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Ford Performance Tune

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This tune was “looked at” by a very reputable tuner. He found absolutely zero changes to the trans tuning from stock. My guess is the differences people are feeling is a KAM reset when installing the new tune and the trans doing a fresh relearn with your new driving style.
 

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This tune was “looked at” by a very reputable tuner. He found absolutely zero changes to the trans tuning from stock. My guess is the differences people are feeling is a KAM reset when installing the new tune and the trans doing a fresh relearn with your new driving style.
In sport Mode. The hard downshift went away. That's the only think I notice on the tranny.
 

Cdubya

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FP Tune only claims "optimized transmission shift schedule". Not sure what that means exactly. I guess you can't assume it means transmission tuning at all. And unless you've done a trans adaptive learning reset (ie. Forscan service procedure or other method), who knows if that's the sole reason for the difference people are feeling with this tune. I was doing it with the stock tune and even Livernois tune because it actually smoothed out the shifts--after a time, it seemed shifts became a little abrupt or lurchy.
 

st8

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This tune was “looked at” by a very reputable tuner. He found absolutely zero changes to the trans tuning from stock. My guess is the differences people are feeling is a KAM reset when installing the new tune and the trans doing a fresh relearn with your new driving style.
Yeah I saw that. Chalked up that it’s just going to go back to how it was. Well, over a thousand miles later and it’s still better for me. So who knows. All I know is my ST didn’t get worse the more I drove it. It had the kinda off shifts from day 1. Now with this tune it’s better. So something was done imo.
 

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Yeah I saw that. Chalked up that it’s just going to go back to how it was. Well, over a thousand miles later and it’s still better for me. So who knows. All I know is my ST didn’t get worse the more I drove it. It had the kinda off shifts from day 1. Now with this tune it’s better. So something was done imo.
Although I wouldn’t be surprised if Ford Performance did no real changes, this could be a case where there are tables they have access to, that HPT doesn’t.

SCT and HPT constantly get requests to add tables.


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I think that’s a bit of a stretch in this case.
 

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I think that’s a bit of a stretch in this case.
Why is that? I see tables in SCT that HPT doesn't have and the other way around. Livernois has an in with Ford that neither SCT or HPT or COBB seems to have.

It's not apples to apples, but I saw folks claim the same thing when Ford put out the cam phaser TSB flash for the Gen2 3.5's. Folks, including tuners were saying "there is nothing in this update other than shutter control changes", which wasn't the case. They just couldn't see all the changes.
 

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Out of curiosity, has anyone tried running e30 in the Ford Performance Tune? I know that the Auto Octane and 91-93 Octane ZFG tunes are able to handle it but wonder if the Ford tune could as well.
 

Cruising68

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My thoughts would be no but curious to hear from others.


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You could run it, but the tune is capped for power output. So unless you’re in a really specific scenario (like super hot ambient temp with a stock intercooler), you will likely not see any benefit.


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You could run it, but the tune is capped for power output. So unless you’re in a really specific scenario (like super hot ambient temp with a stock intercooler), you will likely not see any benefit.


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Thanks!
 

I Bleed Ford Blue

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You could run it, but the tune is capped for power output.


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Sounds like a good reason to skip the ford tune and go aftermarket.
 

st8

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Sounds like a good reason to skip the ford tune and go aftermarket.
I mean that’s kinda obvious. Anyone looking to squeeze every bit of power out of the ST should ONLY be looking aftermarket. That’s not the point of the FP tune. At all.
 

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Why is that? I see tables in SCT that HPT doesn't have and the other way around. Livernois has an in with Ford that neither SCT or HPT or COBB seems to have.

It's not apples to apples, but I saw folks claim the same thing when Ford put out the cam phaser TSB flash for the Gen2 3.5's. Folks, including tuners were saying "there is nothing in this update other than shutter control changes", which wasn't the case. They just couldn't see all the changes.
In this case, the only changes Ford has made for the performance tune that can't be seen in HPTuners for example are for unrelated items.

There's 3 parameters changed that change the rate the engine speed limiter cycles.
1 parameter that is normally used for overboost logic that was adjusted (not sure why, both the stock value and the Ford Performance value still leave overboost logic disabled)
1 table that effects dashpot control slightly.

There are 2 transmissions tables altered that are non-visible, but everything adjusted on the transmission side is only for raised or removed torque limits to deal with the higher torque of the system.
Nothing is changed with scheduling, shift pressures (besides the obvious higher torque = higher pressure, but thats stock functionality), or timing.

