E-450 performance chip

Calisdad wrote:
I have an E-450 but with a 460 engine. We get about 8mpg. The best thing we found to increase gas mileage is to stay under 62mph.

Could not agree more. Slow down, no quick starts and stops, and seldom use cruise control.

People have varying luck with different tunes. I'd also recommend Five Star Tuning as well. Some people report that one tune requires premium, but the MPG increase from the changed timing makes up for the increased fuel.

The only way to tell if a tune works is to stick the rig on a dyno... and I don't know many places that have something for a motorhome.

If I were adding a feature like a low pressure set of turbos on a V-10, a tune is a must (since the engine isn't normally aspirated anymore, so the mix ratio will have to be altered.) If I were not doing anything like that, I'd probably not bother.

Asked twice and still waiting for Mike at 5 Star to respond if changes will pass CA smog.

Anyone know about the Banks system?

"Mike" with 5 Star came back and said that there is one model for the RV, with only one tune, it offers a 10% fuel savings, but has other advantages that make the purchase worth while. His opinion. That would take me 12000 miles of fuel savings to pay for the $400. Not altogether a bad deal for a RV with low miles like mine. Still thinking it over... Yeah I thought the 600 to 900 was extreme, people say most anything. So what am I to believe about the other claims? A grain of salt comes to mind.

legolas wrote:
Anyone know about the Banks system?

A short Banks review here:

http://www.rv.net/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21863.cfm

The Banks Powerpakc is great! I have not read a single review of their new OttoMind programmer however. I do know that my Diablo Predator programmer does a lot more (power and features) than my Banks OttoMind chip did. Chip went back in its box.