5 Star Tuner

[Wichiee]

I am looking at peoples comments on the 5 star tuner and people seem to be really happy with the performance tune. It doesn't appear that the Performance tune is available anymore....

What are people's thoughts on the daily/tow tune?

Is it still a worthwhile mod?

[86Scotty]

Very much so. Which engine do you have?

If you call and talk to 5 star they will, or they used to, write custom tunes if you know what you want. I think they have quit doing that mostly due to the fact that most people want mostly the same thing.

I got 3 tunes with my latest tuner on my V10 but I'll likely never change it after installing the main/first one, daily/tow. It is magic for the V10. For those unaware you have an instant changeup button with an 05 up V10/5r110 and this tune. Tow/haul off is just a great all around performance increase which minimizes the 5r110's engine brake and aggressive shifts with longer holds in each gear. The second you want that (up or down a mountain pass, for instance), just tap the tow haul button and your shifts and engine brake are strong, much stronger than driving with the tow/haul button without their tune.

If you have a 5.4l you will also love the performance tune. Back when I last had a 5.4l it was '87 performance' if I remember right. Not sure if they now call the standard 5.4 tune 'daily/tow' also.

[Wichiee]

Looks like they just have daily/tow in automatic and manual transmission with various octane levels now.

I have a 2000 with a 5.4l. I'm curious if the daily/tow is the same as the performance?

I guess all I really need is the daily/tow in 87 octane but it comes with 3 tunes.

Is there any preference to any other octane?

[86Scotty]

I've always gotten my 2nd/3rd tunes as 89 octane and 93 octane but I have never once put higher octane fuel in my van and tried one of those. They used to offer an 'economy' tune as well but it just essentially made your van drive like it did stock.

I have opinions on 5 star but am no expert and I keep it pretty simple. I have never bought any of the higher end tuners with displays, etc., just the $500 SCT tuner they've been offering for 10-15 years. Plug it in once, transform your van, drive happier. It's absolutely the best bang for your buck for any van IMO.

CarringB is an excellent reference for other mods or enhancements (alone or along with 5-star) on the different years/engines.

Years ago I spent several hundred and lots of time tracking down an AFE intake for my small V10 motorhome with 5 star tune. It made no difference. The tune is what made the difference. I think headers/exhaust are the only other easy things to get more out of these vans and they are much more difficult and expensive but he can tell you more.

[Oogs]

I've been running a 5 star for 2 years now. It made a noticeable difference in power and shifting performance. This past summer I've been running the 91 octane tune as we had some trips planned towing our SMB trailer to the mountains and I wanted to test it out. Note that I've been using 93 octane as thats all i found at the gas stations ive stopped at. I have noticed a slight performance gain from the 87 tune. Summer is just about over and with a $160 bill to top off the 46gal Transferflow last week, I'm going to go back to the 87.

[Schmitty]

With the custom tune from 5-Star, are you still able to change the tire size yourself on the SCT-X4 in the event you decide to make a change in tires in the future? Or does that need to be done by 5-Star? Thanks in advance.

[86Scotty]

You can change it all you like but it won't take. At least not in my experience. It's very frustrating.

I've changed it on multiple rigs with 5-star tunes and also tried to change it via Forscan on my current 2011 van. Speedo is still off. I gave up. I just read speed from GPS if I need it accurate. It's about 4 off on my 4x4 on 35"s.