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Ford Performance Tune

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Location
Chattanooga, TN, USA
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2020 Explorer ST
This has probably been asked in this long thread. I talked to a speed shop about this they said will probably fail California emissions ? is this true. Second Cal has expensive gas does this tune require higher than 87? , the person I talked to at Ford said yes. $10 more a tank sounds like a bad deal for 30 more HP and some tweaks to shifting.
I'm still baffled by people that buy a performance vehicle, want to tune it and in the same breath complain about the cost of premium fuel. You should have stuck with an XLT. Seriously, you asked someone at Ford and they gave you the answer, so now you want to make sure the person from Ford was right?
 

Dale5403

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This has probably been asked in this long thread. I talked to a speed shop about this they said will probably fail California emissions ? is this true. Second Cal has expensive gas does this tune require higher than 87? , the person I talked to at Ford said yes. $10 more a tank sounds like a bad deal for 30 more HP and some tweaks to shifting.
It is 50 state legal. And it does require premium gas. Here is the info your speed shop has no clue.
https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-9603-EX30
 

FORZDA3

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Gloucester, VA, USA
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2021 Explorer ST
This has probably been asked in this long thread. I talked to a speed shop about this they said will probably fail California emissions ? is this true. Second Cal has expensive gas does this tune require higher than 87? , the person I talked to at Ford said yes. $10 more a tank sounds like a bad deal for 30 more HP and some tweaks to shifting.
I recommend to move out of that #1 state in the country. If then you still can’t afford fuel, then buy a damn Prius. I have 3 Ford Performance turbo vehicles AND a fucking Prius, so my wife can piss around with her local trips shopping, female gossip clubs, etc.

edit: if you’re running that piss water 87 in it now, just switch to 91+ and you’ll get a 30hp improvement.
 

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Desert South West
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2023 Explorer ST
I recommend to move out of that #1 fucking shit-hole state in the country. If then you still can’t afford fuel, then buy a damn Prius. I have 3 Ford Performance turbo vehicles AND a fucking Prius, so my wife can piss around with her local trips shopping, female gossip clubs, etc.

edit: if you’re running that piss water 87 in it now, just switch to 91+ and you’ll get a 30hp improvement.
I'm confused, thought I Saw a graph comparing the FP tune to a ST running 87 and the FP tune at 91, should that be a 60Hp increase?
 

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I'm confused, thought I Saw a graph comparing the FP tune to a ST running 87 and the FP tune at 91, should that be a 60Hp increase?
ST's power numbers are based on 91+ octane. If you're putting anything lower than 91, you're loosing as much as a 30~ hp and are NOT making the adv. 400 hp
 

Fly Ty

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Law Enforcement
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NY / NJ
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2025 Ford Explorer ST
I'm confused, thought I Saw a graph comparing the FP tune to a ST running 87 and the FP tune at 91, should that be a 60Hp increase?
The FP tune numbers are based on premium fuel.
 

SmittysST

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Law Enforcement
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SOCAL
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2023 FORD Explorer ST
This has probably been asked in this long thread. I talked to a speed shop about this they said will probably fail California emissions ? is this true. Second Cal has expensive gas does this tune require higher than 87? , the person I talked to at Ford said yes. $10 more a tank sounds like a bad deal for 30 more HP and some tweaks to shifting.
We shall see. It indicates 50 state street legal with a CARB# the cost of having fun a guess.
 

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Location
Charlotte
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2021 Ford Explorer ST
This has probably been asked in this long thread. I talked to a speed shop about this they said will probably fail California emissions ? is this true. Second Cal has expensive gas does this tune require higher than 87? , the person I talked to at Ford said yes. $10 more a tank sounds like a bad deal for 30 more HP and some tweaks to shifting.
My advice is move out of California and then second to that, what I was under the impression of was that the explorer’s advertised 400 hp was based off premium fuel, but that it did not necessarily require premium fuel, but that the FP tube does require premium fuel to hit advertised FP tune numbers, but not sure how it will react to regular fuel. Basically I accepted that the car would take premium fuel when I bought it, based off it requiring premium to achieve 400hp. If your main concern is paying less at the fuel pump then why drop the money on a tune in the first place? Very few cars run at over 400hp happily on 87 octane that I’m aware of.
 

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Location
San Francisco
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2022 ST
This has probably been asked in this long thread. I talked to a speed shop about this they said will probably fail California emissions ? is this true. Second Cal has expensive gas does this tune require higher than 87? , the person I talked to at Ford said yes. $10 more a tank sounds like a bad deal for 30 more HP and some tweaks to shifting.
Just so you understand - running anything except the highest octane fuel you can buy, in a turbo vehicle, is stupid.
"grades of gas don't matter!" is the cry of a naturally-aspirated car owner that does not have ignition timing/compression that takes advantage of, or needs high octane fuel.
What do I mean? Here's the long and short:
- High octane fuel helps suppress the conditions for pre-detonation of fuel, or "knock" (A turbo engine piston can be obliterated by knock instantly).
- This "knock" condition is more prevalent with hot air, which turbos produce (even Intercoolers produce 'hot' air, just cooler than from the turbo itself).
- The "knock" condition is also more prevalent when the air/fuel mixture is more lean
- Advanced timing, high boost (higher=hotter air), etc factor into your knock equation.

