ngauge or SF4/X4 decision....

[daniel_94kg]

When I first got my car I bought an X4. I have zero complaints about it. The canned tunes that came with it I felt good power gains with just CAI, exhaust and 93 octane tune. I have since had a custom tune followed by the Lund Tune that I now run. I have zero plans of ever switching from the Lund tune, so a part of me wishes I'd gotten the nGauge so I can run the cammed tune along with the other data logging features the device has, but I didn't know much back then as I was new to the coyote 5.0 scene. I would recommend going with the nGauge(if you're ok with sticking only with Lund tunes) If you might switch it up in the future, the SCT X4, either way you can't go wrong honestly. I used Lethal Performance when I got my tune, they had great customer service. I've heard nothing but good things about Beefcake too, so i'd go with one of those guys.

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[Super Werty]

Looks from the E-Motion Web page the N-gauge only works with Windows too.

I think SCT X4 data logging is very easy. Plug it into the car scroll through the menu and pick the vehicle type and it logs everything the device monitors. It down loads from the device to your PC as a CSV file ready to be opened with Microsoft Excel or can be viewed in the SCT software. Or you can use the SCT software to setup a custom log format and transfer it to the device. The tuners I have delt with have sent me a custom format to use for what they want to see.

While not as slick as N-gauge the X4 has display screens for for monitored parameters too.

I have two issues with N-gauge;
1. The company E-Motion that makes it doesn't develop tunes for cars so they have no first hand knowledge of what specific cars need or issues that may arise.
2. There is a very very limited number of tuners that support N-gauge.

I have the Ngauge and the X4

The Ngauge works on my macbook. It's just a sd card with files on it to click and drag...very simple process.

The X4 is more work. And I had a hard time finding a pc that would recognize it. Finally a buddy with a surface 3 and windows 10 was able to help me get it set up.


As far as less tuners, you might be right I don't really know. But Lund Racing is probably the best tuner out there and he uses the Ngauge. He tuned my whipple gt

nGauge looks cool in the car....the x4 looks like old technology.

 

[Poppacapp]

One thing that doesn't get mentioned often if ever. The SCT software only works on pc. No apple

Not only that but setting up a data log file is more work than it should be. The ngauge is way more straight forward.

That's not an issue, since normal people use PCs anyway. ;) :cheers:

 

[Poppacapp]

Here is a question for the vendors.

I like the Ngauge... I like Lund. I may go ngauge/lund for the time being, but have plans on going twin turbo in the future. Lund obviously does not tune other twin kits, so would I be able to get another tuner who uses HP Tuners software to tune my twin setup? Or does Lund lock the Ngauge so only his tunes will work on them? If that is the case, then Lund can take a hike honestly.

 

[redline727]

You do not need to have your laptop in the car to log with the SCT X4. That was one of the added features over the X3.

Just go to the gauge/log menu and select 08 up Ford Gas log format and you are ready to log. Or, you can build a log file format with the parameters you want using the SCT LiveWire software and load that to the X4. Or, in my case my tuner sent me a log file format the way he wanted to see it to use.

Once done logging you bring the X4 into the house and down load the log file to your PC. It is a CSV file that opens with Excel or use the LiveWire software to view it.

The STOCK setting is what Ford loaded into the PCM from the factory for your car. So if your car came with 3.73s then no need to change the setting to 3.73.

I up my redline to 7200 just to see if I could get a better 0-60 time with only one shift. With the stock 6800 I hit the rev limiter in 2nd before reaching 60.

Thanks! I did not know that. When I looked up data logging instructions it showed running livewire on a laptop with you plugging in the SCT into it and your car simultaneously. Knowing you don't actually need the laptop in the car makes things a little easier for me. So now I guess I can log whenever and send them in to Lund to make sure the car is running well.

 

[Super Werty]

That's not an issue, since normal people use PCs anyway. ;) :cheers:

People who like their computer to actually work use apple. :cheers:

 

[jared89]

i went with sct live wire over the n gauage simply bc i have forced induction and dont want to limit my tunes to just lund.

 

[matt713]

Guys, there are versions of "unlocked" nGauge's out there that are not locked out by Lund. Mine is not a Lund version nGuage. However if I ever decide that I want to buy a Lund tune for my car then I can either pay their fee or what ever they call it to make mine a Lund version nGuage and loose all of my HP tunes by doing that, or I would have to buy another nGuage from Lund with their tune for my car. But there options out there, just depends on who you want to tune your ride!

Matt

 

[Poppacapp]

Guys, there are versions of "unlocked" nGauge's out there that are not locked out by Lund. Mine is not a Lund version nGuage. However if I ever decide that I want to buy a Lund tune for my car then I can either pay their fee or what ever they call it to make mine a Lund version nGuage and loose all of my HP tunes by doing that, or I would have to buy another nGuage from Lund with their tune for my car. But there options out there, just depends on who you want to tune your ride!

Matt

No thanks then. I would be fine with the Ngauge not working with other tunes WHILE the Lund tune is on there. But if there is not a way to wipe the Lund tune, and go with another tuner's tune on the Ngauge, then Lund can shove it. There ARE other, and dare I say, just as good if not better tuners out there.

 

[beefcake]

lund chooses to lock their tunes to protect them, a lund gauge will be locked to lund tunes

lund does not tune other companies turbo kits,

 

[Poppacapp]

lund chooses to lock their tunes to protect them, a lund gauge will be locked to lund tunes

lund does not tune other companies turbo kits,

I completely agree 100% with Lund wanting to lock their tunes. No issues at all with that. If I purchase an Ngauge(I DO really like them), I just would not want to be locked into a programmer that only Lund tunes will work on. If at some point in time, I decided to go with a local dyno tuner etc, or another route, I would want to know I could just "wipe" the ngauge, and it work with another tuner. This would not compromise the Lund tune at all.

 

[RaceRedGT]

Glad to see you guys are finally getting it. I have been posting this for weeks. I never lock in with one vendor. Too many bad things can happen.

 

[Poppacapp]

I probably will still go with Lund. I am just debating the X4 or Ngauge right now. I am sure I could sell the locked ngauge later and get an unlocked one if need be. Just a little upset that it would have to be done that way.

I DO know when I get my twin kit, Lund will be out of the picture unfortunately.

 

[Linn@AmazonTuning]

HP Tuners nGauge in stock and ready to ship. $449.00 Get a free gauge mount with each order. This mount has a plate that allows you to put it on the dash, console or windshield. This unit is open so any HP Tuners tuner can put a custom tune in it for you. Currently the nGauge supports the 2011-2015 Coyote vehicles.
Use this link to place your order at our online store http://www.mcssl.com/store/amazontuningsolutions

 

[SolarFlare]

Im thinking hypothetical worst case scenario here....Say Lund decides to either pull out from the coyote business and my Ngauge breaks with factory tune in it. How would I go about, if even possible, to have my vehicle retuned elsewhere? Is my PCM locked from being tuned with a Lund tune in it? Am I screwed and have to buy a new PCM? Im not near Lund so I would go thru beefcake or Lethal for an Ngauge.

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