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ZFG Racing Tune Review
- Thread starter Gadgtfreek
- Start date
OP
Thread Starter
#123
OP
Thread Starter
#125
Operating temp is 171 to like 201* so this isn't THAT low but its still below the threshold for "ideally" getting on it. You can still do runs at like 160* but according to Adam there are tuning parameters that will stop you from getting the best performance when it's not in the sweet spot.
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OP
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#127
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#127
So I am guessing the digital gauge just has one spot for the "range". After 10 miles this morning, 39 degrees, about 60mph steady, the digital gauge was middle of the M on the transmission, where it never exceeds. So maybe it hits there around 170, and just stays there until the transmission starts going into the higher ranges, where it should not be.
OP
Thread Starter
#130
Thread Starter
#130
Circling back to Normal vs. Sport — I just prefer Sport.
On the interstate, it really doesn’t make much difference. But in city driving, Sport is the clear winner for me. The throttle response feels sharper and more connected. You just have to keep your right foot in check so it doesn’t think you’re lining up for a drag race and start throwing harder shifts. That part’s easy enough to manage.
On the interstate, it really doesn’t make much difference. But in city driving, Sport is the clear winner for me. The throttle response feels sharper and more connected. You just have to keep your right foot in check so it doesn’t think you’re lining up for a drag race and start throwing harder shifts. That part’s easy enough to manage.
OP
Thread Starter
#131
Thread Starter
#131
Talk about customer service! I never thought to request to ease up on the shifts until Adam posted in the other thread. I sent an email this morning asking what I needed to send over to ease the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts in sport. A tune was just delivered to the TDN. Wow!
gonna load it up in a little bit.
gonna load it up in a little bit.
OP
Thread Starter
#132
Thread Starter
#132
1-2 and 2-3 are less aggressive now. Still a bump, but I think this will be better for a DD. Might need to tone down 3-4.
Uploaded, warmed up and did a couple of 0-60 runs. Crazy how this thing spins tires in the 1-2 at full send with TC off. I'm going to drive it for a week in nothing but Sport, upload new logs and comments next weekend.
Uploaded, warmed up and did a couple of 0-60 runs. Crazy how this thing spins tires in the 1-2 at full send with TC off. I'm going to drive it for a week in nothing but Sport, upload new logs and comments next weekend.
OP
Thread Starter
#134
Thread Starter
#134
Yeah, it's my first actual tune like this; they've all been "shelf" tunes, which were fire and forget. Did not even think about asking for changes. it seems to be learning well, and the hard shifts under "normal driving" in Sport are gone. May need to tweak 4 and 5, but I'm gonna put some miles on it and let it learn first.
OP
Thread Starter
#135
Thread Starter
#135
Just an update: after about 220 miles of mixed driving, the 1–2 and 2–3 shifts in Sport mode are about where I personally want them. You can still tell it’s in Sport by the shift feel, but it’s less of a slam.
The 3–4 shift feels very good, but the 4–5 has a strange hit that’s noticeably harder than the others. I’m planning to send some logs this weekend from a couple of runs and will probably ask Adam to take a little heat out of the 4–5 shift. After that, I think we’ll be done.
Excellent service. Once these are tweaked, I may be in Sport mode all of the time lol. Normal isn't bad by any means, Sport is just more fun at the expense of 93 octane. But life is too short. I didn't spend $60k on this not to drive it.
My plan is to change the transmission fluid at 10k miles, and then 30k every time after.
The 3–4 shift feels very good, but the 4–5 has a strange hit that’s noticeably harder than the others. I’m planning to send some logs this weekend from a couple of runs and will probably ask Adam to take a little heat out of the 4–5 shift. After that, I think we’ll be done.
Excellent service. Once these are tweaked, I may be in Sport mode all of the time lol. Normal isn't bad by any means, Sport is just more fun at the expense of 93 octane. But life is too short. I didn't spend $60k on this not to drive it.
My plan is to change the transmission fluid at 10k miles, and then 30k every time after.
Hi All,
I've been driving with the 93DMS tune from ZFG. It's been pretty much smooth sailing with performance and customer service response.
As some of you know, the DMS tune allows you to put a different driving profile in any driving mode.
All of my modes are programmed with stock profiles with the exception of the normal mode which has the "Performance Plus" profile and the sport mode which
has the "Racing Profile".
The Performance Plus offered an extra 25WHP while the Racing can boost up to 100 more WHP.
Bear in mind that there is much more than adding power to these tunes. As you can feel, the transmission computer is also modified in several ways.
The noticeable additions include strategically raising the fluid pressure, which is what causes your tighter shifts.
These shifts not only enhance performance but it is a transmission protection factor.
