Lidio Tuned Marauders - Gas mileage check

[metroplex]

I would like to ask those with Lidio's tune to please check in with gas mileage. The reason I ask is because Lidio said in the past that he keeps the TC unlocked and only locks it at high speeds (did I recall correctly?) in OD. Even at WOT he wants the TC unlocked in 2nd and 3rd gears for relatively stock Panthers. If I'm incorrect in this statement, please feel free to correct it but my point is that I'd like to see some real world data from others that have either kept the TC locked up early on or if they kept it unlocked until higher speeds while cruising on the highway.

I checked over my gas mileage logs and it appears that delaying the TC lockup in OD until it gets to 55+ mph yields an increase in gas mileage.
Could it be that locking the TC slows down the RPM rise and forces you to open up the throttle more (using more fuel) to travel the same distance?
I'd like to know. I'm not trying to single out Lidio or anything, I'm not sure what Dennis Reinhart does, and SCT's standard 4R70W tune delays OD TC Lockup until about 60+ mph in light to moderate throttle positions.

Thanks in advance

PS here's my entry:
With the TC locking up as early as 40-47 mph in OD, I get 14-15 mpg city. It's a 2000 Crown Vic with 3.55s in the back (26" tires). Yes, I know you have 28" or so tall tires with a different engine, but any data would be appreciated! Our aerodynamic drag coefficients should be the same, thanks to the same styling since 1998.

[dwasson]

I have a 2003 Marauder, with a stock gear, and Lidio's chip. I have a heavy foot. In the city, approx 50% surface streets and 50% city freeway, I usually get 20+ MPG. On the highway, usually at 80, I get about 23 MPG.

[dflynn5]

I have stock gears and when I applied Lidio's tune, I noticed a drop in gas mileage from 19.5 down below 18. I asked Lidio to drop the TC lock up speed in 4th down to 50 and my mpg went back up to 19.5

Note that I drive country roads and then stop go freeway traffic. On the back roads my speed is frequently 50-60 and was not fast enough to engage the TC with Lidio's standard tune. With lock up at 50, the tune is damm near perfect.

[metroplex]

There's got to be a point of diminishing returns where if you lock up the TC too early in OD, you lose gas mileage. Then there's a point where if you lock up the TC too late in OD, you also lose gas mileage.... that's just my instinct at least.

I will try locking it up at around 50 mph instead of the current setting of 60 as I too noticed that when I hit 55-60 mph on local state highways, the engine is kind of high revving.

[DEFYANT]

The last time I checked, I got 21.6 mpg. I have recently been retuned and have not checked it. I will say that I did not notice a difference. My gas guage read the same position as the DefyantWifes mini van to and from MVIII.

[Marauderjack]

metroplex.....

I have the TC locking at 50 and like it very much!! :beer:

Mine also unlocks upon deceleration which helps mileage some but slips right back when accelerating slowly!! "Goose" it and TC lock goes Bye-Bye and downshift and .....AWAY WE GO!!!! WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!! :banana2: :bows: :burnout:

Marauderjack :D ;)

[BillyGman]

PS here's my entry:
With the TC locking up as early as 40-47 mph in OD, I get 14-15 mpg city. .Well, as a Trilogy customer, I have Lidio's tune also, since all the Trilogy S/Cer chips are burned by Lidio. And my tune from Lidio has the converter locking up at 57-60 MPH. I know that because I have the Stallion torque converter, which locks-up harder than the stock converter does, and you can feel it locking up. It's very noticeable when it does. And even with the 4.56 gears that I have in the rear along with the Trilogy supercharger that I have, I get 14 MPG around town with my Marauder, and 17 MPG on the highway.

So even with 4.56 gears, I'm getting close to the same mileage that you are.

[metroplex]

So Lidio kept the stock method of unlocking the TC when you let off the throttle? I would think keeping the TC locked during deleceration can improve gas mileage since your engine is more efficiently transferring power to the rear wheels?

[metroplex]

Well, as a Trilogy customer, I have Lidio's tune also, since all the Trilogy S/Cer chips are burned by Lidio. And my tune from Lidio has the converter locking up at 57-60 MPH. I know that because I have the Stallion torque converter, which locks-up harder than the stock converter does, and you can feel it locking up. It's very noticeable when it does. And even with the 4.56 gears that I have in the rear along with the Trilogy supercharger that I have, I get 14 MPG around town with my Marauder, and 17 MPG on the highway.

So even with 4.56 gears, I'm getting close to the same mileage that you are.
I can feel my TC lock up as well (extra gear almost). but geez louise, 14/17? wow. I thought my Vic was a gas hog...

I have a 11.25" stock converter so I will try going back to the 50 mph lockup. I'm trying to squeeze every amount of gas mileage out of the car. If I can get 16 mpg around the city, I'd be a very happy person! :banana:

Not only is gas more expensive, ammunition prices just skyrocketed recently. :bigcry:So i can't shoot as much or drive as much without breaking the piggy bank :bigcry::bigcry::mad2::argue:

[BillyGman]

but geez louise, 14/17? wow. I thought my Vic was a gas hog...

