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Sport Mode and adding horse power

WarST

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#1
Is it ok to keep in Sport mode 100%...on highway, etc? Also...how do I add more horse power? Thank you!!
 

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#2
First suggestion - spend 10 minutes scrolling around here. I've been a lurker for a while and the board is beyond helpful!
 

TMac

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#3
Is it ok to keep in Sport mode 100%...on highway, etc? Also...how do I add more horse power? Thank you!!
You can keep it in Sports mode all you want. You will get lower gas mileage. As far as more horsepower, that's supplied by a "tune". Browse the various threads to learn more.
 

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#5
I'm currently on a 93/E50 tune from Palm Beach Dyno (and also currently working with ZFG). Sport mode makes my Explorer ST *MUCH* more responsive. I see a HUGE dip in throttle response in eco mode, so much so that it feels like I'm hitting the brakes. Around town I like being in Sport mode especially if I'm manually shifting. I do wish the "tunes" will take the gear upshift block away. In sport mode I'd love to manually shift up into 7th gear when it's blocked out at 2,500 rpm. I do manually upshift when the rpm hangs. It's a PITA sometimes.

To put things into perspective, my ST is MORE responsive than my 725bhp C7 Z06 (MN7) with the tune and sport mode. Normal mode allows less restrictive upshift algorithyms, which appears to be speed limited and you are less likely to be blocked from upshifting (won't allow you to upshift manually until you hit certain speeds).

I don't see much variation in fuel economy in the different modes on the highway. I've done a ton of driving in the three months I've owned the car, including multiple road trips. I get 22-23 mpg averaging 75-80 mph with the cruise control on, even in "economy" mode, which "feels" like it shuts off two cylinders... lol. Doesn't seem to make any difference in mpg. Around town, sport mode makes it very difficult for me to not drive around with the pedal mashed. lol
 

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#6
100% sport mode murders your mileage lol.
Only around town... because I can't keep my foot off the gas pedal! :p The throttle response is addictive... even if to drive partial throttle and manually upshift fast, like riding a motorcycle. LOL :ROFLMAO:

On the highway I see very little difference between the driving modes.
 

OP
WarST

WarST

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Thread Starter #7
First suggestion - spend 10 minutes scrolling around here. I've been a lurker for a while and the board is beyond helpful!
thanks!
 

OP
WarST

WarST

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Thread Starter #8
You can keep it in Sports mode all you want. You will get lower gas mileage. As far as more horsepower, that's supplied by a "tune". Browse the various threads to learn more.
thank you
 

TMac

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#9
Only around town... because I can't keep my foot off the gas pedal! :p The throttle response is addictive... even if to drive partial throttle and manually upshift fast, like riding a motorcycle. LOL :ROFLMAO:

On the highway I see very little difference between the driving modes.
I'm wondering....does your tune stop the off throttle transmission braking in sports mode? I ask this because you claim sport mode is not affecting highway cruising. Perhaps the area you're in doesn't have hills, but in my "hilly" area, sports mode on the highway is definitely a detriment to mileage.
 

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#10
I'm wondering....does your tune stop the off throttle transmission braking in sports mode? I ask this because you claim sport mode is not affecting highway cruising. Perhaps the area you're in doesn't have hills, but in my "hilly" area, sports mode on the highway is definitely a detriment to mileage.
The revs hang in sport mode even with the tunes, but this is the result of heavy throttle use, not cruising. However you can override this with an upshift with the paddle. I would prefer a down shift going up hills anyways as most of the high pressure direct injection "ecoboosts" are sensitive to loads, especially under boost conditions. It's just easier on the engine not to lug it. I don't notice engine breaking coming down hilly sections, nothing different than the other modes, but maybe that's because the cruise control is on.

I've driven to Florida and northern Iowa from Texas (and back) but it's relatively flat. I use the cruise control when I can. I got my ST in April and have 9,100 miles already (mostly highway)
 

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#11
To put things into perspective, my ST is MORE responsive than my 725bhp C7 Z06 (MN7) with the tune and sport mode.
How did you get to 725hp in the z06? A huge cam, to trade low end (throttle response) for higher peak power? If so, I could see that being the case.
 

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#12
No cam. I have long tube headers, x-pipe, high flow cats, intake, 2-3 psi pulley, ported throttle body, 170 thermostat, tune.

Even in track mode with most of the nanny settings turns off in the Z06, my Explorer ST (with mods and tune and in Sport mode) has better throttle response than my Corvette. I have most of the available bolt on mods for the ST. It very well may be a drive by wire difference.

Better throttle response doesn't mean "more power". I've run multiple 2.8 0-60 mph runs and 1/4 mile in 10.28-10.50s @ 138-139 mph on the PDR with Michelin Cup 2s in the Z06. The Explorer isn't even in the same league, nor should it be.
 

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#13
No cam. I have long tube headers, x-pipe, high flow cats, intake, 2-3 psi pulley, ported throttle body, 170 thermostat, tune.

Even in track mode with most of the nanny settings turns off in the Z06, my Explorer ST (with mods and tune and in Sport mode) has better throttle response than my Corvette. I have most of the available bolt on mods for the ST. It very well may be a drive by wire difference.

Better throttle response doesn't mean "more power". I've run multiple 2.8 0-60 mph runs and 1/4 mile in 10.28-10.50s @ 138-139 mph on the PDR with Michelin Cup 2s in the Z06. The Explorer isn't even in the same league, nor should it be.
Nice ride! When I read that I saw c6 z06 - which is why I thought a cam. Doh.
But yes I agree - it’s gotta be tune related, as a 6.2 with a positive displacement blower should make incredible torque down low. Couple that with the low weight of the vette - a blip of the throttle would snap necks.
 



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