Banks Power exhaust system

Just what I want...the stress of adding a Banks system days before I leave for Yellowstone.

Have the 5 star ordered and should be here tomorrow. Just in time for our 5000+ mile trip to Yellowstone etc. If I remember when I return I will update this posting with how it performed.

DryCreek wrote:
Is there any way to tell if the Banks tune was uploaded into your ECM?

.

The 5 Star tuner will tell you if it has a different program than stock, stock program will read HD Ford Super Duty on the 5 Star tuner, the 5 Star is the best tuner for motorhomes, Banks exhaust/headers/air intake is a great system but their tuner is sort of a race mode type, 5 Star is better for motorhomes, especially the Ford chassis.

Just my opinion.

What I have is a 2006 Forest River Lexington 283 GTS with the E450 chassis and the V10 engine. When I hear back from Banks I will post an update. I think I need to check on the 5 star and see if that does anything to the shifting.

Is there any way to tell if the Banks tune was uploaded into your ECM?

The used unit I bought has the full Banks Power Pack (intake and exhaust) installed on it. When going through the material in the owners kit I found the Banks info, including a manual on the Otto-Mind, but no device to load/unload the tune. The previous owner said the Banks setup was put on by the original owner, and he never saw a tuner when he bought the unit (at MHSRV) in 2008.

All I have in comparison are test drives in two other similar length coaches, both with the same powertrain (3-valve V-10 and 5 speed TorqShift). The Winnie seems to shift at a lower RPM and doesn't "wind out" like the others did when trying to accelerate to highway speeds.

For whatever it's worth, we had the Banks system installed on our 2000 v10 powered coach in Nov. 2005 and the 5-Star Tune Jun. 2011 and still use 87 Octane fuel with no negative issues.

Good luck & Safe Travels

ostbob wrote:
Sorry, it was 91 octane mention on page 10 of the Banks Automind programmers manual.
I have an email into Banks but sometimes it better to get the straight info from those who are using it. If you're not getting a pinging noise then what ever you're using should be Ok. I just purchased the RV from dealer so I don't know what previous owners used. I don't even know if it has the Automind program but I do know it has the Banks Power exhaust system. I have shifting problems so I was looking into the Automind.

http://assets.bankspower.com/manuals/942/97270-AutoMind_programmer-v4_web.pdf

What is your chassis and year, Ford or Workhorse, the reason I ask is Ford shift issue 2006 or newer is fixed with the 5 Star Tuning.

As to pinging on my V-10 3 valve with full banks system and 5 Star tuning I have had pinging a couple of times in certain areas, could have been bad fuel not sure, so I did add higher octane and it went away and than back to 87 octane, I was told by Mike at 5 Star tuning that the factory spark plugs from Ford need replaced to a hotter spark plug if some pinging is present.

If you use the high octane why would you need a Banks?

I have the last of the Ford big block v8's with a new Banks Power Pack installed last year. It smoothly rumbles when idling and gets off the mark much better than before. The 87 octane that I've always used is fine.

I have the full banks power pack, and K&N air intake, plus the 5 star tune. 5 star did set things different with the banks kit in mind. I was never advised or did I read anything about higher than 87 octane gas.