5-Star tuning opinions/problems/results for Ford V-10 Triton

[Homebrewer]

Just ordered the 5 Star tune for our 2017 Coachmen Leprechaun 317SA. I'm really looking forward to seeing the improvement in performance. Seems like a no brainier IMO. The group buy discount and all of the positive feedback swayed my decision to purchase.

[MonkeyClaw]

I've been looking at this for a while also. My question (and it may have been answered) is: when in standard mode (not tow/haul), will the tranny downshift when I press the brake pedal either coming to a stop or descending down a hill? This would be the same behavior as when in tow-haul and pressing the brakes.

If it does this, I'm ready to pull the trigger.

[Yarddroid]

Originally Posted by MonkeyClaw

I've been looking at this for a while also. My question (and it may have been answered) is: when in standard mode (not tow/haul), will the tranny downshift when I press the brake pedal either coming to a stop or descending down a hill? This would be the same behavior as when in tow-haul and pressing the brakes.

If it does this, I'm ready to pull the trigger.

It does on mine. In fact, it downshifted without touching the brakes, just let up on the gas... seemed more aggressive in tow/haul.

have not towed with it yet...

[MonkeyClaw]

Originally Posted by Yarddroid

It does on mine. In fact, it downshifted without touching the brakes, just let up on the gas... seemed more aggressive in tow/haul.

have not towed with it yet...

Thanks for the info, just placed my order!

[G Man]

Originally Posted by MonkeyClaw

Thanks for the info, just placed my order!

Installed in 5 minutes. Works great. No problem.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by DWRichard

While I am a supporter of the 5-star product, relying on the claims of a manufacturer who wants to sell you something regarding the warranty support of another company is problematic at best.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 does NOT protect you entirely from Ford invalidating your warranty. It DOES force Ford to PROVE that the after market device caused the problem they are refusing to cover under warranty. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 merely prevents manufacturers from arbitrarily voiding warranties due to third-party modifications.

My own opinion (and worth every penny you're paying for it) is that there is nothing in the 5-star product that would harm your drive train to the point where Ford would try to void your warranty, but waving the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 in their face if they tried would not automatically protect you.

Dodge was well known for voiding your warranty if any modifications were done to the engine/trans. They would just stonewall you since they knew suing them would cost more than the repair cost. and you'd give up first.

[bigben]

Dodge's stonewalling speak to my experience with Dodge - TERRIBLE. Might be one of the reasons you see almost exclusively Ford chassis in gasser motorhomes these days.

An additional note. As I've update previously, we've got 31K miles on our 2015 Thor. We've had 5 Star installed the majority of those miles. We had another V10 rig previously that struggled with on-ramps and with slam shifts. Tried 5 Star then and it helped but not enough. 5 Star stood behind their work and let me return the tune with a full refund. Believing that our current rig would be ours for a number of years, I tried the tune again - making sure I gave better input on my expectations.

Huge difference. While our coach is not a sports car, acceleration is really improved and slam shifts only happen if I am not paying attention when I am in CC. But - I did have some wishes for adjusting our 5 Star tune and they came through. Only have driven about 120 miles so far but the performance is still there and CC has been helped even more. Biggest change is holding better on hills in CC. Nice.

We've had our coach cross country and back twice now. Have our grand kids spending (sometimes 6 of them at time) 2 months per year with us, boondock at least 2 months per year and generally spend 8 months per year in the coach. Would I like more room with opposing slides in the front living area, sure. Can we afford the upgrade, sure. Will we do the upgrade - nope. After getting the first year issues behind us, not willing to live with that or other peeps mistake with another coach. The upgrade in the coach's performance produced by 5 Star Tune is part of that decision to stay with our big gasser. Very satisfied.

[EricGT]

Originally Posted by bigben

Dodge's stonewalling speak to my experience with Dodge - TERRIBLE. Might be one of the reasons you see almost exclusively Ford chassis in gasser motorhomes these days.

An additional note. As I've update previously, we've got 31K miles on our 2015 Thor. We've had 5 Star installed the majority of those miles. We had another V10 rig previously that struggled with on-ramps and with slam shifts. Tried 5 Star then and it helped but not enough. 5 Star stood behind their work and let me return the tune with a full refund. Believing that our current rig would be ours for a number of years, I tried the tune again - making sure I gave better input on my expectations.

Huge difference. While our coach is not a sports car, acceleration is really improved and slam shifts only happen if I am not paying attention when I am in CC. But - I did have some wishes for adjusting our 5 Star tune and they came through. Only have driven about 120 miles so far but the performance is still there and CC has been helped even more. Biggest change is holding better on hills in CC. Nice.

We've had our coach cross country and back twice now. Have our grand kids spending (sometimes 6 of them at time) 2 months per year with us, boondock at least 2 months per year and generally spend 8 months per year in the coach. Would I like more room with opposing slides in the front living area, sure. Can we afford the upgrade, sure. Will we do the upgrade - nope. After getting the first year issues behind us, not willing to live with that or other peeps mistake with another coach. The upgrade in the coach's performance produced by 5 Star Tune is part of that decision to stay with our big gasser. Very satisfied.

Great write up and one I can 100% identify with.

[MonkeyClaw]

My 5-Star arrived yesterday. Very quick service! I'm excited to install it and try it out, but I don't have any trips planned for a few weeks.

Can the programmer be used on other vehicles? Not necessarily to program, but maybe to clear/check codes? It looks like a generic programmer with a custom tune programmed in.

Also, can we back the tunes up to our computers?

[RobbieH]

OBDII scanners are cheap. I paid $22 for mine. It works on all vehicles and can clear codes, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NLQAHS

[5 Star]

Originally Posted by MonkeyClaw

My 5-Star arrived yesterday. Very quick service! I'm excited to install it and try it out, but I don't have any trips planned for a few weeks.

Can the programmer be used on other vehicles? Not necessarily to program, but maybe to clear/check codes? It looks like a generic programmer with a custom tune programmed in.

Also, can we back the tunes up to our computers?

Most definitely on both accounts. The unit can be used to read any other Ford vehicle. It will often read Jeep/GMC as well. As for saving the stock file, once the vehicle is tuned you can use the SCT device updater software to export a backup file of your stock file. You can download the software (linked below) and the 6th option in the menu will say get stock file.

https://az824306.vo.msecnd.net/softw...iceUpdater.exe

[Polyian]

Originally Posted by 5star

Most definitely on both accounts. The unit can be used to read any other Ford vehicle. It will often read Jeep/GMC as well. As for saving the stock file, once the vehicle is tuned you can use the SCT device updater software to export a backup file of your stock file. You can download the software (linked below) and the 6th option in the menu will say get stock file.

https://az824306.vo.msecnd.net/softw...iceUpdater.exe

I had not thought of backing up my stock file but I guess I should consider doing so in case my tuner is stolen or damaged. Is there any way too obtain a stock tune if it was lost?

[5 Star]

Originally Posted by Polyian

I had not thought of backing up my stock file but I guess I should consider doing so in case my tuner is stolen or damaged. Is there any way too obtain a stock tune if it was lost?

If the tuner is lost or stolen we do have several methods to get a stoke file created and sent over in case something ever happens to the tuner.

[SpringerPop]

Originally Posted by 5star

The unit can be used to read any other Ford vehicle.

Does this include the Ford 7.3 L diesel through 1Q-2003, which has some non-standard word encoding, is not OBD-II compliant, and has some unique requirements?

Pop