Those of you with SCT tuners and really any engine type chime in here.

I see three basic tune types: torque, performance, and racing. Racing is of no interest to me.

I'm interested in torque tunes for offroading, but what is a performance tune and how is it different?

Which of the tunes gives the best MPG in your truck?

I'm thinking about buying 3 tunes, one would be a high-octane torque tune, another lower octane torque tune -- both of those for offroad -- and the third would be one for normal driving to get best gas mileage.

All comments welcome, thanks. I know very little about these.

 

With my superchips program I went from 18hwy-24 hwy with 30.5in tires running 93tq and m y city went from 15-high 18's. I only run 93 in my truck now because of the mileage and performance I got from it. Also between the tq and perf setting I like the tq setting a LOT more because that's what the little 3.0 needs help most and its a very nice improvement over stock.

Hope that helped John.

 

It did, Mike, thanks. I agree that the 3.0 suffers more in the low end torque department. It's interesting that it makes it practical to run higher grade fuel.

My truck is so heavy now, lifted, and with the 35's that it's begging for improvement, lol. I get 15-16 typically over the course of a tanks driving and that's it. Some improvement would be very welcome.

Thanks again.

 

the performance tune is for above 3,000 RPM's....since you probably never see above that, i wouldn't waste your money on more than 1 performance tune.....the torque tune is for 1,500 to 3,000 RPM's.....i talked to Doug for about an hour on what tunes i could get for my truck...he recommended that since i dont go over 3,000 RPM's often, that i should stick with a (also remember that i dont run anything less than 89 in my truck) 89 Torque, 93 Performance, and 93 Torque.....we have 93 premium fuel here......now with the X2 that i am getting i will be able to go into and make small changes like advancing the timing up to +5* more power in the lower end (this came from Doug).................

 

On a 3.0 with an automatic I see 4500+ all the time. But it's already peppy in that range anyway, so it probably won't do a lot.

I agree that the the best bang for the buck will be under 4000 rpm.

Your three tunes sound like a good blend and I may do just what you did.

How would you describe the difference between the 93 Performance and 93 Torque programs -- in seat-of-the-pants terms is fine, I don't need numbers.

 

John in my truck the 93 performance tune was good with 35s but when i went to the 93 torque I could tell a huge difference in low end grunt. Granted I am also a manual truck but i could pull on a BL ranger on 33s auto and tuner on the torque setting. I know you are racing yours but just a comparison.

 

No, not racing -- just stoplight to stoplight, lol.

Well, the torque tune sounds better and better. Thanks guys for helping me understand this a little bit better.

 

i hated the torque tune. maybe they messed it up??? idk but the only torque tune that worked great for me was from apten, not sure if anyone remembers them or not.

went to bama and his tunes were awesome except for the torque one.

honestly i think you really only need 2 tunes 93 performance and 87 performance.

good power throughout the whole rpm range and still get a good gain in mpg.

i like the mpg and tranny shifts more then the power gain. granted i wouldnt give it up. lol

either way i got less mpg on the torque setting that i had.

 

Well, when I get it I'll be trying out both the Performance and Torque tunes for sure.

Does anybody know if the older Xcalibrator will do the data logging also?

 

if i remember this correctly the trq tune uses more fuel than performance

 

I also got slightly less mpg with the torque tune. I think it depends upon what gearing you have and whether you have an automatic or manual tranny. I have 87 perf 93 perf and 93 torque tunes from Bamachip. I'm averaging 24.6 MPG combined driving (mostly city) with the 93 perf tune. I've had better performance and mileage with the performance tunes.

 

nope x2 only

 

That's what I thought. You can tweak both of them with the older Xtreme Tuning software, which is free. Could be fun -- or dangerous, lol. I think it only allows you to make small changes though.

I downloaded it, but I won't be able to do anything with it without a tune file to load.

 

I got better mpg with the tq tune then the performance tune both running 93.

 

Here's my selections, I think:

93 Performance
89 Torque
93 Torque

That should do it for now. I'll play with the performance tune driving around and contrast it with the Torque on alternate weeks. The 89 Torque will be for offroading on a budget, lol.

 

Sounds like a good plan John. With 35s i got 17.5-18.0 on a trip on TQ, with 33s i got 20-21 on a trip with TQ. I like the power difference much more with the TQ.

 

i dont care about fuel milage all that much anymore.....if i want good fuel milage, i will drive my Suby...

 

some of us like myself love to drive the ranger. ive drove other trucks and cars, just doesnt do it for me. i love my truck so i try to get decent mileage out of it.

 

Haven't got a Suby, lol...this is it for me as a daily driver and a little better mileage would make me feel better...

 

shoot......paid $500 for my Suby with 120,000 miles on her she now has 150k miles........runs like a champ (my luck she will die tomorrow on my way to work)

i think the torque tune will do you fine with milage.....

 

Well, with three tunes to play with I can compare them. I sort of suspect the intersection of truck engine size, condition, mods, and driving style affect the outcome. I absolutely believe all the posts on here and I think some of you did get better mileage on one type vs. another tune.

So, I'll just have to play with it and find out for myself what mine does!

Once again, I thank the group for all the information. I dislike getting into something with no idea whatsoever, lol.

 

what are you estimating the MPG increase to be John?

 

I'm not. I'm hoping at minimum that it's a wash -- that is, that I get the boost without spending more.

Anything after that is gravy -- but I really, really like gravy...

 

OK - so your goal is more power at same fuel consumption
Of course I too would like more power but am more interested in signifigant increase to the straight HWY mileage
16-17 MPG is absurd in a modern 3/4 ton pickup - fuel is just being wasted somewhere
I suspect low top end gearing as that 5th gear went in between 1st and 2nd and not at the top

hmmmm.... a 4 door Wrangler Unlimited with a 6 SP Manual and a diesel burner could be put together by the Germans.....

 

i used to see 18-21 with my auto and 32s with the chip.

even still i see 16 all day long and i got 18mpg on my last trip south (1000miles)

that is with 4.56s and 35s too. it was a little worse in the mountains but that was expected.

that is with stock intake/filter, efan, and bamachips 87 performance tune.