Re: Performance tuner opion?
Actually the extensive testing is also tied to emmisions. Something the tuning chips don't take into account. A lot of vehicles run lean at idle and low speed when hot, reducing emissions, and also reducing initial throttle response. However I digress, I've used tuners, tuned on dynos, on fuel injected bikes for several years, and yes, they do make a difference...but only if properly tuned for that vehicle. I am dubious of a tuner that's "one size fits all' tuned.
I'd say the gear ratio may be a bigger help for towing, but then you loose some of that highway mileage. A good high end exhaust (include high flow cats, not just cat back) will indeed give you some seat of the pants improvement while not being overly loud. I believe magnaflow makes some nice cans that have a pleasant deep sound without the retard loudness of some trucks that have forgone a muffler all together. Adding a good cold air induction system will top it off, but the difference won't be as noticeable. All in all, horsepower don't come cheap...or easy. For certain that 4.6 is a dog though, I had the same engine in my last truck, and was glad to be rid of it. Not because it ever failed or broke, it was just woefully underpowered for a truck with no mileage gains at all.
Ian
