Advice for Ecoboost options

[5Mad]

Apologies if this gets book length but a lot of this is interconnected. 2017 Ford Mustang Ecoboost Premium Convertible. The only alteration on the car thus far is I installed the locking lug nuts and replaced the dealer license plate bracket. That's it. I've been burning 87 octane and gas mileage is at 29mpg. Nice. I intend to continue burning 87 octane fuel and would appreciate if people wishing to post "you should be using 91 or 93!" stuff would please not do that; it won't answer my questions and I really didn't ask that question. Thanks.

I'm looking at installing 4 modifications: CAI, intercooler, plugs, and a tune. Two tunes in fact.

CAI: Roush states they don't require a tune. The Ford Performance requires it. Likely due to air flow. Which tells me air flow from the Ford part is likely improved over the Roush? Confirmation would be appreciated. The Ford kit can be purchased without the tune but installing it requires the tune.

Intercooler: I'll install one but I've already selected which I'm interested in.

Plugs: I'll install ones which are a bit cooler. The NKGs.

Tuner: This is the biggest bit.

The contenders (open to others):
1) COBB. More expensive. Permits faster changes but that doesn't really do anything for me. Real time gauges likewise is uninteresting to me. Claims to support 100 tunes but a check of COBB's site shows 6: Stages 0-4, Valet, and no run. A big banner states anything else requires a tune specialist. Which probably costs money. So "select from our library of hundreds" makes me think they charge for those. That I couldn't find the answer to that on their site is a shortfall of their site. The Stage 0 changes nothing. The stage 1-3 all require 91 octane. There appears to be no stage for 87 octane with the Ford CAI. It doesn't appear that the Stage 0 would work as Ford is clear their CAI requires a non-standard tune. There should be, to me, no reason that a 87 octane tune for the Ford CAI isn't possible.
2) BAMA. Less expensive. Comes with two tunes and that is what I need. The issue here is whether that requires a lot of pearl-clutching over the tunes I'm after. Basically I'd like two tunes. Ford CAI. Intercooler. Cooler plugs. Run 87 octane gas with that. When desired burn a couple of tanks of 93. Then install the faster tune. Then, when I've finished with that, back to the 87 tune. I'm aware that the Ford CAI and intercooler are kind of wasted if I run 87 most of the time. I'm ok with that.

Does BAMA have an 87 octane tune when a car has the Ford CAI?
Does the COBB have an 87 octane tune when a car has the Ford CAI? If COBB can provide such a thing for a fee that's a bummer as the BAMA tuner is cheaper and comes with two tunes. Which would work for me assuming they don't just refuse to create an 87 octane tune for a car having the Ford CAI.

Suggestions? Outside of "Burn better gas" and "you're wasting your money burning 87 with improved parts" and that's my choice.

Thanks. Side note: I really don't like having to mention the people who invariably don't answer the question and shop their preference. That "you are a low-grade moron for burning 87" kind of thing. It's rude. I mention it as I've seen it on posts. So apologies for sounding rude in not wanting to hear that but I'd like the questions I asked answered and not have a long debate over something I didn't ask. Thanks again.

Sponsored

 

[Brian V]

I make my own mods !
87 really ? You could consider atleast 89 .I have burned 93 since I got IT off of the dealers lot !

NGK 6510 s are the cooler plug .

 

[signal12]

I won't say what you should do but at least with the Ford tune you HAVE to run at least 91 octane. This tune is considered mild compared to most but I can't say there isn't a tune for 87 octane but you may want to prepare yourself that you might not be able to have both. Good luck and have fun playing!

 

[jbailer]

You do not need a tune for the FP cold air intake or any other intake. Nobody will be making a special tune for the intake either so no worries there. The reason is the intake makes very little difference on this car since you're in the US, your EB uses a MAP rather than a MAF for intake air metering.

Regarding the plugs, that's a waste, cooler plugs aren't needed until you're pushing it quite a bit more than you're intending. The FP tune uses the stock plugs at the stock gap. Running cooler plugs than is needed will just cause them to foul, they won't give you more power.

Personally, I'd go with the FP tune if I were you based on your description of what you want. It will run 87 and up with no changes required. If you're running 87, you could just switch to 91+ and it would adjust up on its own.

 

[signal12]

Personally, I'd go with the FP tune if I were you based on your description of what you want. It will run 87 and up with no changes required. If you're running 87, you could just switch to 91+ and it would adjust up on its own.

