adrenalin

Well before I removed the HC trap I was getting an average 18.3 MPG. After driving 1,000 miles in 2 days without the trap I now get an average of 22.8 MPG. Nice improvement if you ask me.

Kluski

Since I am new to mod's, how do you get the light to turn off?

GarageLogic

Okay, I took the car to a dyno today to get a good baseline. This shop uses a Mustang dynometer. Here are the results:

First pull: 100% stock down to the paper air filter, 91 octane gas.

HP: 255.7@5250
TQ: 265.6@4250

For the next pull, I removed the hydrocarbon trap located in air inlet. If you want to see what that is go here

HP: 261.2@5250
TQ: 269@4250

On the final run, we removed the paper element:

HP: 261.1@5250
TQ: 269@4250

As you can see, the stupid HC trap was worth around 5hp/4tq at the wheels, while removing the air filter had little effect.

These numbers assumed a 19% loss through the drivetrain, so by my calculations, the car is putting out around 323-324 at the flywheel. (A little more than advertised by Ford).

I had planned to install the Steeda underdrives today, but it seems the kit was missing a special bolt. I figure with those installed and a performance reflash, the car should put down near 290rwhp. Not bad. Remember, my car is an automatic.

LordBritish

You're supposed to use 87 octane for stock. I'm not sure using 91 octane in stock 05 GT will give any improvements - might make it worse actually.

GarageLogic

I have always run at least 91 octane in my Mustangs. I did not expect to gain anything from having it in there. I seriously doubt it would be detrimental.

LordBritish

Unless you've tuned your 05 Stang, using 91 octane is just wasting money.

I highly doubt the 05 Stang computer is smart enough to detect different octanes and automatically optimize timings based on that.

adrenalin

I completely agree. It has actually been proven that if you run a higher octane all of the time you can damage the seals on the engine. I only run 87 octane. No need to run anything higher.

wild stray

Interesting....good numbers. Thank you!

169stang

In my experience, the motor runs cleaner and smoother on high test fuel.

Dan460

I completely agree. It has actually been proven that if you run a higher octane all of the time you can damage the seals on the engine. I only run 87 octane. No need to run anything higher.[/b][/quote]
I'm glad nobody told my 03 Cobra that or all the seals would be gone by now. 93 octane for 26000 miles.

It won't hurt the engine but it is a waste of money and unnecessary unless you are running boost, high compression, or have a detonation problem. An aggressive(lean) tune will need higher octane to keep detonation from being a problem.

Import-Slaya

Does anyone have info on how "smart" the new computers are? Some will advance timing based on grade of the fuel, in conjunction from feedback received from the knock sensor. If the new Mustang has a similar setup, then using 91 octane *would* result in more power.

TomServo92

My '95 SHO was "Premium Fuel Recommended. It was set up to run on 93 but if you put in 91 or 89 it would set the timing back to compensate. Since the '05 Stang isn't designated as "Premium Fuel Recommended", it problably isn't setup to take adavantage of premium fuel. I've never heard of car that lists 87 as the proper fuel but would detect higher octane. Premium fuels used to contain better detergents and additives but that's no longer the case. I personally don't think there's any advantage to running premium in car designed to run on 87.

GarageLogic

Well, after getting the gear installed and some dyno runs in yesterday, I turned my attention back to the XCalibrator issue. Just for the heck of it, I re-installed the tune Ray had sent me and , voila, this time it took. I have driven about 30-40 miles without any issues. Much better throttle response, and the shifts are nice and firm. No CE light no problems with the electronic throttle and, best of all, the speedo reads correct now.

Good thing I filled up with Premium instead of Regular, huh?!

LordBritish

Hey, GarageLogic, I'm thinking about getting my auto 05 GT tuned with this SCT XCalibrator.

Do you reccomend going some place to get it tuned or should I simply buy this box and flash it myself ?

MTAS

Will the Xcalibrator adjust the temp at which the cooling fan kicks on?

LordBritish

My HC trap fell out today

I also gave "Sally" a good waxing.

I used "Mother's Canoba Wax" - It looks pretty good.

I'm tired now

GarageLogic

Yes, that is one of many things your tuner can do through the Xcalibrator. Just a clarification about the XCalibrator. It is not a tuning tool, it is merely a device that allows you to reflash the CPU with a different set of data elements you receive from the tuner of your choice. Go to www.sctflash.com and you can see a link which lists the shops in your area who can provide tunes for your application.

LordBritish

So how does this SCT tuning work. Do you have to purchase this XCalibrator flash tool or can you merely "borrow" the tuner's flash tool ?

And do you even need a tuner, can't you just order the flash tool with whatever setting you want?

Sorry for so many n00b questions but I'm interested in doing this and you've done it

GarageLogic

The XCalibrator is only the device. Anyone can buy one, but the device itself does not allow the buyer to make their own changes to the CPU. In order to to that, you will need someone with the SCT software (i.e. a tuner) to load a "program", containing the different changes you would like to see, into your unit. The consumer can then "reflash" the CPU on their own.

The XCalibrator does not allow the end user to make their own changes. I figure in the next few weeks/months there will be tools available that do.

I hope this helps.

V10

The knock sensors should let the timing advance more with premium, unless timing already maxes out with the factory calibrations. If that is the case you really are wasting your money on premium unless you reflash with more timing advance.

According to the '05 Mustang manual