The "effect" people are feeling is simply the adaptive reset that occurs during flashing.
EDIT: see my next post, it could also be some changes that happened from updating to the latest trans cal from an earlier MY cal
 

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st8

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In this case, the only changes Ford has made for the performance tune that can't be seen are for unrelated items.

There's 3 parameters changed that change the rate the engine speed limiter cycles.
1 parameter that is normally used for overboost logic that was adjusted (not sure why, both the stock value and the Ford Performance value still leave overboost logic disabled)
1 table that effects dashpot control slightly.

There are 2 transmissions tables altered that are non-visible, but everything adjusted on the transmission side is only for raised or removed torque limits to deal with the higher torque of the system.
Nothing is changed with scheduling, shift pressures (besides the obvious higher torque = higher pressure, but thats stock functionality), or timing.

The "effect" people are feeling is simply the adaptive reset that occurs during flashing.
Yet my explorer never felt like this even brand new. So I don’t think so.
 

Bugasu

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I should add, technically if you had an older calibration, it would update your transmission tune.
There are 10 base revisions that Ford has made over the years. An early 2020 vs a new 2023 actually has quite a bit different transmission side, including shift points and pressures.

Saying there's no changes, I'm comparing the latest 2022 calibration to the Ford Performance calibration.
If you had a car made before roughly early 22MY (so Oct'ish 2021), you actually do get what Ford's advertising in optimized shift points and the like.. The only thing is, its optimized to what you'd get on a new 22 or 23. (Also technically there's solenoid changes in the valve body from the early to later cars, but those aren't gonna change this).

You also get a fresh adaptive reset, which can definitely change how your car feels compared to even when you drove it brand new.

I understand your car "never felt like this even brand new", but adaptive learning on a new transmission and learning on an already driven on transmission will not necessarily learn the same shift parameters for the same wear. How Ford's adaptive algorithm work is it targets some set times and rates, but not necessarily an optimal setting to produce that time and rate, so when and how it learns it can change things. It's also why most dealerships first reaction to shifting problems is to reset them (because that's what Ford tells them to do in the shop guide!).

Basically what you're getting is the latest transmission calibration and a fresh adaptive learn. Both are positives and will change how the trans feels and operates, but its not like Ford Performance tune put Mustang drag mode shifting parameters in the transmission suddenly to target if you get what I'm saying.
 

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I should add, technically if you had an older calibration, it would update your transmission tune.
There are 10 base revisions that Ford has made over the years. An early 2020 vs a new 2023 actually has quite a bit different transmission side, including shift points and pressures.

Saying there's no changes, I'm comparing the latest 2022 calibration to the Ford Performance calibration.
If you had a car made before roughly early 22MY (so Oct'ish 2021), you actually do get what Ford's advertising in optimized shift points and the like.. The only thing is, its optimized to what you'd get on a new 22 or 23. (Also technically there's solenoid changes in the valve body from the early to later cars, but those aren't gonna change this).

You also get a fresh adaptive reset, which can definitely change how your car feels compared to even when you drove it brand new.

I understand your car "never felt like this even brand new", but adaptive learning on a new transmission and learning on an already driven on transmission will not necessarily learn the same shift parameters for the same wear. How Ford's adaptive algorithm work is it targets some set times and rates, but not necessarily an optimal setting to produce that time and rate, so when and how it learns it can change things. It's also why most dealerships first reaction to shifting problems is to reset them (because that's what Ford tells them to do in the shop guide!).

Basically what you're getting is the latest transmission calibration and a fresh adaptive learn. Both are positives and will change how the trans feels and operates, but its not like Ford Performance tune put Mustang drag mode shifting parameters in the transmission suddenly to target if you get what I'm saying.
Where is your information coming from? Just asking.
 

Bugasu

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Where is your information coming from? Just asking.
From the files themselves :)
I work for HPTuners. I picked up an Explorer ST recently and was browsing the forum when I came upon this thread, so I thought I'd inject some of what I know.
 

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From the files themselves :)
I work for HPTuners. I picked up an Explorer ST recently and was browsing the forum when I came upon this thread, so I thought I'd inject some of what I know.
Awesome stuff, thanks for sharing.


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st8

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From the files themselves :)
I work for HPTuners. I picked up an Explorer ST recently and was browsing the forum when I came upon this thread, so I thought I'd inject some of what I know.
Very cool! Any other good info? 93 octane truly a requirement? Towing really not ideal? No idea if you could know that from what you do and can see but worth an ask as it’s been addressed here before.

Either way, whatever ford did or didn’t do, the tune has made a very noticeable difference in the way my ST performs. Nothing ground breaking but clearly improved.
 



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