Tuning for better MPG on a Ford Transit
 

Can a vehicle be re-tuned for maximum economy, or is this what the manufacturer's do already?


I have a 2016 Ford Transit passenger wagon with a 3.5L twin turbo gas engine that produces more power than I need to hauls people and an occasional small camper. In exchange for that power (and because it's an aerodynamic brick), I get 16 MPG. I am wondering if it would be possible and cost-effective to re-tune it for fuel economy. For example, the Ford Expedition has the same engine and is similar in weight, but has a higher listed mpg. Is this all aerodynamics?

I've seen re-tuning costs hundreds and therefore I'd need to save at least 3 mpg since I drive under 10K miles/year.

I have a 2017 Fusion Sport with the 2.7 Twin Turbo, I had Unleashed tuning write me an MPG tune for the winter, the tuning "special" I purchased came with 2 free tunes.
The biggest difference I see is the shift points are drastically lower, maybe a little too low. Stock the car has 325 hp and 380 ft lbs of torque so it has no issue getting the car moving.
Before the tune my car would ALWAYS rev between 2500-3000 regardless how much throttle input there was, even accelerating 1/4 pedal down hill it would rev to 3000 before it upshifts. It would NEVER shift into 5th under 40 MPH, now it shifts under 2000 rpm's and has no problem shifting into 6th at 45, which unfortunately will result in the dreaded drivetrain growl. This tune has returned roughly 26 MPG's which is what I normally see in the summer. I'm expecting high 20's, possibly 30 mpg's this summer, I bought the Tuner during the black Friday sale so I've only been running it about 4 months.
I remote start the car twice a day now, I can see reducing the warm up time and warmer weather returning much better MPG's than what I'm getting now.

Hat4rvn, That Transit is pretty much a brick. Probably mostly due to the billboard backend. Probably not much to gain for cheap. Just try to lightfoot it and see what you can get.
JD

Interesting study using mid range ethanol blends on stock F150 with 3.5 ecoboost. E30 average increase of 41 hp and 52 ft lbs of torque. Study also claims no change in MPG between E10 and E30.

http://www.sdfu.org/assets/docs/uplo...19-17final.pdf

If I had a ecoboost I'd be splash blending it.

The improvement is within the range of my hotrod experience and timing advances. The mileage claims seem suspect.

Annual miles too low to matter. Depreciation hurts you more (miles not commensurate). Leave well enough alone versus getting stuck on a number. Keep the condition as new to retain value. Never miss the weekly wash. Etc.

Folks would have cried tears of joy with its 1980s counterpart getting 16.