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Old 06-07-2007, 01:15 AM   #1
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SCT Live Wire program

I just installed the SCT Live Wire in my van. WOW!

The power boost is incredible. My intent is to go with the "economy" tune full time but figured I'd give the "street" tune a try. It runs like a bat out of hell compared to stock.

The computer clocked my 9,000 pound van at 16.899 @ 91 MPH in the quarter mile. I'm sure my slow reflexes account for 1/2 a second of it.

The power comes on smooth, strong and fast with absolutely no smoke.

So far, the only down sides are the size of the Live Wire and the location of the connectors. It's bigger than I thought it would be. I was hoping to mount it on the left corner of the windshield with the windshield mount but that's not going to work. The connector cable goes into the bottom of the unit, forcing the mounting location way too high.

Now, I'm looking to find a way to mount it just above and to the left of the auxiliary power socket.

Also, the OBD II connector is a straight plug, meaning the wire is now facing the seat and juts out several inches. I might have to shift the van OBD II plug sideways to avoid constantly hitting the wire.

When I put the "economy" tune in, I'll let you know how much it helps my mileage.

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2005 Ford E-350 Diesel Sportsmobile
EB 102 Voyager top, 3.55 rear, Mobil 1 all around
270 amp alternator, billet water pump, coolant filter kit,
aluminum radiator, X-Monitor with pyro, trans temp, boost
+ Scan Gauge & SCT Live Wire (Economy)
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Old 06-14-2007, 12:45 AM   #2
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SCT Live Wire program

Preliminary fuel economy is extremely promising.

We hit 20 MPG on a recent highway trip (~70 mph) and my wife did most of the driving. She usually gets 1-2 MPG less than I do (driving style) plus she commented on how it was easier to maintain speed on the hills.

My Scan Gauge says I'm getting 24 MPG doing a steady 40 MPH on a flat road.
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2005 Ford E-350 Diesel Sportsmobile
EB 102 Voyager top, 3.55 rear, Mobil 1 all around
270 amp alternator, billet water pump, coolant filter kit,
aluminum radiator, X-Monitor with pyro, trans temp, boost
+ Scan Gauge & SCT Live Wire (Economy)
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Old 06-14-2007, 06:52 AM   #3
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Re: SCT Live Wire program

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeyNick
I just installed the SCT Live Wire in my van. WOW!

The power boost is incredible. My intent is to go with the "economy" tune full time but figured I'd give the "street" tune a try. It runs like a bat out of hell compared to stock.

The computer clocked my 9,000 pound van at 16.899 @ 91 MPH in the quarter mile. I'm sure my slow reflexes account for 1/2 a second of it.

The power comes on smooth, strong and fast with absolutely no smoke.

So far, the only down sides are the size of the Live Wire and the location of the connectors. It's bigger than I thought it would be. I was hoping to mount it on the left corner of the windshield with the windshield mount but that's not going to work. The connector cable goes into the bottom of the unit, forcing the mounting location way too high.

Now, I'm looking to find a way to mount it just above and to the left of the auxiliary power socket.

Also, the OBD II connector is a straight plug, meaning the wire is now facing the seat and juts out several inches. I might have to shift the van OBD II plug sideways to avoid constantly hitting the wire.

When I put the "economy" tune in, I'll let you know how much it helps my mileage.
I presume the SCT live wire is a performance tuner of some sort?

If so, did you need to modify the van's exhaust in any way? That is almost universally recommended (or "required" in the opinion of some) by the "chip" makers I'm familiar with.

Did you install yourself, or have done by a specialist?

Thanks
Rob
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Old 06-17-2007, 11:50 AM   #4
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Re: SCT Live Wire program

Quote:
Originally Posted by EMrider
I presume the SCT live wire is a performance tuner of some sort?

If so, did you need to modify the van's exhaust in any way? That is almost universally recommended (or "required" in the opinion of some) by the "chip" makers I'm familiar with.

