Diablosport Forums

I recently purchased the U7151 Predator(Rev. f150-9r04).

Vehicle is 2008 Ford F150 Lariat Supercrew 5.4L 3V.

I posted problem of losing considerable mileage after performance tune(see previous post copied to bottom). I decided to try to reload the Rev. f150-9r04 to see if that would help my mielage. I have loaded the drivers for the USB to RS232 connection but computer would not recognize anything new is attached. I then tried to use serial to serial straight through cable and still nothing. I am running Windows XP Professional 64 bit so I downloaded that driver also and tried the USB to RS232 again and still nothing.

When I try the DSDownloader it prompts to cycle the unit off and on to continue but never gets past this point when I do. Any suggestions to getting my computer to recognize my U7151.

Also any suggestions as to why my mileage drops 3-5 mpg on the highway with cruise set at 65mph using the performance tune as opposed to factory tune? You can read below for particulars of what I have tried to date.


I loaded the 91 Octane performance tune and filled the tank with super unleaded(92 octane) and went on a trip and set the cruise to 65. After around 180 miles on US & Interstate highways my command center said I had averaged only 17.6 mpg. I reinstalled factory tune and on the return trip on the same roads with same gas still in the tank I got 21.4 mpg average on the readout. I then filled up with regular unleaded and drove another 60+ miles (still with factory tune) and got 21.4 mpg average again. Today I installed the 87 Tune and went on a 60+ mile open highway trip and it dropped to 17.0 mpg average for that trip. My mileage drops noticeably when I use the performance tunes and with my driving style I really can't notice any performance difference.

I see on the bar code on the end of the box it says "Predator 04-08 F-150 4.6L 3 Valve Only". Could it be possible that it is loading a tune for a 4.6L engine. I thought that the f150-9ro4 revision was for 5.4L also.

Any suggestions as to what makes my mileage drop so?

Thanks

Blasater, the Predator strategy is setup to load nothing other than your calibration ID to your truck. If it loaded a 4.6 or other tune we would have all sorts of lights on in the dash and a no start. The mileage issue has me concerned. It should stay the same or increase depending on driving habits. Sounds to me like your driving style is consistent. I am wondering if we possibly have an incorrect gear or tire size in the reflash causing the miles to be incorrectly calculated. If it is possible to get the Predator to work with your PC, I would really like you to export the tune that you put in the truck so I could take a look at it. Hopefully we can get this fixed up for you.

Here is a decent help page for the USB/serial cables. It may be possible that your cable is just incompatible. I know lots of people have a hard time getting the Belkin units to be recognized...

http://www.diablosport.com/index.php?na ... pic&t=5377

Kevin@Diablo

Blasater, here is another helpful thread...

http://www.diablosport.com/index.php?na ... pic&t=3622

Kevin@Diablo

Do the factory mileage computers calculate only on tire/gear size, or combined with other factors like air fuel ratio?
blasater, try calculating fuel mileage the old fashion way.(odometer/gal.)

FordsRuleTheEarth wrote:Do the factory mileage computers calculate only on tire/gear size, or combined with other factors like air fuel ratio?
blasater, try calculating fuel mileage the old fashion way.(odometer/gal.)

I went on a 160 mile trip and pulled a small trailer this weekend and intended to calculate my mileage after fill up but I ran the battery down listening to my radio and the trip meter went back to zero so it shot that idea down. I reloaded the 87 performance tune for the return trip and have not filled up since I got back but on the mileage computer it showed 15.3 mpg on the trip out with factory tune and 15.2 on the return trip with the 87 performance tune both times setting the cruise at 65. My previous tank full was mostly around town except for pulling an 18 foot trailer for about 100 miles and a couple of shorter road trips and the mpg meter showed 15.8 but the actual calculated to be 15.08 mpg so there is close to 1 mpg difference in actual and the mpg readout.

Stock rear axle ratio and tire size on this truck, correct?

Kev

Yes, it is stock on axle ratio and tire size. I went onto tirerack.com and found my tires because they actually have a column that shows revs per mile for the selected tire. When I went in to modify parameters I went to modify revs per mile and it appears to have only been able to modify stock tune. Even though I had the 87 performance tune installed, when I went to modify parameters it appears to have only modified the stock tune because when I asked it for last tune written after I modified the revs per mile it had me reinstall the tune and it says "Modify Stock Tune" for last tune written. When I went to modify parameters to modify it, it did not say what the revs was set on at the time. When I selected the right arrow it simply started counting up from 500 and I stopped at 685. Can I modify the 87 performance tune and set the revs per mile? If so, I may have to call and get you to step me through how to check what it is set on now.

Also, I have not been able to get my computer to recognize the U7151 as being connected. I have tried every suggestion in the above threads, tried USB to serial cable and straight thru serial to serial cables and still no luck. However, I had the same luck in trying to get it recognize my camera phone and finally gave up on it also. I believe it has something to do with my operating system (Windows XP Professional x64 SP2). I may have to borrow someones laptop and see if I can it to recognize my unit. When is the best time to call and talk with someone by phone?

Thanks

Before lunch is the best time. If you can get the last tune written from the truck to your pc I'd really like to take a look at it and see if there is an issue somewhere.

When you get it to communicate shoot me the tune [email protected]

Thanks,
Kevin@Diablo

blasater, I had the same connection problem with my predator. Make sure you set the com port and baud rate correctly. Mine was com 5 and 115,000 baud using a Belkin USB to RS232 adapter.