Tuned FICM True Gains?

Snake · Jan 6, 2012

Dave said:
Theres a reason it did nothing much to your 04. Yours probably had the original flash before they put the stupid restrictions in the programming.

I'll see if I still have the sheet. But the tuned FICM showed a 27hp increase on my 06.

Was this a same day, before and after comparison? Not trying to start an argument. Just askin'.

strokin6L · Jan 6, 2012

Snake said:
Most stock 6.0's put down about 250 rwhp and its not uncommon to see tuned numbers in the 415-430 rwhp range. At one point in time, my 6.0 dyno'd 426 with just a tune.

Actually most stock 6L's i've seen are about 270-280rwhp. No way will anyone gain 170hp with just a tune, intake and exhaust(more like 150ish i think)...at least i wouldn't think so. With a tuned FICM, then probably.

Dave · Jan 6, 2012

Snake said:
Was this a same day, before and after comparison? Not trying to start an argument. Just askin'.

ABout 4 hrs apart. Only variable is a 5-6 degree temp change

Snake · Jan 6, 2012

Dave said:
ABout 4 hrs apart. Only variable is a 5-6 degree temp change

Good info!

JAP · Jan 9, 2012

So... One company claims that they "custom tune" the FICM, while others just flash in an 03-04 strategy... Is the "custom tuned" FICM worth $150 more?

Dave · Jan 9, 2012

JAP said:
So... One company claims that they "custom tune" the FICM, while others just flash in an 03-04 strategy... Is the "custom tuned" FICM worth $150 more?

Both innovative and PHP custom tune as well. Depends on what you ask for.

Lubbockguy1979 · Jan 9, 2012

Mike at kem said he does a 100% custom tune. At the time about a year ago he said he was working on remote ficm tuning. He explained in some detail about how the ficm programs limit the fuel and timing in tunes. It was said on the boards that others used older ficm tunes and not custom files. (I don't remember mike saying that though). I talked to bill at php thru pms and he told me that they also use a 100% custom ficm tune and explained that there really isn't a way to have a custom tune and a older ficm flash. It is either a old flash or a custom tune and they only do 100% custom tunes. They had some options but basically would remove the inductive heat flash and rework the fuel and timing .They offer remote tuning and I also believe that if you have a gryphoon or a edge evo they can use those devices to do the remote tuning. They at the time... About a year ago had only a few units avalible for remote tuning and you had to put a deposit on the device. I have never talked to eric or idp about ficm tuning so I do not know their take on ficm tuning other than what I have read on the boards. One thread you might find overly legenthy is on tdg about ficms modding. One person was at one point trying to compare a modded ficm to a home brew modded ficm. At some point I believe they also tested a 58v ficm vs tuned and tuned 58v unit. I think they might have used php and idp for tuning. It has been a while since I read that thread and it is legenthy.
From what I have read to date though idp, php and kem offer tuning. Swamps offers a 58v ficm. With the modded ficm there is a likely hood of rough cold starts due to the lack of computer manipulation that hides bad injectors (thanks ford). I have heard that idp offers 2 to 3 different ficm programs moderate and race. I'm not sure if any of the other companies offer levels or options in ficm tuning. I did see at least one person comment that they felt that the ficm tuning was not something they would do again. That I don't think ever got explained though. Other people have stated that they didn't notice any gains. (Even in this thread) so to me I would like to know how I or any of us would be able to know if we have a ficm tuning that would be benificial. Which stock ficm tunes benifit power wise, mpg wise and possibly both mpg and power.... Apparently there are several ones and to me as a customer I prefer to experience gains and I think this is what the thread is about. I would be irritated to spend $150+ to tune a ficm to gain nothing and have bad cold starting to go with it.

Mdub707 · Jan 9, 2012

alwil said:
Didnt Matt do 470hp with his SRL+ and a php FICM?
Pretty sure I saw a dyno sheet somewhere.

I dyno'd 466 rwhp with x-race, stock intake, stock exhaust with cat and muffler in place... do you believe that too?

chappy said:
So how come peple with 190's and a pwermax are only seeing 500hp or less according to theone thread on here?

Exactly.

pizza pig said:
There is the reason why most of these tuners (SCT) wont give most users a big mileage increase, the injection timing in the FICM tuning isn't operating to its potential... Hence why when tuned trucks later then tune the ficm see such an increase in mileage and the power they should have from the tunes.

People see 500 or less with a powermax because its not much more than a stock turbo... I love seeing people buy powermax turbos thinking theyre going to lay out 550+ with 190's.... and then not be impressed after they ignore my suggestion.... live and learn i guess:axe:

I feel the same way. The powermax is a great turbo, but some people are just expecting too much from it.

strokin6L said:
Actually most stock 6L's i've seen are about 270-280rwhp. No way will anyone gain 170hp with just a tune, intake and exhaust(more like 150ish i think)...at least i wouldn't think so. With a tuned FICM, then probably.

I dyno'd 270 rwhp stock, then did 466 on an x-race tune. I still don't really believe it, but haven't been able to get on another to disprove it.

While a tuned FICM might get you 40 rwhp, where is it adding this power? I think it's a little silly to assume it's 40 peak HP on top of what the truck is already making. Reading the reviews of these it seems guys are getting better throttle response, so maybe it is netting 40rwhp, but at a lower RPM range!? The truck might still make the same overall HP on the dyno, but it doesn't mean drivability isn't greatly improved.

alwil · Jan 9, 2012

Mdub707 said:
I dyno'd 466 rwhp with x-race, stock intake, stock exhaust with cat and muffler in place... do you believe that too?

