Tuned FICM True Gains?

Mwilbur516 · Jan 25, 2012

I'll give the numbers and try to post the dyno sheets.

windrunner408 · Feb 6, 2012

I just received my 58v FICM today from Vivian at Quick Tricks and I plan to install it tomorrow. I also have an IDP FICM tuner on the way so it should be here in a couple of days. To say the least, I am excited.

I think I want to install the FICM and see if I notice any difference from the stock one and then install IDP's Moderate FICM tune. I have stock injectors for now so I am not sure how much power will get released. I will update as I progress.

java · Feb 6, 2012

I just got my FICM from Vivian today too. But I'm going to send it off to KEM to get tuned before I put it on the truck.

windrunner408 · Feb 6, 2012

I was going to send it to IDP if their tuner wasnt available before i stuck it in my truck but since i have a tuner coming, I have to get it in the truck before it shows up and I figured I would drive around with it for a little bit until it comes so that way i can feel the difference if there is one.

java · Feb 6, 2012

Nice, you will get a good comparison that way! Let us know how it turns out.

MorganY · Feb 10, 2012

please do. I picked up 1.5x mpg on the way back to my home town the first night I had the FICM tune from KEM going 65 through some hills. I can't believe I waited this long w/o one

windrunner408 · Feb 10, 2012

Yea I am in the middle of swapping it out. The connectors suck and wont come off. Should be able to get it done tomorrow hopefully.

strokin6L · Feb 10, 2012

i called Ted at ID last Friday and got on the list for the remote FICM tuner. Can't wait to have a tuned FICM again.

windrunner408 · Feb 10, 2012

Yea I called them on Monday and they said they had one in so jumped on it like a hobo on a ham sandwich.

windrunner408 · Feb 11, 2012

Ok well got the FICM swapped out for the 58v unit. Havent flashed it yet (w/the IDP flash) or ran it yet. It is programmed with the "latest" Ford strategy for whatever that is worth. With the KOEO my CTS reads 50.0v and 50.0v running. It was 27*F out when I started it and it didnt even lope once. Strait from the start it purred nicely. I wont be able to drive it long enough to see if there are any fuel economy gains with just the 58v FICM on Ford programming but I will go drive it and see if there are any power gains before I tune it with the IDP tune.

windrunner408 · Feb 11, 2012

Ok well I took the truck out for a nice 30 mile ride today after I had installed the 58v FICM. I did not flash it with the IDP tuner but rather left it stock for the ride to see how the truck rode.

The truck definitely sounded a little better with the 58v mod but it also felt exactly the same as before with my stock 48v FICM power wise and maybe even a little less power. I would attribute this to the FORD programing being that it is the latest flash (according to quick tricks anyways).

After I got back from the ride, I loaded up the IDP FICM tune and took it out again to see if I could tell a difference; and sure enough I noticed a nice boost in low end power. The truck felt like it had a restriction removed that was there in the old programing. I could tell there was more power because I could see the speedo move faster at a lower level of boost as compared to before.

I dont know what a dyno would show but I could definitely tell there was something. I am excited to see I regain any mileage back as well. So far I am glad I went with the FICM tuning. My old FICM was/is probably ok and just needed to be tuned but I went with an upgraded unit so as to hope to not have to worry about having spent money to tune my stock one and have it go out on me.

I will drive it for a couple of weeks and see how it does fuel mileage wise and report back but know for sure that there is definitely a power increase with a tuned FICM IMO.

dp42 · Feb 11, 2012

I feel the 40 hp when its stock tuned. Add a tune from innovative its more like 30. Track times improved .2 but i cant prove it until i swap ficms.

windrunner408 · Feb 11, 2012

Uh ok. I just know that I didnt feel anything until I added the tune from IDP. I have also heard of similar reports from others that upgraded to a 58v unit and didnt feel anything until they added a tune.

Mwilbur516 · Feb 11, 2012

We FICM tuned over 20 trucks today at PHP in Winder GA. All different years, tuned, untuned, modded, completely stock. We dynoed every truck before and after (made a couple stock pulls, then tuned the FICM, then made a couple tuned pulls). The results were very consistant. I have my dyno sheet with 1stock FICM pull and one tuned FICM run. I will try to post it tomorrow.

Heres what we found throughout the day. The stock trucks (no tuner) with 48V FICM's generally gained 15-20rwhp and 30-40lbs-ft of torque after the FICM was tuned. The trucks running tuners with 48V FICM's generally gained around 10rwhp and 20-30lbs-ft of torque. My truck was the only one with a 58V FICM and tuned that we tested and I gained 8rwhp and 15lbs-ft of torque.

I can't comment on fuel mileage yet, but myself as well as several other GPDA members will be posting fuel mileage gains within' the next week or two. These will be hand calculated numbers that have been replicated with a couple fuel ups.

I will say that there is a definite and substantial increase in low end power and throttle response. The truck spools amazingly quick now. Little to no lag to speak of. We did our tests to prove what different variations of the 6.0L would gain by tuning the FICM and everyone who got tuned tuned today was extremely happy with the results. BTW, all dyno pulls, before and after FICM tuning were back to back and each truck got 2 untuned pulls and then 2 tuned pulls to make sure we had good results.

windrunner408 · Feb 11, 2012

Interesting results. Glad to hear and thanks for sharing. I am interested in hearing your fuel mileage results as you get them. I plan to do the exact same thing over the next couple of weeks to see if I gain any mileage. I cant tell how much power I gained but there is some and yes I can attest to the same results as you with increased low end power and quick spooling.

Mwilbur516 · Feb 11, 2012

Yeah, the tuned trucks didn't gain as much as the stock trucks, but I really expected that would be the case. I am very pleased with the tune and so far I think it is definitely worth the money for anyone with a later strategy that would like to pick up some low end power and throttle response.

windrunner408 · Feb 11, 2012

Yea it was wierd, while the truck seemed to run really smooth with the latest factory ford programing on the 58v FICM, I could have sworn there was almost less power than when I had my 48v stock tuned FICM.

MorganY · Feb 11, 2012

I didn't like the 58v to begin with. glad I stuck with the 48v and got it tuned by KEM.

Mwilbur516 · Feb 12, 2012

windrunner408 said:
Yea it was wierd, while the truck seemed to run really smooth with the latest factory ford programing on the 58v FICM, I could have sworn there was almost less power than when I had my 48v stock tuned FICM.

From what I have read and heard, Ford has continually detuned the FICM's, so I would bet the latest flash had even more fueling restrictions. I didn't really notice any loss going to the 58V, I did however notice that it seemed smoother and more responsive while towing.

windrunner408 · Feb 12, 2012

I was saying my loss was that the truck required more boost for the same level of acceleration with the Ford programing but the truck seemed smoother and responsive. It was just when I went with the IDP tune that I noticed I required less boost as compared to the Ford programing to get the same level of acceleration and I didnt lose any smoothness or responsiveness from the motor. I feel the 58v upgrade was worth it and am glad to have it a part of my 6.0 performance journey.