"Tuner" for a V-10

garyemunson wrote:
What I noticed is that when 5 Star began offering it's tuners, the HP and torque of Ford's V-10 was less than Workhorse's 8.1 and 5 Star's device let you get a lot more power from the V-10 and make it comparable to the GM engine. As the years went by, the V-10 has continued to be rated higher and higher. I'm not sure how much more you will now get with one of 5 Star's kits as it looks like Ford has been already doing the work for you.

Jolo is almost right,

There are actually (at least) three versions of the V10.
#1 ( start to 2000) is a 2-valve basic crank engine, it produces the least power and the worst fuel economy.
#2 (2000 onward) is a 2-valve with an improved crank, this is the engine mentioned in the above post
#3 is a 3-valve engine and it produces the most power and gets probably the best fuel economy.

The #1 engine went in both F and E series chassis
The #2 engine also went in both the F and E series chassis, and is still the engine in the E series chassis
The #3 engine is only in the F series chassis (including F series motor homes)

Then there is the transmission..... I think there were four different transmissions matched with the engine over the years.

BEFORE doing ANYTHING...You MUST decide which V10 you have! There are 2 engine available. The 305 Horsepower and the 362 Horsepower. Also, does it have the old 4 speed tranny, the newer 5 speed or the newest 6 speed? Don't do ANYTHING until you answer these questions. We are on our 3rd V10 of both engines and have not felt any lack of power and from what I read nothing will help gas mileage.

rk911 wrote:

midnightsadie wrote:
.... if it breaks down on the road? who,s gonna know what was done to it?

if it breaks down on the road wouldn’t the driver/owner know what was done?

If it breaks down under factory warranty and you are expecting the warranty repairs to be paid for by Ford, THEY will know what was done to your vehicle if you don't remove/exchange the retuned chip and run it for long enough to reset the default tune. If Ford feels that someone modified or "retuned" their initial factory tuning and by THEIR own determination, it caused the failure, guess who will be paying for (what could have been) warranty repairs?


A.) Ford Motor Company
B.) The tuner
C.) You

Answer: C

That said, is it worth it to save a few minutes getting up that next hill? Only you can decide.

Chum lee

not if he didn,t do the work.

The 5 star tuner's primary plus was resetting the shift points of the tranny which was known for downshifting from 5th to 1st or 2nd without trying to use 3rd or 4th. It would take the relative quiet cruise into a screaming V-10 without notice or reason.
I put the tuner to work and am really happy with the results addl HP "may" come with it but I never noticed it.
Don't know how the Ford people programmed the 6 speed but surely they must have fixed their shift pgm by now,

I find I have more than enough power. I do drive in the Rocky Mountains.

What I noticed is that when 5 Star began offering it's tuners, the HP and torque of Ford's V-10 was less than Workhorse's 8.1 and 5 Star's device let you get a lot more power from the V-10 and make it comparable to the GM engine. As the years went by, the V-10 has continued to be rated higher and higher. I'm not sure how much more you will now get with one of 5 Star's kits as it looks like Ford has been already doing the work for you.

Buying new, no experience but want to changes things? Oh my.

midnightsadie wrote:
.... if it breaks down on the road? who,s gonna know what was done to it?

if it breaks down on the road wouldn’t the driver/owner know what was done?

X2 if it runs just fine? why fool with it? I,m one that thinks ford pays big bucks to make them run right . after market toy,s I just can,t do.question if it breaks down on the road? who,s gonna know what was done to it.