No I dont believe yours.....it just seems too far out there but he did reply right after my comment and if you take five percent off for an auto like he said you get 445HP, And that is close to what people are getting with their tuned FICM's.....so its really not that hard for me to believe.

Gearhead said:
That was a standard trans truck so take 5% off of that. The ficm tune is good for 10-15 HP if you have a neutered FICM strategy.

windrunner408 · Jan 9, 2012

Mdub707 said:
I dyno'd 466 rwhp with x-race, stock intake, stock exhaust with cat and muffler in place... do you believe that too?

No I dont believe you either. Now if you go to the track and get some 1/4 mi times and trap speeds that support that horse power from the dyno then I would believe you. Just sayin

oh3 6oh · Jan 9, 2012

windrunner408 said:
No I dont believe you either. Now if you go to the track and get some 1/4 mi times and trap speeds that support that horse power from the dyno then I would believe you. Just sayin

:whs:

Dynos lie, tracks times dont

Mdub707 · Jan 9, 2012

I don't believe it either guys, that was my point, dyno's lie.

I have run 1/4 mile times with a dashmount Escort unit. It was on 34" super swampers, with a passenger with an 8klb race weight, ran something like 14.25 with x-street, calculated to ~423rwhp or something in that neighborhood. The day I ran the 466 on the dyno I had stock tires, and x-race loaded up. I also ran 270 on stock tuning. I still don't believe the 466. That was my point.

We have dyno comparisions for tuned FICM vs. regular FICM on different days even... it'd be nice to see some same day, nothing else changed. More importantly than overall numbers, I'd really like to see the graphs layed over each other to see where the gains are too.

Snake · Jan 9, 2012

Mdub707 said:
I don't believe it either guys, that was my point, dyno's lie.

I have run 1/4 mile times with a dashmount Escort unit. It was on 34" super swampers, with a passenger with an 8klb race weight, ran something like 14.25 with x-street, calculated to ~423rwhp or something in that neighborhood. The day I ran the 466 on the dyno I had stock tires, and x-race loaded up. I also ran 270 on stock tuning. I still don't believe the 466. That was my point.

We have dyno comparisions for tuned FICM vs. regular FICM on different days even... it'd be nice to see some same day, nothing else changed. More importantly than overall numbers, I'd really like to see the graphs layed over each other to see where the gains are too.

Exactly. How many companies that make CAI's claim big gains but it's only a tiny blip on a dyno sheet?

Mdub707 · Jan 9, 2012

Snake said:
Exactly. How many companies that make CAI's claim big gains but it's only a tiny blip on a dyno sheet?

I personally watched a stock intake vs. aftermarket intake dyno run once in my life. It was on a ~525rwhp LLY. I believe it was an S&B. It made almost identical HP and TQ, if not a couple HP less, 3 back to back runs stock, then 3 back to back runs with the other intake. No difference.

03-Blue-Powerstroke · Jan 9, 2012

Is there that big of a difference between the 48V and 58V FICMS? Also a tuned 48 and 58?

DZL JIM · Jan 9, 2012

Ok, so what do you guys want to see from the dyno?
I was thinking about hitting our dyno for some testing of my own, here's what I'm thinking. All done in one session, same day.
1) Stock tune, stock FICM. (baseline)
2) Stock tune, tuned FICM.
3) Stock tune, 58v/tuned FICM.
4) HP tune, stock FICM.
5) HP tune, 58v/tuned FICM.

Truck is '05, auto, 4" exhaust, EGR delete.
I have extra FICM I was going to send in for 58v/tuning.
I need another FICM with just tuning done to it. I have no problem buying a spare from someone just to have anyway, anybody have a deal on one? I'll get tuning done.

I need hp tunes. Was looking at Vivian, maybe ID or Gearhead too. Any tuners want to help out a little with this?

Let me know your thoughts.

sickslow · Jan 9, 2012

Will u do a hp tune, tuned 48v ficm to?

I think the biggest factor in gains made by ficm is the previous ficm strategy thats on the truck. I hope that the '05 your testing has the newer ficm strategy because thats the one i have and it killed my mpg and probably low end power as well..im hoping a tune will get my mpg back

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

windrunner408 · Jan 9, 2012

DZL JIM said:
Ok, so what do you guys want to see from the dyno?
I was thinking about hitting our dyno for some testing of my own, here's what I'm thinking. All done in one session, same day.
1) Stock tune, stock FICM. (baseline)
2) Stock tune, tuned FICM.
3) Stock tune, 58v/tuned FICM.
4) HP tune, stock FICM.
5) HP tune, 58v/tuned FICM.

Truck is '05, auto, 4" exhaust, EGR delete.
I have extra FICM I was going to send in for 58v/tuning.
I need another FICM with just tuning done to it. I have no problem buying a spare from someone just to have anyway, anybody have a deal on one? I'll get tuning done.

I need hp tunes. Was looking at Vivian, maybe ID or Gearhead too. Any tuners want to help out a little with this?

Let me know your thoughts.

Well since you are asking, I would like to a run between a stock FICM and a 58v FICM (not tuned other than with the same strategy that was on the stock FICM).