Comparison of 87 performance vs 87 econ

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Squatting Dog

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Since this question has popped up several times. I decided to get an answer for everyone regarding the MPG difference between the performance tune and economy tune.

How I tested and tried to eliminate human factors as much as possible..

I took my son to a two week summer camp which is 474.7 miles round trip. I took the same route both trips, using cruise control set to the posted speed limit. I left at the same time in the morning to rule of differences in traffic and the tempature was within 5 degree on both days.

The trip with performance tune (no picture)
474.7 miles
12.5 mpg
37.9 gallons used (ran out of gas in the driveway, used 5 gallon jerry can to get to gas station)

A week before picking my son up I switched to economy tune, to allow time for it to settle in before test.

the trip with economy tune
474.7 miles
14.8 mpg
31.9 gallons used

2012-07-28152100.jpg

Miles to empty 89 miles

So the difference between performance and economy tune is
15% improvement in range (474.7/563.7=85, 100-85=15%)
16% improvement in mpg (12.5/14.8=84, 100-84=16%)
 
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Netix

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yup darn good. With 91 economy tune i can get down to as low at 15l/100km on the highway. the response is a bitch, and over taking someone already going 120 is a pain too but saves money. Im always on 91 agressive performance tune, i like to hit the pedal to the floor.... ALL THE TIME!!! with 91 performance i get as low as 22l/100km. Not too bad but HUGE difference in response and feel of the throttle. So passing people doing 120 already is a joke for me.
 

BlackMamba

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At posted speed limits I see a meaningful difference between 87 perf and 87 econ (which is consistent with Greg's experiment). Unfortunately at higher speeds the difference seems negligible. So I typically run in perf on my road trips now. Curious if anyone else has had similar results at higher speeds.
 
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Squatting Dog

Squatting Dog

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Yes, at higher speed there was NOT a noticable difference between performance and economy. I think the "fuel" economy difference between the tunes is negated by pushing the 3 ton barn door through the air. That is why I used the same route, same speed, and tried to do apple to apple comparison.

-Greg
 

Conejoracer

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I can't really add anything about a tuner, but my stock 2010 6.2 got 15.3 (hand calculated) over a 5600 mile road trip recently. Most highway runs were at 75/80mph.
I was running super (91/93 octane) the entire trip.
 

Wheela

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ya I just did round trip to joplin and notice really the speed is the factor, I drove down there at solid 70mph with 91perf tune and got 15.5 mpg(was very happy) and on way back did about 78-80ish and got about 13.5.
 
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