5 Star Tuning

[Richie Rich]

Just wondering if anyone out there in the Group has tried this 5 Star Tuning Company with positive results. I have a 2018 Class A Miramar with the Ford Chasis and the V10 engine. Runs okay... But what the heck... If there's something out there to make it better... Go For It! Right?

[ducksface]

On a six speed transmission it is almost worthless.
This is proven by their own demonstration on a hill climb.
There are benefits for the older transmission.

Seat of pants.
2hp gains at 5200 rpm.

[paulwadley]

I don't have your coach, but I had a tune done on my Mercedes Sprinter diesel which at first was great. A few months later when we went cross country, it developed a conflict in the tune which was a big issue while towing our car. When we got back home and after the dealer attempted to correct the issue, I had the tune removed. It is now back to normal with no issues. My tune was done at a local shop that was highly recommended by many who had it done. It ended up costing me the $500 for the tune.

Paul

[ducksface]

I'm not anti-tune.
I am anti-hype, fan boy, cult.
My 8.1L 502ci 500hp Big block has a blackbear, personally tuned by the MAN himself, tune.
My 4.3 190hp has a 'bought in a box' tune.

If there was a v10 tune worth anything other than statistics, I'd have one.

[Sanford]

My experience has been more positive than what I'm reading here. Maybe it's just me.

[ducksface]

Originally Posted by Sanford

My experience has been more positive than what I'm reading here. Maybe it's just me.

On a six speed?
Tell us.
I might be wrong.

[Pete'sMH]

I did the tune on a 2016 F53 coach. It had the 5 speed transmission and the ONLY benefit I found was the altered shift points. It really helped with that. But now having a 2019 with the 6 speed I would expect to see no or minimal change. The newer transmission is nicely matched to the engine and the coach.

[Sanford]

Mine has been more power, less downshifting and a smoother transmission.

[flipper003]

I have a 2015 25.1 Axis and got the 5 Star after a couple of trips. I have the 5 speed and it is night and day for me, it used to downshift 5th to 3rd at any incline but now it almost never does and does the hills with no speed loss, lugging or whatever. For me it has been excellent. Easier to control the shifting with the gas pedal too. I think it is a more dramatic improvement with the 5 speeds from what I have been reading.

Flipper

[HarryS]

Originally Posted by flipper003

I have a 2015 25.1 Axis and got the 5 Star after a couple of trips. I have the 5 speed and it is night and day for me, it used to downshift 5th to 3rd at any incline but now it almost never does and does the hills with no speed loss, lugging or whatever. For me it has been excellent. Easier to control the shifting with the gas pedal too. I think it is a more dramatic improvement with the 5 speeds from what I have been reading.

Flipper

I have a 5 speed, and it's been great with the 5 star. Same experience as you have had.

[Beau388]

Whether or not the 5 Star tuner works for your six speed depends on the coach's weight and what you expect. If you have a heavy coach and are looking for more power, look elsewhere. If you have a light coach and want a different shift profile with crisper throttle response, 5 star is what you need. It took three different tunes for me to get the transmission to shift where I wanted. The original shift profile had the coach shifting into 6th at 52 mph and the engine rpm dropped to 1,700 rpm. Now the trans shifts into 6th at 62 mpg or 2,000 rpm. This allows cruise at 55-60 mph in the TX Hill County or bucking a 25 mph headwind without shifting out of 5th. The downshifting when coming to a stop is much more aggressive keeping the engine in the 2,200 to 2,700 rpm range. In tow/haul the engine throttle is more aggressive allowing higher rpm without the gas pedal being floored forcing a downshift. In short, no more power just letting the engine operate where it has more power. I am sure the engineers thought fuel mileage and low engine noise was what the owners want. In my case I just wanted to keep the engine rpms where the engine was the happiest.

[rolfh]

I tuned my 2012 Hurricane 32D and immediately noted additional power and torque. I can go up mlld hills without downshifting and if I add some foot pressure to open the carburetor it actually will upshift again and continue up the hill. When on TOW, it makes it a lot smoother with revised shift points.
My cruise RPM are 100 RPM lower even with a toad.
I'm a believer.

[71_340]

I don't have the Five Star but the Ultra RV tune (also SCT based). It improved the throttle tip in and it downshifts a little more aggressive costing downhill, providing more engine braking. The best feature is that it lets the speed drop a little more before downshifting when the cruise is set while going up a hill.

I averaged 8.5 MPG towing a Ford Focus on our trip to Mount Rushmore (about 2000 miles roundtrip).

A tune will not turn your RV into a hotrod but to me it improves the driving experience and is the $500.00.