I am checking these out. Mainly for the 91 Octane Gas Mileage Increase Program...

I know when you purchase it, it comes pre programmed with 3 programs? Economy? Towing? 91 Octane? Or something similar. But key is, its already setup to just plugin and choose right? That includes the transmission shift points and such? And with the 91 Mode, i will see an increase in gas mileage without hurting anything, and will I see a performance differnet to a positive or negative side?

Anything else I should know? Can I download custom stuff from users on here? Or the pre programmed programs pretty much handle everything I need/can do?

- Kevin

 

The company promised many features that promptedmany of us to buy however many of these promises were never carried out. Economy, Towing and Perfomance are choices. Tires size is a choice. Shift points, nope game over. This being said I experienced a 2mpg gain using performance tune. I definately would have liked to change the shift points and gained anoter mpg as well as not searching for a gear.

 

I run the economy setting and I notice a difference in the power. I dont run the performance setting because I dont want to get a second mortgage to fill up with super unleaded. The programer sets your shift pionts. You can adjust the RPM's to go higher before it shifts at wide open throttle, and you can adjust the speed limiter to higher MPH. Although I dont think too many people want to go 150MPH in a truck, But to each his own.

 

Hessmonster. Did you know that based on the national average of annual mileage (12000 - 15000) by getting a 2 mpg gain you pay for the superchips in just over a year. Also the fuel you are saving on performance tune are greater than economy. By having it on economy you are actually paying more in the long run than you are if you are using performance tune. Let's just say you are getting 15 mpg average on economy and 17 mpg on performance. On a 26 gallon tank to bone dry economy take you 390 mileswhereas performance will take you 442. To fill up a full 26 gallons @ $3.20 a gallon it cost $83.20 and super costs$3.50 agallon $91.00. Now for economy to reach 442 miles it will take an additional 3.4 gallons of fuel costing $10.88 + $83.20. You just paid $3.08 to drive the same distance as performance tune. Not really that much for a relatively short distance but the difference for the annual average mileage is something to look at.

15mpg 12,000 annual miles = 800 gallons costing= $2560
15mpg 15,000 annual miles = 1000 gallons costing $3200
17mpg 12,000 annual miles = 705.8 gallons costing $2470.30
17mpg 15,000 annual miles = 882.3 gallons costing $3088. 05

If you don't believe me change the prices to that of what your local area. Ijust threw 3 random numbers out there. The price for super, around the Hampton Roads area is only 20 to 25cents different than regular unleaded as opposed to the 30 cents difference I used for my examples so around here the savings are even more. Just something to consider.

 

I have major issues with the company. I made inquieries thru email that were answered by email, which led me to buy the product. I knew I would need a custom tune soon and was promised custom tunes within six months. The company, after stalling for over a year, announced that they were doing an about face and abandoning custome tunes. To me, it was almost $500 wasted.
That said, the product, with it's 3 "canned tunes" is still the best product out there for stock to mildly modded Hemi's. I eventually expect SCT to blow them away "canned" plus they are in the process of having dyno based custom tunes as I write this. But for now, the Superchips is the best and safest product.

HessMonster: I've experimented on the mpg topic with the tuner at length. The cost per mile using the "economy tune" and 87 octane fuel and the "performance tune" and 91+ octane fuel, based on a 20 cent increase in cost of the premium grade, is about 5% more cost effective with the performance setting. Even though each fill-up costs less with the 87 octane gas, the mpg gains with the premium fuel & tune makes it more economical to use that. Plus you get the added performance too boot! Only down side is, to realize these savings, you gotta keep your foot off it with the extra power - tough to do...

 

+1 on everything said above, but I would like to add, even though you have the power to adjust shift points, I would not mess with them unless you do any major engine mods such as a heads/cam package. The stock internals can only handle a certain RPM redline and this is set at the factory, increasing the WOT shift can really hurt you. Once you do a heads/cam, internals swap, then you ask the mfg what the redline is of their product and the SC will allow you to increase the shift points making the most of the modification.

 

Hammer:

That is kind of what i needed to know. I did the math at 2mpg and would save. I don't mind filling up with 91. I usually fill every other tank up with 91 anyway. I'm averaging 16.5mpg now just about every oil change (I reset afterward). So I'm guessing I will see 18.5 or so. I know they even said 2-4mpg. Anyone get more then 2? Average?

My truck is bone stock. So I just wanted a bit of advantage on mpg. And what about horse power increase/torque? I do tow a kicker wagon full of hay at times What will I see from the two upper modes? The higher MPG / Octane mode and then the tow mode?

Also, CAI will probably give me a bit more? 1mpg more? Or not even worth the investment?

- Kevin

 

You really need to do the "big 3": Exhaust, CAI & tuner. They "feed" off of each other, giving much better performance & mpg gains combined than individually. This is a nice mild modification and many people are very happy with the gains and never feel the need for any other mods.

You can expect about 20-25 additional ponies and a nice 2-3 mpg gain (if you can stay the hell off the gas pedal)...

 

i heard the other day that a programmer that messes with the shift points will help you in the short run hince give you extra pwr and economy etc, but in the long run mess with the gears in the tranny and screw it up. any validity to this asumption? id kinda like to know before i buy one and regret it a few years down the road

 

I don't buy it, I've personally had a truck with a programmer for almost 70k miles and not had a tranny issue and know people who've had them for well over 100k. Plus, I've been told by performance shop guys that the firmer the shifts, the less wear on the tranny. Factory supposedly "builds in" some slippidge (is slippidge a word?) for comfort purposes so the tranny doesn't snap or jolt you, but it actually causes more wear over time...