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I wanted to make a thread that can answer some simple type questions regarding tuning. Tuning will be highly popular on the Bronco. Factory turbocharged engines answer very well to even simple calibration changes. I will also go over current devices that are on the market and provide links to each for us all to research and choose what best fits out needs and wants. Let's start with some basic questions first.
What actually changes with a tune?
Various parameters in the engine and transmission calibrations are modified. In the simplest sense, more fuel equals more power. Ignition timing can be advanced to allow for the fuel/air mixture to be ignited at peak cylinder pressure to get the most power. The higher octane the fuel, the more power. Higher octane fuel is more resistant to pre-detonation which is very bad for turbocharged engines. See post #27 for a more detailed explanation thanks to @Laminar . As far as the transmission goes, there are several key tables in the calibration that will be modified. Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) can be modified to lock the converter in whatever gear desired as well as lockup speed to decrease clutch wear. Line Pressure can be raised to allow for quicker firmer shifts. Shift properties can be modified. For example, in HP tuners software there are Initial Slip Time, Overall Slip Time, and Torque Transfer time regarding the clutches inside your transmission. With fear of getting in too deep, just know there is a lot that goes into modern engine and transmission tuning. Most tuning companies have spent hours and hours of research, testing, and datalogging to provide a solid product for their customers.
Is tuning worth it if I only plan on using 87 octane?
This is a personal choice. Some companies do advertise power gains on 87 octane, but I have seen stock engine calibrations pull (retard) timing to avoid spark knock. If you are unhappy with the factory transmission shift strategy, tuning it alone may be worth it to you. The factory 10 speed will skip gears in stock form. Some people do not like that.
What are some other modifications that pair well together with a tune?
Basic bolt-ons! Turbocharged engine love to breath. They also love cooler charge temps (temperature of the pressurized air entering the engine). Free-flowing exhaust, downpipes, intakes, intercoolers, and charge pipes (piping from the turbo outlet to the intake manifold) are the most common ones.
Alright, what are the power gains?
2.3 Ecoboost: With 93 Octane, expect 30-50+ peak horsepower and 75+ peak torque. There will also be nice gains under the curve (Peak numbers)
2.7 Ecoboost: With 93 Octane, expect 50-75+ peak horsepower and 90+ peak torque. There will also be nice gains under the curve
A lot of the United states has access to E85. If you want peak performance, several tuning companies offer E30, 40, 50, or full E85 tunes. Blended tunes are blended with 93 octane. Full E85 tunes usually require upgraded injectors/fuel pumps. A full E85 tune on a 2.7 gets you around 450 horsepower and 525+ torque.
Devices:
SCT: Livewire, X4, etc..
Bullydog: BDX, GTX
HP Tuners: nGauge, RTD, MPVI
Cobb: Accessport
I put this together quick and dirty and will update it as time progresses. Please correct me on anything (as long as you can back it up lol) and post up anything other solid information and I will update this post.
What actually changes with a tune?
Various parameters in the engine and transmission calibrations are modified. In the simplest sense, more fuel equals more power. Ignition timing can be advanced to allow for the fuel/air mixture to be ignited at peak cylinder pressure to get the most power. The higher octane the fuel, the more power. Higher octane fuel is more resistant to pre-detonation which is very bad for turbocharged engines. See post #27 for a more detailed explanation thanks to @Laminar . As far as the transmission goes, there are several key tables in the calibration that will be modified. Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) can be modified to lock the converter in whatever gear desired as well as lockup speed to decrease clutch wear. Line Pressure can be raised to allow for quicker firmer shifts. Shift properties can be modified. For example, in HP tuners software there are Initial Slip Time, Overall Slip Time, and Torque Transfer time regarding the clutches inside your transmission. With fear of getting in too deep, just know there is a lot that goes into modern engine and transmission tuning. Most tuning companies have spent hours and hours of research, testing, and datalogging to provide a solid product for their customers.
Is tuning worth it if I only plan on using 87 octane?
This is a personal choice. Some companies do advertise power gains on 87 octane, but I have seen stock engine calibrations pull (retard) timing to avoid spark knock. If you are unhappy with the factory transmission shift strategy, tuning it alone may be worth it to you. The factory 10 speed will skip gears in stock form. Some people do not like that.
What are some other modifications that pair well together with a tune?
Basic bolt-ons! Turbocharged engine love to breath. They also love cooler charge temps (temperature of the pressurized air entering the engine). Free-flowing exhaust, downpipes, intakes, intercoolers, and charge pipes (piping from the turbo outlet to the intake manifold) are the most common ones.
Alright, what are the power gains?
2.3 Ecoboost: With 93 Octane, expect 30-50+ peak horsepower and 75+ peak torque. There will also be nice gains under the curve (Peak numbers)
2.7 Ecoboost: With 93 Octane, expect 50-75+ peak horsepower and 90+ peak torque. There will also be nice gains under the curve
A lot of the United states has access to E85. If you want peak performance, several tuning companies offer E30, 40, 50, or full E85 tunes. Blended tunes are blended with 93 octane. Full E85 tunes usually require upgraded injectors/fuel pumps. A full E85 tune on a 2.7 gets you around 450 horsepower and 525+ torque.
Devices:
SCT: Livewire, X4, etc..
Bullydog: BDX, GTX
HP Tuners: nGauge, RTD, MPVI
Cobb: Accessport
I put this together quick and dirty and will update it as time progresses. Please correct me on anything (as long as you can back it up lol) and post up anything other solid information and I will update this post.
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