Any thoughts whether the ‘22-‘23 GT ECU is more “locked down” than the ‘18-‘21?

[young at heart]

We all know about the 10 hp “drop” between ‘21 and ‘22 and the topic has been beaten to death, including by myself. (I used quotation marks around the word drop because as a ‘22 owner I’m not 100% convinced there is one.)

What isn’t known for absolutely certain is how Ford achieved that drop. Lot of good educated guesses but that’s it. Even that really good YouTube video which got the 10 hp and more back doesn’t address potential ECU changes. And it only covers the Mach anyway, not the GT.

So after the latest hubbub from Ford about the S650 ECU being locked down, I’m wondering if they partially eased us into that lockdown starting with the ‘22s. To my knowledge nobody has offered any kind of a tune for the ‘22, including FP. It could just be an economic decision by the tuners but it could also be inability to get in to the ECU in the first place. If it were possible to do I would think somebody would have offered a ‘22 tune by now.

Any thoughts?

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[Deleted member 69033]

Just read this in the news this morning. It'll be interesting to see what they mean by "work with certain tuners". It also sounded like if there's internet they can literally check on your car at any time to see if you're doing something they consider off grid? I like old tech more and more personally...

 

[KingKona]

Someone posted a thread on 7G already confirming that the ECU will be locked. Ford claims they will work with certain tuners to allow the car to be tuned still, but that's probably going to be your factory package stuff like Roush

Edit: Mustang Chief Engineer Confirms Locked ECU, making S650 tune more difficult | Mustang7G - 2024+ S650 Mustang Forum (Hybrid, GT, EcoBoost, GT350, GT500, Bullitt, Mach 1)

The OP isn't asking about the 2024 Mustang.

My money would be on the 2023 cars having the same exact ECU, and being just as tunable. The 10HP loss was just the intake shenanigans, and nothing more.

On AmericanMuscle.com, there's plenty of tunes for 2022 cars.

 

[Red65]

The OP isn't asking about the 2024 Mustang.

My money would be on the 2023 cars having the same exact ECU, and being just as tunable. The 10HP loss was just the intake shenanigans, and nothing more.

You're right, I misread the title.

 

[young at heart]

The OP isn't asking about the 2024 Mustang.

My money would be on the 2023 cars having the same exact ECU, and being just as tunable. The 10HP loss was just the intake shenanigans, and nothing more.

On AmericanMuscle.com, there's plenty of tunes for 2022 cars.

KK, I would hope that’s the case but if so it begs the question as to why something as simple as the ‘21 9603 calibration kit can‘t be installed on the ‘22. Obviously the intake tube would circumvent changes made for EPA compliance but still, looks like somebody woulda done it.

 

[2022 Mach 1]

KK, I would hope that’s the case but if so it begs the question as to why something as simple as the ‘21 9603 calibration kit can‘t be installed on the ‘22. Obviously the intake tube would circumvent changes made for EPA compliance but still, looks like somebody woulda done it.

You can install it. And a third party can tune it. Ford won't support it due to violating the clean air act. That is all.

 

[KingKona]

You can install it. And a third party can tune it. Ford won't support it due to violating the clean air act. That is all.

Yep.

Or you can just buy your choice of closed CAI and a tune.

Or, really, just a tune. The OEM CAI is just fine....once you remove those stupid extra filters and such.

 

[young at heart]

You can install it. And a third party can tune it. Ford won't support it due to violating the clean air act. That is all.

Wait 2022 Mach 1, when you say “you can install it” do you mean to say that if you buy the 2021 kit you can install the tune that comes with it? I thought you had to send in your VIN to get the tune.

 

[MAGS1]

Wait 2022 Mach 1, when you say “you can install it” do you mean to say that if you buy the 2021 kit you can install the tune that comes with it? I thought you had to send in your VIN to get the tune.

You can buy all the physical components, you’d just have to go through a different tuner (Lund, PBD, Ortiz, etc.) to actually write a tune for what you have installed.

 

[Bikeman315]

On AmericanMuscle.com, there's plenty of tunes for 2022 cars.

Where?

 

[Bikeman315]

You can install it. And a third party can tune it. Ford won't support it due to violating the clean air act. That is all.

Why would you go this route as there would be no warranty?

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-9603-M8B

 

[young at heart]

You can buy all the physical components, you’d just have to go through a different tuner (Lund, PBD, Ortiz, etc.) to actually write a tune for what you have installed.

That‘s kinda what I thought, which gets me back to my OP. Is it because the 22 ECU won’t accept the 21 tune for whatever reason or is it because Ford won’t send it to you in the first place?

 

[MAGS1]

That‘s kinda what I thought, which gets me back to my OP. Is it because the 22 ECU won’t accept the 21 tune for whatever reason or is it because Ford won’t send it to you in the first place?

Ford won’t send it in the first place as they haven’t written one for the 2022. And like Ira said, you won’t get the FP warranty.

 

[Bikeman315]

That‘s kinda what I thought, which gets me back to my OP. Is it because the 22 ECU won’t accept the 21 tune for whatever reason or is it because Ford won’t send it to you in the first place?

Honestly what difference does it make. There is no FP tune for the 22’ cars. If you really want a tune reach out to an independent tuner and see what they can do for you.

 

[MAGS1]

Where?

You could search the part numbers listed in the kit and buy them individually. Not saying I would but that’s the route to take for ‘22 folks that want them. But to me, the appeal of the FP kit was the FP warranty that came with it. I’m not willing to void my warranty so I’ll leave my car as is and will explore FI options once my warranty is up.

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