fuel pack vs. tune question
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
From: Cleveland, TN
fuel pack vs. tune question
I recently purchased the best running, smoothest, most efficient HD I've ever owned. The 2019 softail slim. It's like riding on a cloud with Morgan Freeman's voice. What effortless acceleration and silky pipe tones billow from underneath the most comfortable riding position I've experienced to date. But I found that I would rather be riding on the back of the dragon whose gold I just thieved. So, I've started my stage 1 conversion by tearing the cotton ***** out the throat and removing the trachiotomy(removed the baffle and catalytic converters), and installing some TTIs from DK. Next purchase is going to be the K&N heavy breather. At this point I will either have to get a tune or purchase a fuel pack. I know if I ever do any other performance mods, the fuel pack would be preferable and I'm wanting to know from multiple people in the know which way to go here. I ride ALOT and long distances, so I don't want a drag bike. I also want to keep fuel mileage good, but I rarely say no to extra horseys if no expense to efficiency. Should I add the stage 2?
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 181
Likes: 44
From: Toronto, Ontario
Get a Tuner you want the computer running the bike not a piggy back that could mess something up. I tried Fuel Pak could never get the bike to run right, then went to new computer Thundermax still couldn't get what I knew she could do. Finally got SEPST and got it dyno tuned, run great good fuel mileage and with a stage 1 I can blow the doors off most bikes I come across.
The FP3 doesn't piggyback, it updates the Computer map on the bike. After the update you can remove the FP3 from the bike. It also allows you to recalibrate the speedo if you change your wheels and read out error codes.
But why bother with stage 2? if you do cruising motorways a lot, why need the extra HP? The extra power usage must come from somewhere which means it will effect (affect?) your mpg...
just my 0.02€
RJ
But why bother with stage 2? if you do cruising motorways a lot, why need the extra HP? The extra power usage must come from somewhere which means it will effect (affect?) your mpg...
just my 0.02€
RJ
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
From: Cleveland, TN
restating the stage 2 question
Some mods add fuel mileage, but decrease max hp. Some mods decrease mileage, but add hp. Some mods add hp and have no effect on mileage. Some mods add hp and only effect mileage at higher rpms. Taking the baffles and cats out and adding the TTI gave me 2 more mpg. I'm ASSUMING that a breather and a tune will add even more hp and increase mpg again. Let me know if I'm wrong on that. What I really want to know is what can I expect to see in mpg change if I do the stage 2.
Some mods add fuel mileage, but decrease max hp. Some mods decrease mileage, but add hp. Some mods add hp and have no effect on mileage. Some mods add hp and only effect mileage at higher rpms. Taking the baffles and cats out and adding the TTI gave me 2 more mpg. I'm ASSUMING that a breather and a tune will add even more hp and increase mpg again. Let me know if I'm wrong on that. What I really want to know is what can I expect to see in mpg change if I do the stage 2.
The Outlaw 636v is a a superior performing intake to the Heavy Breather, costs less, and is better for your engine and has the similar look. Check it out at this LINK.
You do Not need a tune on your M8 when doing the exhaust and air cleaner. See this REPORT with dyno charts.
However, as you can see from the charts in the above link, you will get a nice bump in power (and MPG) when doing the Outlaw A/C combined with the Power Vision Tuner.
By doing a True Performance Stage I (most are compromises at best) we regularly see them out-performing typical Stage II upgrades...this is because the Stage II was built on a mediocre Stage I platform.
Specifically, regarding your desire to gain power and MPG, most "stage I" air cleaners are feeding hot, oxygen depleted air into the intake...this is a waste...for optimum efficient performance the engine needs cool, clean, oxygen rich air, which is what the Outlaw Air Cleaner Systems deliver.
btw, on the FP3, it is a good tuner for Stage I's, but not so great in case you ever want to go beyond that.
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DKCustomProducts.com
DKCustomProducts.com
Last edited by DK Custom; Jan 11, 2019 at 12:22 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 3,134
From: Texas
The bike is EPA rated at 47 mpg. After Stage II, I average about 47 mpg. It all depends on how you ride. The Stage II makes it more entertaining to twist the throttle and on tanks where I do that, I generally get about 42 or so mpg.
On flat level ground at a cruise-controlled 55 mph, I have gotten over 57 mpg.
At 85 mph, that drops down to around 43 mpg. In winter on a windy day with luggage, I got a few tanks at 36-38 mpg.
This all tracks decently with what I was getting before the Stage II. Which is to say -- driven conservatively, the Stage II torque cam hasn't impacted my mpg at all. I think it's a great upgrade with pretty much no downside.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
From: Cleveland, TN
If you sold snake oil it would show how that increases both horsepower and mpg. I appreciate the reply, but to say you have a product that outperforms K&N is ludacris. They had their hands on this engine before any of the other aftermarket companies and it's what they've been doing better than anyone for years. Of course they'll show me the same dyno bullcrap anyone who sells this stuff will and it's all just what you have to do and I get that. Some stuff if just simple though. You get flowmaster pipes, malloey ignition systems, holley carbs, and K&N anything that has to do with intake. I buy from DKCustomProducts.com because they have stuff that you can't find anywhere else(it's not just a clever name), the products are reliable, the prices are competitive, and the service and ease of use is exceptional. But I still can't trust you not to sell me snake oil.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
If you sold snake oil it would show how that increases both horsepower and mpg. I appreciate the reply, but to say you have a product that outperforms K&N is ludacris. They had their hands on this engine before any of the other aftermarket companies and it's what they've been doing better than anyone for years. Of course they'll show me the same dyno bullcrap anyone who sells this stuff will and it's all just what you have to do and I get that. Some stuff if just simple though. You get flowmaster pipes, malloey ignition systems, holley carbs, and K&N anything that has to do with intake. I buy from DKCustomProducts.com because they have stuff that you can't find anywhere else(it's not just a clever name), the products are reliable, the prices are competitive, and the service and ease of use is exceptional. But I still can't trust you not to sell me snake oil.
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If you sold snake oil it would show how that increases both horsepower and mpg. I appreciate the reply, but to say you have a product that outperforms K&N is ludacris. They had their hands on this engine before any of the other aftermarket companies and it's what they've been doing better than anyone for years. Of course they'll show me the same dyno bullcrap anyone who sells this stuff will and it's all just what you have to do and I get that. Some stuff if just simple though. You get flowmaster pipes, malloey ignition systems, holley carbs, and K&N anything that has to do with intake. I buy from DKCustomProducts.com because they have stuff that you can't find anywhere else(it's not just a clever name), the products are reliable, the prices are competitive, and the service and ease of use is exceptional. But I still can't trust you not to sell me snake oil.
All Outlaw Air Cleaner Systems utilize K&N filter elements.
