• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Ford Performance Tune

Dale5403

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,974
Reactions
1,988
Points
262
Location
Mondovi, WI, USA
One thing ZFG may have a leg up is the transmission tuning. I'm not shilling for either on. Warranty the FP tune has the leg up.
 

Messages
98
Reactions
71
Points
17
Location
Chattanooga, TN, USA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
For those who want a warranty-saving tune, they should just do the FP tune. If you're that person, put a period on it and buy it.
No doubt. Or just discuss it for 26 more pages.
 

TMac

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,706
Reactions
1,494
Points
262
Location
Knoxville, TN
No doubt. Or just discuss it for 26 more pages.
You haven't been here long enough to look at the 100s of pages of 3 vs 4 bolt differential discussions spread across at least 6 threads...this is nothing!
 

st8

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,074
Reactions
479
Points
212
Location
Bel Air, MD, USA
No doubt. Or just discuss it for 26 more pages.
I’m just torn lol hate to keep belaboring it. yeah I like the idea of preserving a warranty but based on all the reports, Zfg seems pretty damn rock solid.
 

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,627
Reactions
1,185
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
I will agree with those stating one of the best parts of a ZFG tune is the trans. Definitely a more pleasant experience with the transmission shifting the way it should.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

TMac

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,706
Reactions
1,494
Points
262
Location
Knoxville, TN
I’m just torn lol hate to keep belaboring it. yeah I like the idea of preserving a warranty but based on all the reports, Zfg seems pretty damn rock solid.
Yes, please stop "belaboring" it. Put up or shut up. Every possible pro and con has already been covered in this thread. What possible unanswered question is inhibiting your decision?
 

st8

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,074
Reactions
479
Points
212
Location
Bel Air, MD, USA
Yes, please stop "belaboring" it. Put up or shut up. Every possible pro and con has already been covered in this thread. What possible unanswered question is inhibiting your decision?
You got it. Thanks
 

Messages
262
Reactions
198
Points
37
Location
Charlotte, NC, USA
How do you guys think this FP tune would compare to zfg auto octane? The latter offering claims of 50+ hp and torque. The former obviously noting 30hp gain and up to 35lb torque. But they say peak 467lb torque. Curious why they say 35 lb torque gain but then say 467 peak. Math doesn’t add up or likely just my lack of knowledge lol can anyone explain this or offer any input. Much appreciated!
St8, I went with the auto octane tune. Told Adam what my goals were which required slightly higher than the quoted WHP of 50. Adam said not a problem. At some point I'll find my way to a 4 wheel dyno to see how close we got. My reasoning for the auto octane was the inconsistency of 92-93 oct. and the confiscatory prices charged in certain markets. Reading this thread and with Tmac's input I've learned the ST's base platform is more forgiving than I knew on adjusting for octane levels. If I had to do it all over again I most likely would take the same path. As I told Adam, I don't race it, and I won't get in a pissing contest over draggy time slips. I just went with the tune I felt most comfortable with and wouldn't shell the transmission with some spirited driving.
 

Messages
98
Reactions
71
Points
17
Location
Chattanooga, TN, USA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
You haven't been here long enough to look at the 100s of pages of 3 vs 4 bolt differential discussions spread across at least 6 threads...this is nothing!
Yeah, I read a little bit then got bored. TBH, if the boss lady wants a tune it would be the Ford tune, she bought it used and it has some long ass Ford ESP warranty on it. If it was my daily, I would go ZFG, just send it and hope it stayed together.
 

Dale5403

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,974
Reactions
1,988
Points
262
Location
Mondovi, WI, USA
Yeah, I read a little bit then got bored. TBH, if the boss lady wants a tune it would be the Ford tune, she bought it used and it has some long ass Ford ESP warranty on it. If it was my daily, I would go ZFG, just send it and hope it stayed together.
The Fp tune warranty only applies for 3 years/36,000 miles from the in service date. Your ST may be beyond that. ESP is no help here.
 

