Hi, Guest
Alright, after almost a week in the "final tune" configuration, here are my thoughts and rough numbers (haven't had enough mileage to kill a tank yet).
Driveability - this is the only caveat I have to anyone with an Escape who wants to "follow in my shoes". The tune I am running is REALLY fuel economy-geared. It's not so much the fuel trims as it is the shift scheduling and the lockup scheduling. In fact, I'd go so far to say that it's too extreme for 90%+ of the population. It's not "unsafe" in that a kickdown swat of throttle downshifts and makes the truck get up and go, just like stock.
In 3rd gear it locks up @ 40 KM/H, cruising RPMs are about 1250-1300. No shudder, no clatter, just smooth pulling. Obviously uphill grades more than 3-4% will be interesting but on a 2-2.5% grade it will pull cleanly in 3rd at that speed and accelerate reasonably.
It grabs 4th directly (and by that I mean from locked 3rd to locked 4th) at 55 KM/H. Your engine RPMs before the shift are ~ 1600 and after you're back down to 1200 or so. It'll hold 4th down to 50 KM/H before unlocking, shifting to 3rd and then resuming lock after an appropriate amount of throttle is applied and held, same as stock (just different thresholds for speed).
Now for the likely unbelieved numbers.
The stock Limited 4WD gets 12.5 / 100 KMs in the city. Before the tune I was sitting somewhere between 11.5 and 12, unless I goosed it a fair amount. Mind you, that's likely driving more conservatively than the new EPA tests do.
Right now, based on the first 1/4 tank and my knowledge of the litre denominations of the tank level markings (each 1/4 tank indicated is approximately 13L)... I'm sitting just on the high side of 10L / 100 KMs city. I had travelled just over 50 KMs from 1/4 tank remaining (indicated) when the "get gas soon" light came on. This light comes on when the ECU infers that there's 80KMs left in the tank of usable range (before vapours and the final 10L of gas).
I've since given it $30 @ 127.7 cents/L, or 23.5L added. That took me just over 1/2 a tank indicated. Right now the trip computer believes I have another 240 KMs left after travelling about 45KMs, all city but a fair amount of constant speed cruising between 1300-1500 RPMs. I know that's to the "good" / low side of 10L / 100KMs, but I'm trying hard not to jump the shark here.
I'll do the math on a full fill next week, basing it on the fact that I started at 1/2 a tank. That'll be for the interim fuel usage numbers, of course.
I don't know what else to say, guys. This "tune" has really improved upon the city economy of the Escape. Plus, I'm not a mindless hack... most days. :P When we took a hilly road and it seemed as tho I'd really be lugging it on a grade, I manually flicked it down to 2nd so as not to harass the engine, then locked out 4th and shifted back to D.
I don't have a problem with that for two reasons: I asked for the truck to run the way it does and it's only doing what was asked of it. Plus, I do miss shifting so any legit chance to do it (at all, considering CDN Escapes and most USDM Escapes can't be had with a manual - no V6s, anyways) is worth it.
Sorry bout the long read, but so far the verdict is: WOW.
Oh, I switched over to Motorcraft full-synth 5W20 as well. I'm quite certain that it's playing a small part in my fuel economy improvements as well... credit where credit is due.
And speaking of credit due... Mike is one hell of a tuner. :banger:
Driveability - this is the only caveat I have to anyone with an Escape who wants to "follow in my shoes". The tune I am running is REALLY fuel economy-geared. It's not so much the fuel trims as it is the shift scheduling and the lockup scheduling. In fact, I'd go so far to say that it's too extreme for 90%+ of the population. It's not "unsafe" in that a kickdown swat of throttle downshifts and makes the truck get up and go, just like stock.
In 3rd gear it locks up @ 40 KM/H, cruising RPMs are about 1250-1300. No shudder, no clatter, just smooth pulling. Obviously uphill grades more than 3-4% will be interesting but on a 2-2.5% grade it will pull cleanly in 3rd at that speed and accelerate reasonably.
It grabs 4th directly (and by that I mean from locked 3rd to locked 4th) at 55 KM/H. Your engine RPMs before the shift are ~ 1600 and after you're back down to 1200 or so. It'll hold 4th down to 50 KM/H before unlocking, shifting to 3rd and then resuming lock after an appropriate amount of throttle is applied and held, same as stock (just different thresholds for speed).
Now for the likely unbelieved numbers.
The stock Limited 4WD gets 12.5 / 100 KMs in the city. Before the tune I was sitting somewhere between 11.5 and 12, unless I goosed it a fair amount. Mind you, that's likely driving more conservatively than the new EPA tests do.
Right now, based on the first 1/4 tank and my knowledge of the litre denominations of the tank level markings (each 1/4 tank indicated is approximately 13L)... I'm sitting just on the high side of 10L / 100 KMs city. I had travelled just over 50 KMs from 1/4 tank remaining (indicated) when the "get gas soon" light came on. This light comes on when the ECU infers that there's 80KMs left in the tank of usable range (before vapours and the final 10L of gas).
I've since given it $30 @ 127.7 cents/L, or 23.5L added. That took me just over 1/2 a tank indicated. Right now the trip computer believes I have another 240 KMs left after travelling about 45KMs, all city but a fair amount of constant speed cruising between 1300-1500 RPMs. I know that's to the "good" / low side of 10L / 100KMs, but I'm trying hard not to jump the shark here.
I'll do the math on a full fill next week, basing it on the fact that I started at 1/2 a tank. That'll be for the interim fuel usage numbers, of course.
I don't know what else to say, guys. This "tune" has really improved upon the city economy of the Escape. Plus, I'm not a mindless hack... most days. :P When we took a hilly road and it seemed as tho I'd really be lugging it on a grade, I manually flicked it down to 2nd so as not to harass the engine, then locked out 4th and shifted back to D.
I don't have a problem with that for two reasons: I asked for the truck to run the way it does and it's only doing what was asked of it. Plus, I do miss shifting so any legit chance to do it (at all, considering CDN Escapes and most USDM Escapes can't be had with a manual - no V6s, anyways) is worth it.
Sorry bout the long read, but so far the verdict is: WOW.
Oh, I switched over to Motorcraft full-synth 5W20 as well. I'm quite certain that it's playing a small part in my fuel economy improvements as well... credit where credit is due.
And speaking of credit due... Mike is one hell of a tuner. :banger:
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.