I have a 99 Ranger that I am planning to get an Xcalibrator 2 for, and need some help deciding which programs to get. In my area we have 3 grades of gas I think that they are 87, 89, 93 octaine. I usually use the 87 and everyonce in a while use the 89, never really use the 93 costs a little to much to be worth it for me. I am pretty sure that I want to get a performance, towing, and economy tune. Is it worth it to pay a little more for 89 octaine, or is the 87 octaine good with the tuner. I would like to continue using the 87 if it will do pretty good but I don't know anyone with one so most input is appreaciated.
-Josh

 

I have an 87,89 and 91 program on my microtuner. I just told Doug that I wanted 1 of each with some horsepower, torque and gas mileage. So far I like what he came up with.

 

Doug doesn't have an economy or efficient gas tune. At least the told me he didn't when i ordered mine a year ago.

The tunes I have are an 87 hp, and 91 hp and torque.

 

I know that you can get custom tunes for it and 91 tunes are useless for me, because although I can afford it now in 6 months when I am back in school I will be going right back to our Regular or Mid grade gas, most likely regular. What I really need are three tunes for either the reg ir mid al three for the same one because that's what I'll be running. So one for performance one for towing, any ideas for the third. I would really like an economy tune for knocking arround town but if he dosen't do that I need something else. I had herd something about him being in Texas to help with cleanup, does anyone know if he is back home? If he is I'll email him and get his suggestions for the third when I get ready to order.
-Josh

 

dude, premium is 20c more per gallon, thats $4 per tank. its not worth having a performance tune without the higher octane, as all youre going to get is better shift points really, the timing cannot be advanced because of spark knock. you have to pay to play!! $4 per tank is not much to pay.

doug does offer economy tunes now.

if you have any questions you can email doug at bamachips@gmail.com

he is back in town and taking orders again i believe, and he appreciated your guys' support!!

 

That is at least $192 when I am bringing in absolutley no money. The money can me put to a better use with going towards truck payments, insurance, parts to get\keep both trucks running. Shure I can afford the premium for now, but come next spring i will be needing tunes for either mid or regular. Wait new tunes for the excalibrator 2 are free right? Dose't he email them to you instead of having to ship it. If the new tunes for the X2 are free then I can request new ones, swap them out during spring and summer, swap back when I start back to work.
-Josh

 

That's a drag. I was almost starting to consider one of these too..

I too have no interest in improving performance. The 4.0L is plenty for me. I am, however, willing to pay to improve efficiency and ecconomy..

 

hey let me know how it does for you on the ohv, i want to get one bad but i want to make sure its worth it...and it doesnt make you lose gas mileage does it? I just want more performance, and the same mileage or better.

 

Your mileage will stay the same with the same driving.

 

i want one to for my 99 ohc 4.0l i want to know how everyone likes theres witht he ohc to, i wouldent mind havuing some better performance but an economy one would be cool tho since i only get 13mpg

nick

 

I got an 87 performance, and 93 performance and 93 torque. Never got a chance to try 93 performance but the gas benefit breaks the cost pretty much even between the extra money and the extra mileage. And lemme tell ya traction was not always abundant with the 93 torque program!

 

Did it really make a BIG performance gain? Like you could really tell the difference, i want one really bad but 400 bucks is a lot of money!

 

i agree i want one bad to and dont want to waste my $$ on something i cant even tell works.

 

trust me it works.

if you guys would use the search button you would find 100s of testimonials on dougs tuning.

i have a chip now and im thinking about getting a X2, i think the tuner is worth every penny.

maybe this would help... i have BL and 33s. i can keep up with a stock 04 with the 4.0 if not beat him.

 

i have searched and i did find a lot, but not on the ohv..i just wanted to see if anyone had gotten one for the ohv..
but if you can do that i guess it is fast!

 

did you search arhived topics? im suprised you didnt come up with much.

lol my truck aint fast... the tuner just keeps me up with the rest plus i can go over 92

 

it actually works pretty well depending on what you use the programs for...i have the:

87 mileage
89 torque
93 performance

Here's my break-down with the stuff i have on my truck...it could be different for everyone else's though:

I'm in mileage programming now because i don't think at 3.00 it's worth racing up and down the roads here in tally. Even though you can tell a big difference in power, it's up in the higher rpms and the only way to get there is to gun it and that SUCKS gas at about 160 miles per tank, and that's being nice! I did this for about a two months listening to everyone else, and i was giving the BP Station $45 a tank every week...totally not worth it! now that gas is goin down i may do it every now and then for fun, but even at an extra $4 a tank, depending where you are, i'm not seeing it at all.

Between the 93 program i was using and the mileage program i'm running now i'm saving myself $40 a tank per month:
$180p > $140m per month :
160 miles with 93p > 215 miles with 87m per tank

The 87 mileage program im in now works very well and i'm surprised how much power i still have compared to stock. The truck seems to be peppier still but not as good as 93. The shift points are reworked and the truck shifts smoother. I can still get on it and spin my tires from a complete stop no problem and get off the accelerator to get about 215 per tank normal driving. I only fill up every week and a half so that's a plus too. Another good use is on the interstate, mileage wise only, but if you're trying to pass people on the interstate say at 80 MPH + you're S.O.L....not gonna happen. The truck struggled trying to pass when i used it going home (450 miles from tally) and i had to switch in Pratville,Al (about 200 miles into the trip) to the torque program because people up there are ruthless.

the 89 torque program i don't like at all...i just haven't had time to send it back to Doug to get him to take it off. the shift points once again are re-done and there's more power down low but up high there's nothing...this one is really good for gettin on the interstate ramps when morons won't move over to let you in and also on hilly roads, my truck didn't downshift as much when using the cruise control or just basic driving. If you're trying to pass someone say at maybe 45 the truck doesn't give you that kick it would on the other programs and it only downshifts once instead of twice...

That's my assesment of the programmer. it's a good tool to have but if you think it'll change your truck into a speed demon it won't. i waited until i got everything done to my truck then i got it.

 

so your saving money on gas each time? And i was just wondering, if you want to use the 93 performance, but when you fill up with 93 your still gonna have some 87 left in there? What do you do? when do you change it to 93, as soon as you fill up or what because its not like your going to run the 87 to empty and then put in 93? ill be happy if that made any sense :)

 

its no big deal to let it mix... 87 and 93

 

alright cool

 

never mind i got it

 

Well I have done some reading and am planning to order after I get paid this week. As of now I am planning to get 89 towing (torque) & performance, and either an 87 or 93 performance programs. Right now I am leaning more towards the 87 since that is what I usually run.

Concerning the 87 Milage tune I e-mailed Doug and this was his reply:
EDIT: I will be ordering the Xcalibrator II, and will let yall know how it works when I get it. My opinions will be based off of my seat-of-the-pants dyno, and my inaccurate milage computer.

-Josh

 

Honestly when I used either the 87 or 92 performance tunes on my programmer and drove responsibly I was gettign decent mpg. I would say in the 18.5 to 19.5 mpg on the freeway. Of course that wasy going 70mph on cc.

 

I'm just bein lazy @ the moment and so I'm not lookin up the answer to this question

When Doug does the tune, can he correct for tire/gear change? Cuz I've swapped that all out and need to correct how fast I'm going, etc.

Thanks