To counter the possibility of destroying your engine, there is a "knock" sensor which basically detects when you are experiencing pre-detonation, not before it. So what happens when the sensor fires? Your engine is actively de-tuned to relieve the stress on the motor.
I'll say that last part again: Your engine performance instantly decreases to safeguard the engine.
That's right, the factory tune, and any other, takes an instant nosedive when "low-grade" fuel/environmental conditions cause your engine to imperceptibly knock.

The short version:
If you run a turbo vehicle with an ECU, no matter what tune - even stock, always run the highest octane fuel you can buy.
As a bonus, when your vehicle is running at peak performance, when you are not jumping all over it, you can increase gas mileage (a little bit) - that's because with better fuel, you can run more lean without knocking. (A good tune does this even more, and even the Ford Performance tune does it, which is why it requires high octane fuel)
 

rich0550

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san diego
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st 2020
Confirmed the FP tune is designed to handle ALL octanes. Performance of the tune calibrations are modulated by the octane. The engineers I spoke to were surprised & confused by the information about the risk of holes in pistons. Installing it yourself does not void any warranty. If an issue occurred they would need to show actual cause that the installation of the tune was incorrect in some way and directly related to the issue.
i called ford performance people they told me if you get the FP tune you have use 93 , if not would damage engine. Im newb so i dont know ShEt but that what they said
 

SmittysST

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2023 FORD Explorer ST
Whats the number to the Ford Performance people?
 

Sgt1411

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BC&AZ
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2021 ST
i called ford performance people they told me if you get the FP tune you have use 93 , if not would damage engine. Im newb so i dont know ShEt but that what they said
Absolutely FALSE!
 

CareerFiremanGuy

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USA
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2022 Ford Explorer ST
Great to see the overwhelmingly positive feedback on the FP tune!

Dropping over 1/2 second from acceleration times while retaining the factory 3/36 warranty if installed by the dealer or a Ford approved mechanic is what separates this tune from all the other warranty busting tunes.

Thanks Ford.(y)
 

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20
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Location
new jersey
Vehicle
2020 explorer st
Now the question I will have is will the current FP tune work with the 25 I have on order. I have a 22 ST now and after owning it stock for 3 years I am definitely looking to beef up the 25 and make it a bit more "mine".
I have a 2020 st. Love the FP tune. Just ordered a 2025 st and found out the ECU is locked by ford. Hopefully won't have to wait years for something to be offered.
 

SmittysST

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Law Enforcement
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SOCAL
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2023 FORD Explorer ST
I talked with my dealer prior to buying the FP tune from Steeda. They agreed to install it at no charge. The service manager said it would not impact my warranty. I have a good relationship with my dealer. They sell and maintain a lot of the FP vehicles. The SM said they have installed the FP tunes on other vehicles, but my car would be the first ST. I think they were curious the outcome.

It was installed today, with no issues. I had already installed the computer software to update the programmer, backed up the stock tune and all they had to do was connect the programmer - press send, give me a $0 invoice indicating they installed it. It was trouble free.

My primary consideration was with shift improvement. The shifting is good, throttle more responsive and noticeably improved low-end torque.

I'm satisfied.
Same experience here! The dealer did the install and the camera recall at the same time. No charge! The ST definitely feels like it pulls much harder in Sport made and shifts much smoother than before. Ill be going on a long trip here soon and will check the mileage difference. Happy with the Ford Performance Tune so far!!
 

Messages
34
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24
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Location
Louisiana
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
New guy here. Read the entire thread the last few days. WHEW, lot of pissing matches interspersed with good feedback.

I have some experience with bolt on mods but ECU changes and internal mods have always made me nervous. It seems a tune is the easy button to more power with these ST's though, so looking to be a big boy with this one.

Lot of reading to do before making a decision. Thank you to those of you who have contributed to this thread over the years. Had to block that fireman guy a few dozen pages ago for being an unbearable troll.
 

Messages
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Location
San Francisco
Vehicle
2022 ST
Nice to hear from you hfrog.
Grab an intercooler, stuff in a tune (ZFG is noted as peak, but there are a few other choices. I like the multi-driving-mode setup from ZFG but to each their own)

Good luck!
 

Messages
11
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Location
st charles, il
Vehicle
2025 Explorer ST
Nice to hear from you hfrog.
Grab an intercooler, stuff in a tune (ZFG is noted as peak, but there are a few other choices. I like the multi-driving-mode setup from ZFG but to each their own)

Good luck!
I'm picking my 2025 ST next week. Has anyone heard a date on when ZFG will release a tune for the 25's. I thought I read Sept, but now can't find that info or confirm it.

On a side note, anyone lower a 25 yet?
 

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Location
San Francisco
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2022 ST
Unfortunately, no word on a 2025 tune AFAIK.
With luck, it's an easy workaround.
 

rdg1991

New Member
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Location
texas
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
Quick question for those that have had this tune for awhile. If I take the ST in for any sort of work and it requires a reprogramming of a module or if they replace a module(can be anything that needs reprogramming), I'm assuming I would need to re-flash the tune on the vehicle, or am I mistaken? Thanks
 



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