I Bleed Ford Blue

Active Member
U.S. Navy Veteran
Messages
758
Reactions
520
Points
232
Location
Ohio
Vehicle
23 Rapid Red Explorer ST
The Fp tune warranty only applies for 3 years/36,000 miles from the in service date. Your ST may be beyond that. ESP is no help here.
Exactly. It's not 3/36 from when you had the FP tune installed, it's from the original date the ST was sold and titled for the first time. If you have a 2020 that was first sold in 19 or you already have 36K or more miles on it then the FP warranty is null and void anyway. At that point just buy a ZFG tune, for roughly 1K you can get triple the HP of the FP tune.
 

st8

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,074
Reactions
479
Points
212
Location
Bel Air, MD, USA
St8, I went with the auto octane tune. Told Adam what my goals were which required slightly higher than the quoted WHP of 50. Adam said not a problem. At some point I'll find my way to a 4 wheel dyno to see how close we got. My reasoning for the auto octane was the inconsistency of 92-93 oct. and the confiscatory prices charged in certain markets. Reading this thread and with Tmac's input I've learned the ST's base platform is more forgiving than I knew on adjusting for octane levels. If I had to do it all over again I most likely would take the same path. As I told Adam, I don't race it, and I won't get in a pissing contest over draggy time slips. I just went with the tune I felt most comfortable with and wouldn't shell the transmission with some spirited driving.
Appreciate the info! Helpful to hear some feedback on that particular version.
 

CareerFiremanGuy

1000 Post Club
Firefighter/EMT
Messages
1,083
Reactions
812
Points
262
Location
USA
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
No doubt. Or just discuss it for 26 more pages.
It could be cut down to ~4 pages if all the irrelevant and irrational comments were deleted. The radically misinformed are ruining it, no surprise. It's the internet. Lol

... If you have a 2020 that was first sold in 19 or you already have 36K or more miles on it then the FP warranty is null and void anyway ...
Alternatively. It's not just about New vs. Older out of warranty ST's. Even if someone had an older ST, the FP tune is the manufacturer's tune and will appeal to people who don't trust 3rd party software. And if something were to happen to an ST with an out of warranty FP tune, the chance of a dealer working with them is vastly greater.

... I don't race it, and I won't get in a pissing contest over draggy time slips. I just went with the tune I felt most comfortable with and wouldn't shell the transmission with some spirited driving.
It's honorable you think for yourself and don't let forum members lead you around on a short leash. Going with a modest tune is radically appealing to many people. Otherwise, would FORD have wasted their time and money developing one? Nope.

But the point needs to be made: OEM vs 3rd party tune debates have been going on for decades. You have Group A, who has brand loyalty and couldn't care less how much HP a 3rd party tune makes. Then you have Group B, who wants max HP at all costs and is willing to get it from anyone, anywhere. And there you go ...
 

Dale5403

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,974
Reactions
1,988
Points
262
Location
Mondovi, WI, USA
It could be cut down to ~4 pages if all the irrelevant and irrational comments were deleted. The radically misinformed are ruining it, no surprise. It's the internet. Lol



Alternatively. It's not just about New vs. Older out of warranty ST's. Even if someone had an older ST, the FP tune is the manufacturer's tune and will appeal to people who don't trust 3rd party software. And if something were to happen to an ST with an out of warranty FP tune, the chance of a dealer working with them is vastly greater.



It's honorable you think for yourself and don't let forum members lead you around on a short leash. Going with a modest tune is radically appealing to many people. Otherwise, would FORD have wasted their time and money developing one? Nope.

But the point needs to be made: OEM vs 3rd party tune debates have been going on for decades. You have Group A, who has brand loyalty and couldn't care less how much HP a 3rd party tune makes. Then you have Group B, who wants max HP at all costs and is willing to get it from anyone, anywhere. And there you go ...
1669299579292.png
 

st8

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,074
Reactions
479
Points
212
Location
Bel Air, MD, USA
Just got the tune install by the Ford Dealership. Cost was $90 but I pre loaded the tune file on the tuner.

Outside Temp is 50F
Intake Temp is 69 F (Nice)
ST (Normal Mode) is making 18 PSI Boost at 3/4 throttle. (Stock is about 14 to 16PSI).

Taking it easy. Waiting on the tranny to relearn.
Got a quote from a ASE certified shop, initially $250. I responded back and said if I prep the tune, would that help. Told me $150. That’s their minimum fee to charge for service. I’m content with that. I said I could do the whole prep thing. Instructions seem pretty straightforward. So did you just backup and load the FP tune onto the device so all the dealer had to do was press program?