As a note, the FP tune DOES require 91 or better. Even comes with a neat sticker to put inside the gas cap door!

 

[jbailer]

As a note, the FP tune DOES require 91 or better. Even comes with a neat sticker to put inside the gas cap door!

Actually it doesn't. They do that for best performance. This is the first they've done the tune that didn't require 91 or greater. Please don't just take my word for it though, call FP, they will tell you. It requires 91 to get the performance they claim though but will run on 87 octane just fine.

 

[signal12]

Actually it doesn't. They do that for best performance. This is the first they've done the tune that didn't require 91 or greater. Please don't just take my word for it though, call FP, they will tell you. It requires 91 to get the performance they claim though but will run on 87 octane just fine.

I admittedly am not on it enough to disagree with you, so I'll defer, brother! BTW, I appreciate the way you disagreed with me but didn't get all up in arms and posted an intelligent response. It's refreshing.

I just took it for granted after all the posts and seeing the sticker that it required 91. I'm personally running 93 and getting better mpg's than I was with 87 on the FP tune. Also, BTW, I highly recommend the FP tune!

 

[MagneticEco]

CAI: Like mentioned above this is a purely cosmetic item, choose whichever one you like the best.

Intercooler: I have CPE, but based on what you said any one out there should do, but I'd stick with a stock location one for ease of installation.

Cold Plugs: I got the NGK, considering you want to use mostly 87, this is a good idea to help prevent pre-detonation when tuned.

Tuner: Considering you want an 87 tune, I'd also consider unleashed, he uses the SCT X4, but comes with 2 custom tunes based on fuel and mods you're going to use. You'll lose some of the functionality of the COBB unit, but it's almost half the price with 2 custom tunes.

I'd also recommend getting a catch can, it is a good supporting mod that will help keep your engine cleaner and prevent oil from entering the intake, which helps prevent any nasty surprises from happening when tuned, especially when running a lower octane gas.

Good luck with your mods!

 

[Blyman93]

Not to turn the topic, but for the sake of consideration, I have a fairly aggressive and fast tune right now, I race an EB with the Ford tune and I'm still shocked. I only won because I'm FBO. It was close, mind you I also beat a stock 2013 5.0 and so did he. Don't ever look down on the ford tune

 

[S7N]

I agree i had the Ford tune as well before selling the Ecoboost and it was great. Personally I would go that route based on what you mentioned in your post.

 

[solodogg]

So wait a second, did you really come here to say you have read what is best for your car, but don't want to do that so tell me what else to do???

Flame away, but running 91+ in an EB will give you more MPG and performance gains than everything else you have already mentioned. So, if you feel like you are throwing money away with premium fuel, then by all means throw your money away on supporting mods that will only provide gains when used with premium fuel.

Maybe I should jump on a landscaping forum and tell them I want a full lush yard, but won't use fertilizer or lawn mowers...

 

[jtmat]

I'm with [MENTION=15518]jbailer[/MENTION] on this one... FP tune will do what you want without having to flash.

With unleashed, for example, if you go from 87 tune to 93, (I believe **someone correct me if wrong**) you have to flash from 87 to stock tune and then to 93. Unleashed has 87 tunes, I've seen them, but never been in a car with an 87 installed. Been in a car with a 93 and it is smoking fast...

To flash unleashed, it takes 10+ minutes. Not long, but feels like an eternity.

 

[MagneticEco]

Yes, with unleashed you have to flash to the tune you want, whether to 87, 91 or 93, but you don't have to flash to stock to switch between tunes though, you can flash between the different octanes without needing to flash to stock.

The actual flash takes around 10 mins, not really sure that long, considering OP just wants to tune and leave it at 87. I use the 93 for summer and 91 for winter, haven't used the 87 so I can't tell you have much or a gain it is, but both the 91 and 93 have noticeable gains.

Also I would agree with [MENTION=26415]solodogg[/MENTION] that on 93 is where most of the gains happen with this engine, but it's his money and car, he can do as he pleases.

 

[Tommy556]

Looking forward to see your "blown engine" thread soon... sorry I had to say it ;) Running these engines modded with 87 is just asking for trouble and really doesnt make sense.

 

[Brian V]

Yo OP are you going to start a thread and not participate ?

Sponsored