5Star Tuning

I'm curious about this myself. If people are getting bad results, it would be plastered all over these forums, the F-150 forums, and anywhere else, so since there are no "I used a tuner, and now I need a new engine!" posts, while there are a good amount of thumbs up on Five Star Tuning, I'd consider it.

As always, do at one's own risk.

Ford left a lot of un-tapped potential in the V10. A tuner will unleash some of that potential. I have a Predator tuner, but works but is not as "RV-friendly" out of the box, compared to 5-star. It's drives better with it, including staying if OD much more, plus it makes a little more power.

I have been following this with great interest.

Other RV forums and truck forums seem to indicate 5 Star is best for RVs
especially the V10 Ford. I understand that the owner is also and RVer.

With everything being computer controlled now days and the factory settings being a compromise by necessity, I have been looking for the optimal.

Timing, fuel ratio, torque converter lockup, shift pressure, shift points, even the throttle are all now computer controlled. From what I read the increase in torque, quicker motor response, better shift points and converter lockup are well worth it. It all depends on what you are looking for and where you RV.

I too am looking for honest feedback and not just opinions for self justification of the expense.

Hopefully I will find out for myself soon.

I installed the 5Star Tune in my 2009 MH and it is a huge improvement over stock. When stock it would down shift from 5th to 3rd on the slightest incline causing the engine rpm to be above 4000. After the Tune it will hold 5th much longer and as it needs more power will first unlock the torque converter and then down shift to 4th or eventually 3rd as needed.

I bought one of the tuners for our v10 while they were on sale (I think it just ended?). Have not installed yet but will when we get ready to travel. As to its value, if it can fix the sorry shift cycles and improve the RPMs that are needed it will be a great addition. Stock is NOT always best as some seem to think and the aftermarket has done many things to improve upon the oems. It appears that the throttle system is now computer based and requires transmission imput as well as throttle position to operate, thus the lag and lead in the rpm problems. I spoke with Mike and he said that the tune will rectify the lead/lag that exists. I do not like the sudden high rpms that occur when you are trying to hold steady pressure to climb a hill or whatever. I will post whenever I install, but even a 10% improvement in mpg is a gain, that would be about 1 mpg for me!

sch911 wrote:
What are you expecting to gain from this "tune"?

MPG? - No...
Power - Marginal at best...

For me staying stock is the safest way to go. Downshifting is a required operation for any V10 MH. The engines and transmissions are solid and the shifts don't concern me one bit.

Not mileage. From what I've read, that improvement is going to be 10% -- so less than 1 mpg. So more of a performance improvement, I guess -- better shifting, etc.

Would be interested in hearing more about your comment "Power? -- Marginal at best." Anything more specific about that?

What are you expecting to gain from this "tune"?

MPG? - No...
Power - Marginal at best...

For me staying stock is the safest way to go. Downshifting is a required operation for any V10 MH. The engines and transmissions are solid and the shifts don't concern me one bit.

I've debated it but not done it. They had been selling an RV tune as a single item, don't know if they still are.
Given that you decide to go ahead, please report back. From what 5Star says, they change the shifting management of the transmission also. We have 4R100 and I think you do. Very interested to find out what it does for the transmission. If the tune gets rid of all the unnecessary downshifting, I think that alone would be worth the price, and any improvement to the engine would be a bonus.