Did you install yourself, or have done by a specialist?

Thanks
Rob
I was asked about the heat issue on The Diesel Stop, too.

Other than the SCT LiveWire computer tuning, I have not done any modifications except to add gauges. Also, I'm not looking for a performance modification, per se, I'm looking for better fuel economy.

Under normal driving, heat (pyro and dash gauge) is about the same. Zero difference noticed in the transmission.

Under heavy throttle, the pyro does seem to come up in temperature quicker than stock. I can't see a difference in the cool down. I haven't watched the dash gauge under heavy throttle to be able to comment on it.

Fuel consumption is definitely better. Another long highway drive and my Scan Gauge is telling me I'm averaging 21 MPG (it has been fairly accurate in the past.) I'll have a more accurate number when I do my next fill up.

With local driving I'm doing 17.5 MPG, as measured in my fill ups (2 so far.) My trip odometer was 520 point something and I filled 29.13 gallons plus maybe 1/4 gallon (scientific eyeball) of additive (silver) on my last fill.

Prior to the SCT LiveWire, I was getting about 14-16 in town and around 18 on the highway.
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2005 Ford E-350 Diesel Sportsmobile
EB 102 Voyager top, 3.55 rear, Mobil 1 all around
270 amp alternator, billet water pump, coolant filter kit,
aluminum radiator, X-Monitor with pyro, trans temp, boost
+ Scan Gauge & SCT Live Wire (Economy)
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Old 06-17-2007, 12:08 PM   #5
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So now that you've gone "down" to the Economy mode, how has the performance been compared to the Performance mode you used before?

Also, did you get your Live Wire with standard or custom programming? Did you get it from Innovative Diesel?


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Old 06-17-2007, 01:02 PM   #6
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SCT Live Wire program

Everything I said, outside of the original post, has been about the Economy setting (which is called "Tow") I only had the street tune in long enough to do a couple of quick highway sprints and see how it felt.

As my goal is better fuel economy and I'm aware of the potential heat / exhaust issues, I went to an Economy setting and plan to leave it there.

There's still a chunk more power than the factory setting, which, I assume, is what's helping with the fuel mileage. Less pedal needed for same results.

So far, I'm only using the stock programming that comes with the LiveWire but I fully intend to install a custom Economy tune from Innovative Diesel after I send them the info from my stock tune.
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2005 Ford E-350 Diesel Sportsmobile
EB 102 Voyager top, 3.55 rear, Mobil 1 all around
270 amp alternator, billet water pump, coolant filter kit,
aluminum radiator, X-Monitor with pyro, trans temp, boost
+ Scan Gauge & SCT Live Wire (Economy)
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Old 06-18-2007, 06:38 PM   #7
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I knew the mileage results were all with the Economy setting, I just didn't know about acceleration. Good to know the acceleration is as good as, if not better, even in the Economy mode. Please keep us updated.


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Old 06-18-2007, 09:38 PM   #8
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Re: SCT Live Wire program

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeyNick
Quote:
Originally Posted by EMrider
I presume the SCT live wire is a performance tuner of some sort?

If so, did you need to modify the van's exhaust in any way? That is almost universally recommended (or "required" in the opinion of some) by the "chip" makers I'm familiar with.

Did you install yourself, or have done by a specialist?

Thanks
Rob
I was asked about the heat issue on The Diesel Stop, too.

Other than the SCT LiveWire computer tuning, I have not done any modifications except to add gauges. Also, I'm not looking for a performance modification, per se, I'm looking for better fuel economy.

Under normal driving, heat (pyro and dash gauge) is about the same. Zero difference noticed in the transmission.

Under heavy throttle, the pyro does seem to come up in temperature quicker than stock. I can't see a difference in the cool down. I haven't watched the dash gauge under heavy throttle to be able to comment on it.

