it to hold gear like the Tow/Haul mode. He delivered exactly what I asked and I'm in love with it. My truck doesn't hunt for gears and it daily drives like stock, which is perfect since 99% of my time is on the road (just like the majority of Raptor owners). In fact, on the trip to TRR from Houston, I averaged 13.0-13.5mpg at 75-85mph whereas everybody else in the convoy was averaging under 12.5mpg. When I mash it, though, it runs like an animal and I'm very pleased.

I'm not telling you to go with my tuner (he is very good, IMO), but since you've already paid Mike, maybe ask him about something like I have.

 

[Fred]

SCT x3 93 Performance tune 2+ years ---Not a problem. Gas mileage SUCKS and I love it!

I do lock out 6th gear when i am driving in the city. I think the truck hunts for the highest gear possible.

lock her down and let it eat....lol

 

[BAJASVT]

Let me know how these new tunes work out. I have had the same issue for approx. 6 months and pulled the performance tune back out do to the shift cycling. Kinda gave up on getting it resolved.

I wish this could be resolved, but I'm glad to hear that you and I aren't the only ones that notice this "issue."

---------- Post added at 11:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 AM ----------

As it's been explained to me, in a tune, you can up the line pressure in the transmission. When you up the line pressure, you are putting a little more stress on the tranny. Upping this line pressure is what causes the firmer, and usually, faster shifting, though.

That makes sense. I'm currently running the 93 performance tune with the factory shifting strategy. One thing I noticed is that the truck doesn't quite have the same snap from a dead stop and I believe this is also because of the factory shifting strategy and transmission pressures. When you come to a dead stop, within the transmission torque converter, the stator between the turbine and impeller locks up to help overcome the static inertia to get the vehicle moving from a dead stop. The stator is only responsible for torque multiplication from a dead stop. If the performance tune does increase the transmission line pressure, it would also increase the flow of transmission fluid through the torque converter and therefore through the torque converter stator thereby increasing torque multiplication and acceleration from a stop. Because I have my truck back to factory transmission settings is probably why I don't feel the same snappy acceleration from a dead stop that I had when I was running the full performance tune.

On a side note, pressure and temperature are typically synonymous with each other, so some running a tune with the increased transmission line pressure would probably also see increased transmission temperatures.

I had my tuner change my transmission tune to be very similar to the Tow/Haul mode in the stock configuration. I said that I wanted a faster kick down when I pushed on the pedal, but I didn't want it to hold gear like the Tow/Haul mode. He delivered exactly what I asked and I'm in love with it. My truck doesn't hunt for gears and it daily drives like stock, which is perfect since 99% of my time is on the road (just like the majority of Raptor owners). In fact, on the trip to TRR from Houston, I averaged 13.0-13.5mpg at 75-85mph whereas everybody else in the convoy was averaging under 12.5mpg. When I mash it, though, it runs like an animal and I'm very pleased.

I'm not telling you to go with my tuner (he is very good, IMO), but since you've already paid Mike, maybe ask him about something like I have.

You don't have to post it here, you can PM me, but who is your tuner?

---------- Post added at 11:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------

SCT x3 93 Performance tune 2+ years ---Not a problem. Gas mileage SUCKS and I love it!

I do lock out 6th gear when i am driving in the city. I think the truck hunts for the highest gear possible.

lock her down and let it eat....lol

Torque converter lockup must be pretty plush with this transmission because I haven't noticed it yet, but I haven't really paid attention yet either. Have you noticed of the TCC will lockup in 5th gear or does it only happen in 6th?

 

[Fred]

I would think the TC is robust in the trucks. The lockup clutch would engage anytime slippage is no longer needed. i.e. Torque converter slippage is important during acceleration, but it becomes a liability once the vehicle reaches cruising speed. That's why virtually all modern torque converters use a lock-up clutch.

Thus, if the TC was not robust a heavy load could could cause wear on the clutch. So increasing the oil pressure might help reduce the slippage create a firmer lock.

 

[BAJASVT]

Agreed. The increased transmission pressures may increase the holding force of the clutch at lockup, but I doubt that unintended slippage would ever be a reasonable problem even at factory pressures. One thing to consider is that our transmission's TCC control solenoid isn't just an on/off solenoid, it's a duty cycle solenoid to promote a plush TCC lockup. If the TCC control solenoid duty cycle isn't working in sync with the fluid pressures, I suspect one could experience premature wear on the TCC clutch.

What I actually asked is if you've noticed the TCC lock in 5th gear when you have 6th gear locked out. Because the TCC is controlled by an electronic solenoid, I wasn't sure if the vehicle will lock it in only 6th gear or if it'd lock it in any gear/speed if turbine and impeller speeds were close to the same.

 

[Fred]

Agreed. The increased transmission pressures may increase the holding force of the clutch at lockup, but I doubt that unintended slippage would ever be a reasonable problem even at factory pressures. One thing to consider is that our transmission's TCC control solenoid isn't just an on/off solenoid, it's a duty cycle solenoid to promote a plush TCC lockup. If the TCC control solenoid duty cycle isn't working in sync with the fluid pressures, I suspect one could experience premature wear on the TCC clutch.

What I actually asked is if you've noticed the TCC lock in 5th gear when you have 6th gear locked out. Because the TCC is controlled by an electronic solenoid, I wasn't sure if the vehicle will lock it in only 6th gear or if it'd lock it in any gear/speed if turbine and impeller speeds were close to the same.

Yeah, I have never really paid attention. It 'feels' like it does lock out for me in 5th. Now 4th, never tried that one yet. Might try it on the highway to see!

 

[ZBoater]

And all this in English means....

 

[Fred]

And all this in English means....

Truck is to smart for its own good! lol