I am guessing it shouldn’t matter warranty wise if I prep the tune? As long as the final job is installed by dealer/certified tech.
 

Spins4

New Member
Messages
8
Reactions
40
Points
12
Location
Elkhorn, WI, USA
Vehicle
2015 GTR, 2022 Explorer ST (on order)
Got a quote from a ASE certified shop, initially $250. I responded back and said if I prep the tune, would that help. Told me $150. That’s their minimum fee to charge for service. I’m content with that. I said I could do the whole prep thing. Instructions seem pretty straightforward. So did you just backup and load the FP tune onto the device so all the dealer had to do was press program?

I am guessing it shouldn’t matter warranty wise if I prep the tune? As long as the final job is installed by dealer/certified tech.
That’s exactly what I did. I brought my laptop with the ProCal program already installed on the laptop and the ProCal 4 ‘tool’ updates complete with the stock calibration saved. I had mine done at the dealership for $125. The tech thanked me for bringing my laptop and completing the ‘pre- work’.
 

Sgt1411

Member
Law Enforcement
Messages
239
Reactions
151
Points
37
Location
BC&AZ
Vehicle
2021 ST
Confirmed the FP tune is designed to handle ALL octanes. Performance of the tune calibrations are modulated by the octane. The engineers I spoke to were surprised & confused by the information about the risk of holes in pistons. Installing it yourself does not void any warranty. If an issue occurred they would need to show actual cause that the installation of the tune was incorrect in some way and directly related to the issue.
 

st8

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,074
Reactions
479
Points
212
Location
Bel Air, MD, USA
Confirmed the FP tune is designed to handle ALL octanes. Performance of the tune calibrations are modulated by the octane. The engineers I spoke to were surprised & confused by the information about the risk of holes in pistons. Installing it yourself does not void any warranty. If an issue occurred they would need to show actual cause that the installation of the tune was incorrect in some way and directly related to the issue.
Great info thanks! Really helpful to hear. I would say I hope they fix the wording but I doubt they will. It honestly makes sense that they would make it like an auto octane tune to account for people making mistakes and using 87 octane for example.

I think just the whole part of installing it yourself vs having a dealer/ASE do it is the latter you maintain the 3 year/36k warranty that comes with the tune. If you do it yourself, you forgo that “extra warranty”. But yeah like all tune, they have to specifically prove it causes issues. That’s how I read it and have been told at least.
Thanks again for that info though.
 

jefferylay

Member
U.S. Air Force Veteran
Messages
52
Reactions
11
Points
7
Location
Colorado
Vehicle
Ford Explorer ST
For today's entertainment value, I had spoken with my service rep at local dealer (where my steed has been sitting for 116 days and counting waiting on a rear axle cover due to broken bolt) about installing the Ford Performance Tune. I get it's not panacea HP wise and I'm leering of lurking outside my extended warranty hence no high end tune (for now) ... that and I wanna check out the difference in shift points and MPG. I can get it for 599 online and take it to them but they wanna bilk me for 1. retail $899 plus (get this) an entire DAY of labor. Total 1500 ish plus tax. They had pawned me off on the accessories department where the 20 something year old girl made such absurd remarks as “I like to charge a full day labor just to be safe” and “ unfortunately we can’t control the computer”. Uh, ok.
 

st8

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,074
Reactions
479
Points
212
Location
Bel Air, MD, USA
For today's entertainment value, I had spoken with my service rep at local dealer (where my steed has been sitting for 116 days and counting waiting on a rear axle cover due to broken bolt) about installing the Ford Performance Tune. I get it's not panacea HP wise and I'm leering of lurking outside my extended warranty hence no high end tune (for now) ... that and I wanna check out the difference in shift points and MPG. I can get it for 599 online and take it to them but they wanna bilk me for 1. retail $899 plus (get this) an entire DAY of labor. Total 1500 ish plus tax. They had pawned me off on the accessories department where the 20 something year old girl made such absurd remarks as “I like to charge a full day labor just to be safe” and “ unfortunately we can’t control the computer”. Uh, ok.
Yeah I had a dealer claim they needed my vehicle all day as well. Kinda lost interest after that point especially since they were 45 min away. Absolutely no reason you need my car to sit there for 8 hrs for you to do a 30 min tune. Oh, and they wanted me to come prep’d with the tuner ready to go.
 



Top