Fuel consumption is definitely better. Another long highway drive and my Scan Gauge is telling me I'm averaging 21 MPG (it has been fairly accurate in the past.) I'll have a more accurate number when I do my next fill up.

With local driving I'm doing 17.5 MPG, as measured in my fill ups (2 so far.) My trip odometer was 520 point something and I filled 29.13 gallons plus maybe 1/4 gallon (scientific eyeball) of additive (silver) on my last fill.

Prior to the SCT LiveWire, I was getting about 14-16 in town and around 18 on the highway.
Very helpful, thanks for the info.
Rob
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Old 07-06-2007, 05:26 PM   #9
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Re: SCT Live Wire program

Quote:
Originally Posted by From an off Forum e-mail, they
I'm very, very interested in your thoughts and any data on increase in mileage. I'm not so concerned about it being cost effective (I mean really, the whole damn van is ridiculous); I'm more trying to appease a bit of my guilt.

I drive every weekend up into the mountains and back, same route, and am consistently getting between 15.2 - 15.6MPG. ONCE I hit 16, but I think it's 'cause I was only doing 55 on the highway instead of 65/70. Oh, what I would give to hit 18... I've even gone to removing the upper bed (we don't use it) and not driving around with water in the water tank.

If you have any updates, or more firm ideas on whether or not this sucker really does save fuel, I'd love to know.
It's definitely saving fuel. I'm averaging 20 MPG, as measured in my fill ups. Thus far, my driving with the tune has been about 75% highway and 25% local for over 1,000 miles (maybe 1,500 miles.) I haven't done a full tank of strictly highway yet.

Previously, I was averaging a hair over 18 MPG with strictly highway and anywhere from 16-17 with mixed. I think I did a low of about 15 MPG on one winter tank that had a lot of idling.

What I've noticed is that whatever amount of "go" pedal I start with, once I'm at speed and she's not really accelerating any more (at least not noticeably), I can give a little less gas and the speed will stay the same (not drop) while my MPG will go up several points, as witnessed on my Scan Gauge. Thus, that's how I've been driving it with the tune. I didn't do this previously.

My SMB weighs in at 9,000 lbs but I have a 3.55 rear, which helps on the highway. Also, I tend to drive around 70 MPH, which keeps the RPM's in the 1900-2000 range, which is supposed to be the most fuel efficient range.
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2005 Ford E-350 Diesel Sportsmobile
EB 102 Voyager top, 3.55 rear, Mobil 1 all around
270 amp alternator, billet water pump, coolant filter kit,
aluminum radiator, X-Monitor with pyro, trans temp, boost
+ Scan Gauge & SCT Live Wire (Economy)
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Old 10-11-2007, 04:24 PM   #10
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SCT Live Wire program

A wanted to give a quick update on my SCT Live Wire.

I've been using the lowest "Tow" program setting for several months and my fuel mileage is up significantly over stock. It's still getting about 20MPG on the highway and 16+ in New York City traffic (no rush hour type driving, though) which is no small feat in and of itself.

I decided to give the "Street" tune a longer drive to see how fuel economy was. In just a hair over half a tank of all highway driving, I've gone 277 miles, so I'm guessing that the fuel mileage will work out to about 17MPG.

The power gain on the Street tune is immediately noticeable over the Tow tune. When you give is a bit of gas, she takes off like a sports car. I do notice a bit of black smoke with the Street tune if I get on the throttle while under way. It'll smoke for about a second and then you're zooming too fast to watch the mirror.

I'm going to finish up the tank with the Street tune and then go back to the tow program. I'll report back the final fuel mileage for the tank.

-Joey Dude!
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2005 Ford E-350 Diesel Sportsmobile
EB 102 Voyager top, 3.55 rear, Mobil 1 all around
270 amp alternator, billet water pump, coolant filter kit,
aluminum radiator, X-Monitor with pyro, trans temp, boost
+ Scan Gauge & SCT Live Wire (Economy)
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