Best tune for 2020 Ford Explorer ST

PBD or 5 star for e85? Also any SoCal shops that do e85 setups? Been loving our ST but really want it running on e85

For e85 you are going to need to install a HPFP first.

PBD or 5 star for e85? Also any SoCal shops that do e85 setups? Been loving our ST but really want it running on e85

PBD or ZFG for E85. Honestly I would stay away from 5Star

I'll show 5star a little bit of love here. They are very responsive and customer svc is excellent. Their 93 perf tune is very very fast and I am very happy with it. Compared to stock, it is night & day. However, there have been a few minor hiccups that I've been trying to iron out to no avail. I had previously scoured the forums RE tunes and think the consensus is ZFG. Either that, or ZFG has the happiest, most active forum members lol. Unfortunately for me, I missed the boat by 1 day and despite us having numerous conversations, Adam refused to tune my rig until he got his EPA thing sorted. I was bitter about it for a week or so, ordered the 5-star and have been enjoying it ever since. I still plan to get my truck tuned by ZFG and Adam assured me I would be one of the first 10 (remains to be seen).

I think the main difference with ZFG is datalogging and the additional level of customization he can achieve therefrom. I have requested several tweaks to various tunes from 5-star based upon my descriptions of what I'm experiencing and what i want it to feel like, and most of the revised tunes were no better than the original. In fact, most were worse. I have requested them to datalog the issues, but they they still have not done so as I dont think they support datalogging on the HPT RTD device just yet. To that end, I still think they are a good tuning option esp. in ZFG's absence. Many others seem happy with theirs and if you are not as picky as I am, you will probably be very happy with 5-star. Either way, I will definitely post a thread here once I get tuned by ZFG with some more insight.

...Sorry, but they don’t have the Trans tuning down yet for the 10R60.

Sadly, Ford hasn't figured that out either.

Mine feels like two different vehicles depending upon whether it's in Sport vs. Normal mode over the first 30ft. off of any stop sign/light. I cannot bring it off of a stop smoothly in Normal mode without paying particular attention to it. It's no problem in Sport mode. Even my wife notices the differences and I'm not talking about getting on it in any form or fashion.

PBD or 5 star for e85? Also any SoCal shops that do e85 setups? Been loving our ST but really want it running on e85

Are you thinking about tuning. Brett has my shifting in a pretty darn good spot.


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I've been waiting for Bret to get back with me. PM'd him about a week ago. He hasn't visited the other site for a few days. I didn't realize you were running his stuff until after I had PM'd him asking about it. You and I think a lot alike. Truth is I'm still undecided as this is the wife's car. I don't know how I feel about hers being faster than my truck. What if she won't let me drive it?

I haven't addressed the IC and I will if I tune (I know you're doing this shortly). I've moved very slowly on the mods with this one as I just haven't felt up to it but I do a little something most every week. My door letters should be here next week.

Thank you all for the advice. I’m definitely going to be changing the fuel pumps. I don’t want to keep this guy stock. Anything else I should change to make sure I run smoothly while operating e85? I want more power of course and quicker times I’d like to push 500 to the wheels without switching out the turbos. I’m very new to the tuning scene. So thank y’all for your patience with me. I’m nervous to mess with the transmission since I’ve read that Ford kinda dropped the ball with the ST transmission I did hear that these transmissions can handle over 750hp stock but I could have misread an article. Also is it possible to run e85 and then when I go into other parts of the country where it isn’t readily available, switch back to 87-93 gas? Or once I’m e85 there is no switching back?

Going by the torque ratings on the 10R60, youll be changing or beefing the tranny before changing the turbos. The main issue is not the max hp ratings, its the torque. A stock ST almost puts out the "max" input tq ratings on the 10R60.

Itll be very interesting once or if Ford ever puts out a Performance tune for the ST.

Agreed. Stock tune drops torque like a rock up top though so I think there's plenty to work with still. Raise boost/timing up top for premium to hold torque flat to redline and you have 500hp no problem. If I decide to tune mine I'll do it myself in HPTuners and that's the plan, just don't want to void the warranty since I plan to keep this for the long haul.

All the current tuners are just pushing torque out and I don't think we've determined if that's safe for the driveline yet. I'd say I'm sad we didn't get a 10r80 but honestly that trans shifts poorly so I'm ok with the 60 if it holds up decently.

Your last statement is absolutely untrue. The good tuners are not “just pushing torque out”…they’re actually holding it back. They’re capable of much more then the good tuners are throwing at them.
They also do know what’s safe for the driveline which is why they’re holding back where it’s needed.

Hi, I live in Denver, altitude 5280 ft. The highest octane here is 91. Is there any benefit in getting a tune for power? Thanks!

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Live in Castle Rock. I use regular unleaded and use my ST for everyday driving. It has plenty of pep without the higher octane due to the high altitude.