As Adam mentioned, the longer it takes the shift clutches to engage, the more they wear in that duration.
When they slam together, there's no time for them to significantly wear, meaning those clutches will last longer.
As far as performance, I once had a Supra Turbo, on which a shift kit was installed and caused the same hard shift.
It actually felt like a horse was kicking the back bumper every time it shifted. I got to understand the significance of this when
I raced cars that used to run even with me but now, every time it shifted, I pulled a half car length on them. I now welcome that hard shift
every time it happens.
Conversely, it's not an around town driving wish for that to happen. Fortunately, with today's technology, that can be governed to your liking.
That's why it's an advantage to have the DMS tune wherein you can have normal mode, smooth shifting, performance mode tight shifting
or race mode hard shifting. Everyone drives home happy.
There's more training to your foot than there is to the transmission. Not only is the shift schedule modified and the gear change tighter but
the accelerator pedal is also adjusted so that it arrives at a higher throttle percentage at lower pressure. This adjustment is incorporated in
the more radical tunes, which is likely in the sport mode. That is one of the reasons it's more responsive in that mode.
So it's not just more power, it's more pedal and a higher RPM shift schedule. You also feel the downshifts more because they are tighter and
they are happening at a higher RPM on the way down than in a normal mode.
Also as mentioned, it's important to keep the trans fluid at the proper levels and even on the high side. When it is checked, it's imperative
that it's done at a higher fluid temp than most have been mentioning. The check fluid temp is done between 206° and 215°F.
The factory sweet spot is between 3 and 4.5 on the little dip stick. ZFG stresses keeping it on the higher side and maybe even a little over,
which would put it at 2.5 on the stick. Higher performance requires higher maintenance levels. (same with engine oil)
At 106K miles, this 2020 is still a beast and is running without a hitch.
Enjoy your STs!
I've been driving with the 93DMS tune from ZFG. It's been pretty much smooth sailing with performance and customer service response.
As some of you know, the DMS tune allows you to put a different driving profile in any driving mode.
All of my modes are programmed with stock profiles with the exception of the normal mode which has the "Performance Plus" profile and the sport mode which
has the "Racing Profile".
The Performance Plus offered an extra 25WHP while the Racing can boost up to 100 more WHP.
Bear in mind that there is much more than adding power to these tunes. As you can feel, the transmission computer is also modified in several ways.
The noticeable additions include strategically raising the fluid pressure, which is what causes your tighter shifts.
These shifts not only enhance performance but it is a transmission protection factor.
As Adam mentioned, the longer it takes the shift clutches to engage, the more they wear in that duration.
When they slam together, there's no time for them to significantly wear, meaning those clutches will last longer.
As far as performance, I once had a Supra Turbo, on which a shift kit was installed and caused the same hard shift.
It actually felt like a horse was kicking the back bumper every time it shifted. I got to understand the significance of this when
I raced cars that used to run even with me but now, every time it shifted, I pulled a half car length on them. I now welcome that hard shift
every time it happens.
Conversely, it's not an around town driving wish for that to happen. Fortunately, with today's technology, that can be governed to your liking.
That's why it's an advantage to have the DMS tune wherein you can have normal mode, smooth shifting, performance mode tight shifting
or race mode hard shifting. Everyone drives home happy.
There's more training to your foot than there is to the transmission. Not only is the shift schedule modified and the gear change tighter but
the accelerator pedal is also adjusted so that it arrives at a higher throttle percentage at lower pressure. This adjustment is incorporated in
the more radical tunes, which is likely in the sport mode. That is one of the reasons it's more responsive in that mode.
So it's not just more power, it's more pedal and a higher RPM shift schedule. You also feel the downshifts more because they are tighter and
they are happening at a higher RPM on the way down than in a normal mode.
Also as mentioned, it's important to keep the trans fluid at the proper levels and even on the high side. When it is checked, it's imperative
that it's done at a higher fluid temp than most have been mentioning. The check fluid temp is done between 206° and 215°F.
The factory sweet spot is between 3 and 4.5 on the little dip stick. ZFG stresses keeping it on the higher side and maybe even a little over,
which would put it at 2.5 on the stick. Higher performance requires higher maintenance levels. (same with engine oil)
At 106K miles, this 2020 is still a beast and is running without a hitch.
Enjoy your STs!
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OP
Thread Starter
#137
Thread Starter
#137
I "think" this is the 8th car Ive tuned. By far the best experience Ive ever had. The ST is what I wanted, a comfy cruiser that will haul some ass. I have a buddy with a Track Hawk that will flat-out fly, and he just bought an Audi RS Q8. He loves explorers lol and kinda got me into them. I'm definitely a Ford guy.