Try puting 4.56 gears and a S/Cer in your car like I have, with your method of lock-up, and then tell me what gas mileage you're getting. As for the ammo prices, I'm sorry to hear about that. I guess the rising cost of gasoline and desiel will cause almost everything else to go up too. But I'm very well stocked up on my favorite caliber, along with several reloading presses just waiting to be broken in. ;)

[stevengerard]

That's one of the reason's I had Lidio retune my car - I have been getting around 10 mpg city and 14 highway. After MMIII I was right around 17 mpg highway have not checked local. My lock-up is at 63 mph and I have a heavy foot - 4.10's and a 3500 stall so that all adds to the lower economy.

[StevenJ]

Metroplex, even I get 16-17 mpg form just city driving. You need to take a break from MM and esepcially Crown Vic.net! Take it easy man :bandit:

[metroplex]

Try puting 4.56 gears and a S/Cer in your car like I have, with your method of lock-up, and then tell me what gas mileage you're getting. As for the ammo prices, I'm sorry to hear about that. I guess the rising cost of gasoline and desiel will cause almost everything else to go up too. But I'm very well stocked up on my favorite caliber, along with several reloading presses just waiting to be broken in. ;)
I have to stock up on 3 of my favorite calibers. :coolman: I can still get ammo cheaper than reloading myself, but I can foretell it slowly catching up.

Your 4.56/18" tires combo is essentially the same as the Vic's 225/60R16 and 4.10 combo. From what I have only heard, the 4.10 users experience a 1-2 mpg hit. I forgot how much of a hit the blowers had.

[BillyGman]

Your 4.56/18" tires combo is essentially the same as the Vic's 225/60R16 and 4.10 combo. From what I have only heard, the 4.10 users experience a 1-2 mpg hit. I forgot how much of a hit the blowers had.Yeah, the tire and gear combo is within 100 RPM's at 70 MPH, so that's close enough. I've had 3.55's, 4.10's, and now 4.56's in my Marauder. Going from the 3.55's to the 4.10's reduced my gasmileage by 2 MPG, and then going from the 4.10's to the 4.56's reduced it an additional 2 MPG. I've found the the supercharger only reduced it about 1 MPG. But the point in one of my previous posts was that I get 14 MPG around town, and I drive politley (I use my turn signals and avoid tailgating others) but agressively (fast, and hard on the throttle whenever possible). And you've stated that you get 14-15 MPG around town, so that's about the same.

I'm sure that Lidio has his reasons for his preference of converter Lock-up. The man has been tuning 4.6L engined cars ever since that engine first came out. But when you do get your converter locking up at a slower speed, then let us know if it's really helped your mileage out or not. Ofcourse, even if you do end up getting slightly better gas mileage with your proposed method, that might not neccessarily mean that it's a better way to do things other than it yielding slighty better gas mileage. It may very well prove to be a trade-off of some sort.

[metroplex]

I've already tried earlier TC lockup (40-45 mph) and it requires more throttle to move around. However if you set it too late, the engine tends to run at a higher noticeable RPM when coasting.

There was a time I was getting 15-15.5 mpg consistently and I think it was because of the 50 mph lockup. I'll have to do more experimenting and logging to be sure, but I've basically changed the TC lock/unlock schedule based on Lidio's advice.

[Ozz]

I have a couple silly newbie questions.
How does restricting converter lock up differ from having the OD turned off? Does OD off just keep the tranny in 3rd?

Ignorance speaking here but - I wonder if Lidio would consider doing something with the OD button that changes the lockup point (stock 4th gear lockup around town with the OD on and 63 with the OD off)...? What about eliminating the lockup in 1,2, and 3 but letting it lockup normally once it gets to 4th so that low speed cruising is uneffected by the chip? Just some thoughts...

I'm curious because I'm tempted to call him to get the tune but I take a slow road (40-45mph) to work and don't really want to restrict the lockup when I am just cruising along. Unfortunately I want to keep near stock gas mileage too.

[Bradley G]

oldie but a goodie:D
"Oh boy", " look at me build my post count"!
I can not feel any lock up on the Marauder, at any speed near 60.

[BAD MERC]

I have the Xcal2 on my 2004 and like all the parameters EXCEPT.... the transmission still wants to upshift into second the moment I usually wanna hit the gas and I ALWAYS have to manually shift it - like stock. I cannot just "toe in" to downshift, I generally have to push it to the carpet then it shounds like I am just jumping on the gas like a maniac. If I had it to buy again, I wouldn't. I don't pay attention to mileage. Although- when I drive to my brothers house (210 miles) it takes a half tank.

[Black bart]

:)
About 85 % of driving is over the Santa Cruz Mountains (78 miles RT) and the remaining 15% is with…so a fair amount of stop – n- go and heavy traffic in the Silicon Valley area.

With the stock 3:55 gearing and Lidio’s tune am averaging 20.4 mpg. The TC lock – up is 60 mph…and am very pleased with the trans shift points, timing and firmness!

I do have 4:10 gears, shims and girdle in the garage but just am hesitant to have them installed, as I really like the engine RPM range at 75 to 80 mph in 4th. The MM just cruise along nice and easy but when I shift into 3rd and punch it, the MM moves out aggressively.