Tuner with 87 map

I’ve been researching tuners but I’m looking for one that has a regular gas (87) map along with the others. Even if the performance is negligible with 87, I’d still like to find one that provides some performance boost when running regular gas. Thanks!

 

JB4 clearly states 91 octane needed for gains so it may not be possible on our platform. I have been running 91 vs 87 for a while now and I know my mpgs have improved.

• 91 octane fuel or better required for performance gains

I wonder what the 87 tunes are really changing other than pedal and transmission parameters.

 

Don't you have to run supreme in forced induction engines?

 

Depends on design and tune. The 3.4L is designed to run 87.

 

More reading on the Ford forums seems the 87 tune is perf/tow and the 94 tune is gaining over 100hp. Tow is telling me more transmission and throttle changes vs timing and boost. My past f150 the boost would be pulled after about 4k if I remember correctly vs the tundra I don't look at the boost gauge but it just keeps pulling up to the shift point . I like it alot!

 

It's a bad idea to try and get performance boost without increasing the octane as you risk pre-detonation which can kill your engine. These tuners work by increasing boost pressure which requires higher octane gas to avoid pre-detonation.

 

For those interested, VF tuner will release OTS (off the shelf) tune for 3rd gen Tundras, works on hybrid and non hybrid models. Availability at the end of Aug. You need to buy the hardware kit and the tune. You can follow them on facebook for latest updates or on their website.

 

This solution would be what the OP is looking for. Tune everything but boost, timing, and torque limiters. All throttle and trans. You’d be fine on 87

 

These pcm’s have maps to control the air load based on detected octane. They should be able to create a tune that can run on any octane just like stock does, and recognize benefits. They are usually called adaptive octane tunes in the Ford world.

The 93 specific tunes for the Ecoboost are 93 specific because they get very aggressive with boost. It’s not that they cannot compensate like the stock tune, it’s that if you were to run 93 and the PCM adjusts to run 93, and then you dump 87 in the tank and go hammer on it, the PCM may not adjust fast enough to limit boost before something bad happens. It’s to protect people who don’t know. If you were to gingerly transition to 87 on a 93 tune it would probably adapt just fine

 

All good info and things to consider. I’m mainly just looking for it when I don’t feel like running high test, which will prob be rare after researching insignificant reductions in fuel economy even with 91 maps. Can anyone confirm or deny? Any other tuners to consider. Mainly been looking at the jb4 but also looked into vf.

also, ordering a throttle controller tonight the Raxiom Speedform because I don’t need to pay $300 for an app lol…

 

The JB4 is not a tune and cannot do any of the things I mentioned above. They are spoofing the PCM into thinking its making less boost than it actually is to force it to drive more boost. Since the PCM does not know what the boost entering the engine actually is, it is not really properly compensated for, which is why JB4's REQUIRES that you run higher octane. The PCM chooses its ignition timing based on the air load and RPM, and since you are faking the air load the PCM see's, its basically operating the ignition timing as if its at a lower air load than it really is. Or essential operating its more advanced than it would normally be at that boost level.

The higher octane fuel is required to compensate for the more advanced timing. In order to run lower octane fuel, you essentially have to turn the JB4 off so that its no longer spoofing the boost signal and therefore operating at more advanced timing than it normally would.

A proper tune from something like VFTuner allows the PCM to just do its job like it was intended to. The tune is adjusted to request more boost than stock, and the PCM knowingly makes that boost and runs all of the various engine parameters(including ignition timing) for that boost. If you put in higher octane fuel then it should allow some more boost. When you put in lower octane fuel, the PCM will detect that and has the ability to reduce boost to keep things safe. As long as the tune is not insane and a dedicated 93 octane tune, it will continue to operate like a stock tune but with more power.